CAR CLASSIFICATION

Cars may be classified by a number of different criteria; however, comprehensive classification is elusive, because a vehicle may fit into multiple categories, or not completely satisfy the requirements for any. Microcar Straddling the boundary between car and motorbike, these vehicles have engines under 1.0 litre, typically seat only two passengers, and are sometimes unorthodox in construction. Some microcars are three-wheelers, while the majority have four wheels. Microcars were popular in post-war Europe, where their appearance led them to be called "Bubble cars". A descendant of the microcar is the modern Smart Fortwo. Examples of microcars:

Isetta Messerschmitt microcar Subaru 360

Hatchbacks, salooCity car Citycar A city car is a small automobile intended for use in urban areas. Unlike microcars, a city car's greater speed, capacity and (in perception at least) occupant protection are safer in mixed traffic environments and weather conditions. While city cars can reach highway speeds, that is not their intended use. In Japan, city cars are called kei cars. Kei cars have to meet strict size and engine requirements: engines have a maximum displacement of 660 cc and the car's length must be under 3400 mm. Examples of kei cars:

Daihatsu Move Honda Life Suzuki Cervo

Examples of city cars:

Fiat Panda Ford Ka Citroen C1

Supermini/subcompact car
This class is known as supermini in Europe, subcompact in North America. Superminis have three, four or five doors and are designed to seat four passengers comfortably. Current supermini

hatchbacks are approximately 3900 mm long, while saloons and estate cars are around 4200 mm long. In Europe, the first superminis were the Fiat 500 of 1957 and the Austin Mini of 1959. Today, superminis are some of the best selling vehicles in Europe. In Australia, the motoring press tends to distinguish between a light car such as the Daihatsu Charade or early models of the Holden Barina, and slightly larger models such as the Ford Fiesta which is considered to be a small car. As the general size of vehicles in this class has gradually increased, the category of light car has almost disappeared. Examples of superminis / subcompact cars:

Ford Fiesta Opel Corsa Volkswagen Polo

This category is equivalent to the EuroNCAP class "Superminis". Small family car/compact car Small family/compact cars refer to the longest hatchbacks and saloons and estate cars with similar size. They are approximately 4250 mm long in case of hatchbacks and 4500 mm in the case of saloons and estate cars. Compact cars have room for five adults and usually have engines between 1.4 and 2.2 litres, but some have engines of up to 2.5 litres. These are the most popular vehicles in most developed countries. Examples of hatchback small family cars/compact cars:

Ford Focus Toyota Corolla Volkswagen Golf

This category is equivalent to the EuroNCAP class "Small Family Cars". In Australia, this class is generally referred to as being small-medium sized cars. Large family car/mid-size car Large family/mid-size cars have room for five adults and a large trunk (boot). Engines are more powerful than small family/compact cars and six-cylinder engines are more common than in smaller cars. Car sizes vary from region to region; in Europe, large family cars are rarely over 4700 mm long, while in North America, Middle East and Australia they may be well over 4800 mm. Examples of large family cars/mid-size cars:

Ford Mondeo Citroen C5 Toyota Camry

This category is equivalent to the EuroNCAP class "Large Family Cars". These are known in Australia as Medium sized cars. Full-size car/large car This term is used most in North America, Middle East and Australia where it refers to the largest sedans on the market. Full-size cars may be well over 4900 mm long and are the roomiest vehicles. Examples of full-size cars:

Chrysler 300/Dodge Charger Ford Crown Victoria Toyota Avalon

Compact executive car/entry-level luxury car These are luxurious equivalents to mid-size and compact cars. Powerful four-, six- and even eight-cylinder engines are available but, rear seat room and trunk space are more reduced than in more common executive or luxury vehicles simply because of their smaller size and sport characteristics. Examples of compact premium cars / entry-level luxury cars:

BMW 3 Series Lexus IS Acura TSX

This category is equivalent to the EuroNCAP class "Large Family Cars". Executive car/mid-luxury car An executive car or mid-luxury car is larger than a large family car/mid-size car and a compact executive car/entry-level luxury car. They are usually very roomy, powerful and luxurious, making them more expensive than "standard" saloons. Examples of executive cars/mid-luxury cars:

Audi A6 Jaguar XF Mercedes-Benz E Class

This category is equivalent to the EuroNCAP class "Executive Cars". Full-size luxury car/Grand saloon A full-size car is typically a four-door saloon. These are the most powerful saloons, with six, eight and twelve-cylinder engines and have more equipment than smaller models. Examples of full-size cars:

BMW 7 Series Lexus LS Mercedes-Benz S-Class

This category is equivalent to the EuroNCAP class "Executive Cars" Sports cars and grand tourers Hot hatch / sport compact A hot hatch or sport compact is a high-performance small car, usually a hatchback, based on standard superminis or small family cars with improved performance, handling and styling. Hot hatches are very popular in Europe, and originated from the original Volkswagen Golf GTI. In North America, sport compacts are usually sold as saloons or coups rather than hatchbacks. Examples of hot hatches/sport compacts:

Citroen Saxo VTR Honda Civic Type R Volkswagen Golf GTI

Sports saloon / sports sedan These are high performance versions of saloons. Sometimes originally homologated for production based motorsports (touring cars) and like regular saloons, seats four or five people. Examples of sports saloons/sedans:

BMW M5 Dodge Charger SRT-8 Ford Mondeo ST200

Examples of sport compact saloons/sedans:

Dodge SRT-4 Nissan Sentra V-spec Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution

Examples of luxury: Sports:

Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Ferrari Enzo Lamborghini Reventon

Sports car This small-size vehicle class combines performance and handling. Sometimes inspired by racing vehicles, this class ranges from lightweight derivatives such the Lotus Elise and "average consumer" focused models such as the Mazda MX-5, to heavier and more powerful models such as the Dodge Viper. Examples of sports cars:

Chevrolet Corvette MG T-type Porsche 911

Grand tourer Larger, more powerful and heavier than sports cars, these vehicles typically have a FR layout and seating for four passengers (2+2). These are more expensive than sports cars but not as expensive as supercars. Some grand tourers are hand-built. Examples of grand tourers:

Aston Martin DB9 Lexus SC300/400 Ferrari 612 Scaglietti

Supercar Supercar is a term generally used for ultra-high-end exotic cars, whose performance is superior to that of its contemporaries. The proper application of the term is subjective and disputed, especially among enthusiasts.

