Luxury Cars: Drive Your Personality

If the luxury car market in China was warmed up in 2004, it will continue to heat up in 2005. Almost all well-known luxury car brands have entered China. But, with the same familiar brand, the same high quality, the same fine design, which car is really yours?

Some people like to refer to the car affectionately as their wife or child. Indeed, after more than a century of development, the car has become too humanized. When we refer to a successful car brand, it is also a nod to its personality. In such a highly competitive Chinese market, only a car with a certain personality can attract attention and be constantly mentioned.

Different styles of managers drive different luxury cars, which not only show their identity, but also reveal their personal style preferences and ways of doing things.

Bentley Continental GT: Royal Prestige

If you want to ride the same brand as the Queen of England, the Oil King of the Middle East, the Emperor of Japan, the Emperor of Thailand and the King of Malaysia, come to Bentley. Since the birth of the first Bentley in 1919, the noble temperament, pure quality and unique personality have deeply penetrated into its five brand pillars - craftsmanship, design, power, racing and driving.

The Continental GT, launched in China last year, is Bentley's 85-year history and the third pure Bentley lineup after the Speed 6 in 1929 and the R-Type in 1952. It is no exaggeration to say this: from a manual point of view, an average of more than 400 pieces of high-quality grade A leather are used for each car, which is about 15 cows. Each cow only uses about 4 square meters of leather, which is processed through multiple processes. , smooth, soft, waterproof and wear-resistant; all wood trims are exactly the same in color and texture, and there is almost no trace of seam at the seam interface. The technicians use the most primitive method to polish 8 times with beeswax; the body needs to be painted 15 times , each car can be learned from people.

From the design point of view, the Continental GT completely adopts the classic British traditional design: domineering front, mesh-shaped galvanized grille, four round lights, large rims and powerful wheel arches, all of which are dynamic and Symbol of passion. It is worth mentioning that the Continental GT has a chic small clock on the dashboard panel. It was specially designed for the Bentley Continental GT by Breitling, the world-renowned flying watch.

Deep inside, the Continental GT uses a W-shaped 12-cylinder, 6-liter twin-turbo engine, which is the shortest 12-cylinder car engine in the world. The top speed is 318 km/h, and it only takes 4.8 seconds to accelerate from 0-100 km. At the same time, the Continental GT is also a limited model with the highest horsepower and high torque at the lowest speed in the world. The maximum horsepower can reach 560PS (552bhp) (411kW@6100rpm); the maximum torque is 479 1b ft (650Nm)@1600rpm. While achieving maximum horsepower and maximum torque, the engine is still able to maintain low revs, ensuring that the vehicle can perform at its best in any condition.

Suitable for consumers: leaders of large enterprises
Characteristics of consumer groups: courageous, firm, confident

BMW 760Li: stylish and elegant

Some people have listed the "Car Temperament List" on the Internet, and BMW was appropriately elected as the "The most yuppie car". The so-called "yuppie" is the transliteration of the American word yuppie yuppy, which refers to the new generation of urban young people with higher education, who have rich incomes, live elegant lives, wear "senior gray", live in town houses, and carry a lap-top at any time. , walking through the airport, office buildings and various business clubs, eating western food, drinking red wine, and studying for an MBA. Of course, there is also a BMW.

The new 760Li launched by BMW in 2004 showed his "Yuppie" characteristics even more. He is the most powerful production BMW sedan ever built: a 4-valve 6.0-liter V12 and a host of top-of-the-line luxury equipment. Compared with the V8 model, the most notable feature of the 760Li is obviously its 12-cylinder power unit, which is the world's first 12-cylinder engine with direct injection technology. Equipped with the world's first six-speed automatic transmission, the power and torque of the V12 are maximized. For example, at a speed of 160 km/h, the engine speed is only 2500 rpm.

In terms of appearance, the "V12" logo on both sides of the body and the words 760Li at the tail make the distinguished status more eye-catching.

The interior of the vehicle is more made of high-grade solid wood and high-grade leather, which is more delicate and exquisite, exuding an elegant and luxurious atmosphere and the feeling of high-end furniture. In addition, BMW's personalization department can provide customized services including colors, interiors and special equipment according to customer needs.

Suitable for consumers: the first generation of foreign companies and other golden collars
Characteristics of consumer groups: fashionable and stylish

Mercedes-Benz new S-Class: hidden passion

Chinese people like to call Mercedes-Benz "Big Ben" . In addition to being catchy, there is also a sense of respect for it. Among the many series of Mercedes-Benz, the S-Class sedan is the model that can best show its profound skills. Among the high-end sedans at the same price in the world, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class has always been the leader. Among the 130,000 Mercedes-Benz vehicles in China, 2 out of 3 are S-Class sedans.

Mercedes has found its place in China with the S-Class. At the Guangzhou Auto Show last year, the new S-Class sedan was unveiled. This model further highlights the agile and elegant character of the S-Class. For example, the front bumper with the latest style lower air intakes gives the body a wider and more dynamic appearance. The radiator grille is taller and steeper than before. More significant changes come from the stylish headlights, with advanced clear shades and high-brightness reflectors adding even more excitement to the S-Class's look. The exterior mirror covers and rear lights have also been redesigned. As an even more attractive selling point, the car is now also available with a luxurious "designo couture" interior package, which includes top-quality nappa and suede leather trim, charcoal grey poplar or maple trim panels, and a fine Alcantara fabric headliner.

Not only the appearance has been improved, but the power and torque of the new S-Class six-cylinder engine has been increased, and the twelve-cylinder twin-turbocharged engine has been newly developed. This engine can output a maximum power of 368 kW / 500 hp, which is the most powerful in its class. When the speed reaches 1800 rpm, a peak torque of 800 Nm can be produced, and the top-of-the-line S600 model in this series accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.8 seconds.

The most important of the many latest technological improvements in the new S-Class is the installation of the driver and passenger protection preventive safety system P2RE-SAFE. The system has no restrictions on the freedom of movement of the driver or the maneuverability of the vehicle, and when it detects an impending collision in advance, it can help the driver and passengers, as well as the vehicle itself, to enter a state of readiness before the impact occurs.

Suitable for consumers: business owners
Characteristics of consumer groups: calm, sophisticated and yet passionate

Cadillac SRX: domineering luxury

Although Cadillac has publicly stated that its competitors are not similar cars producer, but supplier of diamonds and furs. But in 2004, this old American cow finally couldn't hold back his breath and entered China in one fell swoop, vowing to compete with Mercedes-Benz and BMW. In the face of a segmented luxury car market, Cadillac's design philosophy is: to create a vehicle that can instantly appeal to consumers.

That's how the SRX was born. This model, which was launched in early 2005, brought a new term to the Chinese car industry: LAV, which is a luxury sports business vehicle. The angular body lines, large headlights and high front bumper design show the mighty domineering. He is nearly 5 meters long, 2 meters wide, and has a wheelbase of nearly 3 meters. Offers an oversized landscape sunroof not currently available in its class, which expands the roof's open area to 40 inches, more than half the size of the roof. The rear of the car is equipped with two rows of high-mounted brake lights illuminated by neon gas, which are dazzlingly bright; the left and right side mirrors are also exhilaratingly wide. It all echoes the words of vehicle exterior designer Kipoel Watson: "We have no wiggle room - the SRX has to be bold enough to instantly impress consumers and set itself apart from the rest of its class." Inside the car The design also reflects American luxury: the SRX has a huge interior space: the third row of seats is hidden in the rear of the car, which can be changed into seven seats at the touch of a button, and the process only takes a few seconds to complete. . If the third row of seats is not fitted, a storage device can also be installed in the rear floor. The center console is equipped with a 7-inch LCD screen, which is connected to a BOSE 6-disc DVD8 speaker entertainment system, which is also a satellite navigation system. The controls for the audio and cruise systems are concentrated on the multifunction steering wheel.

In terms of acceleration, the SRX takes 7.4 seconds from standstill to 100 mph; the V8 engine is powerful at all speeds. Although the car weighs two tons and the body is a bit long, it does not affect the driving and the turning radius is small.

Suitable for consumers: cutting-edge leaders
Characteristics of consumer groups: bold and visionary, likes to be independent

Volvo S80: the subtlety of Confucian businessmen

US Consumer Reports (Consumer Reports) 2004 A survey conducted in 2008 shows that when consumers choose a European million-dollar mid-size sedan, acceleration and handling, driving and riding comfort, and tranquility are the main factors that determine the purchase. Excellent acceleration control performance, excellent cabin space, leading safety design and four features of fuel saving make Volvo S80 the best recommendation award.

Anyone who knows a little about cars knows that Volvo is known for being fuel efficient and highly safe. Volvo, which has always spared no effort in environmental protection, reduced the average fuel consumption of the S80 by 7% by reducing the wind resistance coefficient, frictional resistance and improving the engine system. Not only reduces the burden on the owner, but also saves energy.

The S80 is considered one of the safest sedans in the world. Its high-strength steel car frame can withstand the impact of external forces in different directions, and the front wrinkle buffer zone can absorb the impact potential energy from the front, plus the design of parts that can disperse and slow down the external force and the reinforcement position to prevent the large displacement of the front wheels, A complete set of safety systems, such as a collapsible steering column, front dual airbags, side airbags and head protection safety inflatable curtains, minimizes the threat to occupant safety in the event of an accident.

People oriented and attention to detail are always the focus of Volvo, such as the new S80's redesigned door mirrors to reduce the wind resistance effect to reduce the degree of dust deposition on the side windows; the wiper on the windshield adopts a flat-blade pattern , to enhance the cleaning effect.

Suitable for the consumer group: the elite class with distinction
Consumer group characteristics: refined and unassuming

New Lexus GS: the vitality of the upstart

Lexus, which came out in 198_9, is the representative of Japanese luxury cars. Although his age and qualifications are far from enough compared with many European and American big names, he has achieved remarkable results: since 2000, its sales have ranked first in the luxury car category in the US market. In addition to the efforts of dealers, the car's temperament design and good performance can not be ignored.

In the spring of 2005, Lexus launched the new GS series. In the traditional simple and conservative appearance, a little dynamic factor is also added: the new GS retains the characteristics of the long hood, thick rear and high waistline, and the design of independent headlights is closer to the old GS. At the same time, with the help of design changes such as larger size and longer wheelbase, the new car makes the front end more slender and elegant while the interior space is enlarged, the center of gravity of the roof is moved back, and the sporty personality is significantly enhanced.

On the interior, the high-grade wood, light metal trim and leather used in the new GS are all more upscale than the old model. In order to create the luxurious style of the cabin and ensure a delicate overall beauty, Lexus strictly compares the textures when creating the wood trim of each GS series. Not only that, but also at the junction of wood, leather or metal, it is processed with special technology to make it more delicate.

The new GS is divided into two grades: GS300 and GS430. The new GS430 uses a 4.3-liter V8 engine, which can accelerate to 100km/h in 6.1 seconds. It is also the fastest model in the Lexus brand. The new GS300 has a big change, using a new 3.0-liter V6 engine to replace the previous straight-six engine, and has a rear-wheel drive system.

In addition, the GS430 is the first to use the Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management System (VDIM), a new concept that integrates the traditional Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Traction Control (TRC) and Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) Various functions enhance driving, cornering and braking performance.

Suitable for consumers: urban upstarts
Characteristics of consumer groups: young, highly educated, full of energy

Volkswagen Phaeton: conservative and stressful

Volkswagen has always been associated with economical cars. As Volkswagen's first luxury car, the birth of the Phaeton shows Volkswagen's new trends in product strategy and brand strategy. The listing of the Phaeton in China in 2004 also fully demonstrated Volkswagen's ambition to covet China's luxury car market.

At first glance, the Phaeton looks like other Volkswagen sedans, with a rounded and full shape that is somewhat similar to the Passat. But his worth is reflected in the details: in addition to satisfying traditional functions and can be heated and folded electrically, the electric exterior mirrors also have automatic dimming and spotlights with integrated LED turn signals and user ambient lighting. After dark, it will automatically illuminate the surrounding environment to ensure maximum driving safety; the style of the taillights does not look outstanding at first, and the flat shape is familiar to the new Jetta, but each LED diode can change the color independently, respectively as Tail lights, brake lights and turn signals.

The most notable feature in the cockpit is the large vertical center console with a color 7-inch display in the center. 8 grey control keys arranged around the monitor can activate many different functions through this monitor, at the same time, through the 6 basic function keys and a central menu, you can easily control the comfort, audio system, TV system, All functions such as on-board computer and telephone. In order for the driver to monitor and operate these systems at all times, the audio system and on-board computer can also be controlled directly from the steering wheel.

In terms of power, the Chinese version of the Phaeton is a W12 gasoline engine model that can achieve an output power of 309kw. It takes 6.1 seconds to accelerate from 100 kilometers, and the top speed can exceed 300km/h if you put aside the constraints of the top speed limit.

Suitable for consumers: low-key entrepreneurs
Characteristics of consumer groups: conservative, restrained, reserved