Muscle car The muscle car term refers to a variety of high-performance vehicles, mainly affordable 2-door rear wheel drive mid-size cars with powerful V8 engines, that were most often made in the United States.[6][7] Although opinions vary, it is generally accepted that classic muscle cars were produced in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Muscle cars were also produced in Australia and other nations. Examples of American muscle cars from the 1960s and 1970s:

Ford Torino Plymouth Road Runner Pontiac GTO

Examples of Australian muscle cars:

Ford Falcon Holden Monaro Valiant Charger

Pony car The pony car is a class of automobile launched and inspired by the Ford Mustang in 1964. It describes an affordable, compact, highly styled car with a sporty or performance-oriented image Examples of American pony cars (and some automotive journalists state that "Pony Cars are an expressly American creation")

AMC Javelin Chevrolet Camaro Dodge Challenger

Convertible A car that features a flexibly operating roof for open or enclosed mode driving. Also known as a cabriolet or roadster. Examples of convertibles:

Honda S2000 Volkswagen Eos Volvo C70

Off-roaders Off-road vehicles, or "off-roaders" are sometimes referred to as "four wheel drives", "four by fours", or 4x4s this sometimes happens colloquially in cases where certain models or even an entire range does not possess four-wheel drive. Sport utility vehicle Sport utility vehicles are off-road vehicles with four-wheel drive and true off-road capability. They most often feature high ground clearance and an upright, boxy body design. Sport Utilities are typically defined by a body on frame construction which offers more off-road capability but reduced on-road ride comfort and handling compared to a cross-over or car based utility vehicle. Examples of SUVs:

Ford Explorer Land Rover Discovery Jeep Grand Cherokee

This category is equivalent to the EuroNCAP class "Large Off-Roaders". Crossover SUV Crossover SUVs are derived from an automobile platform using a monocoque construction with light off-road capability and lower ground clearance than SUVs. They may be styled similar to conventional "off-roaders", or may be look similar to an estate car or station wagon. Examples of crossover SUVs:

BMW X5 Chevrolet Equinox Lexus RX

This category is equivalent to the EuroNCAP class "Small Off-Roaders". Multi-purpose vehicles / Minivans Also known as "people carriers", this class of cars resembles tall estate cars. Larger MPVs may have seating for up to eight passengers. (Beyond that size, similar vehicles tend to be derived from vans (see below) and in Europe are called minibuses.) Being taller than a family car improves visibility for the driver (while reducing visibility for other road users) and may help access for the elderly or disabled. They also offer more seats and increased load capacity than hatchbacks or estate cars. Examples of mini MPVs:

Daihatsu Grand Move Citroen C3 Picasso Opel/Vauxhall Meriva

Examples of compact MPVs:

Chrysler PT Cruiser Fiat Multipla Ford C-MAX

Both categories are equivalent to the EuroNCAP class "Small MPVs". Examples of large MPVs / minivans:

Chrysler Voyager Ford Galaxy Toyota Sienna

This category is equivalent to the EuroNCAP class "MPVs".

Van, camper, RV, minibus etc. Interior of above conversion van, showing large interior area (Seating removed for clarity) In some countries, the term "van" can refer to a small panel van based on a passenger car design (often the estate model / station wagon); it also refers to light trucks, which themselves are sometimes based on SUVs or MPVs. (But note that those retaining seats and windows, while being larger and more utilitarian than MPVs, may be called "minibuses".) The term is also used in the term "camper van" (or just "camper") equivalent to a North American recreational vehicle (RV). In the United States, the term "van" refers to vehicles that, like European minibuses, are even larger than large MPVs and are rarely seen being driven for domestic purposes except for "conversion vans". These possess extremely large interior space and are often more intended for hauling cargo than people. Most vans use body-on-frame construction and are thus suitable for extensive modification and coachwork, known as conversion. Conversion vans are often quite luxurious, boasting comfortable seats, soft rides, built-in support for electronics such as television sets, and other amenities. The more elaborate conversion vans straddle the line between cars and recreational vehicles. Examples of North American "vans":

Dodge Ram Van Ford E-Series GMC Savana

Examples of European "vans":

Ford Transit Volkswagen Transporter Mercedes-Benz Sprinter

F:\luxury cars\Car classification - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.htm LUXURY GOOD In economics, a luxury good is a good for which demand increases more than proportionally as income rises, and is a contrast to a "necessity good", for which demand is not related to income. Luxury goods are said to have high income elasticity of demand: as people become wealthier, they will buy more and more of the luxury good. This also means, however, that should there be a decline in income its demand will drop. Income elasticity of demand is not constant with respect to income, and may change sign at different levels of income. That is to say, a luxury good may become a normal good or even an inferior good at different income levels, e.g. a wealthy person stops buying increasing numbers of luxury cars for his automobile collection to start collecting airplanes (at such an income level, the luxury car would become an inferior good). In the earlier days the term 'luxury' was applied to products that were rare and scarce and available to a small segment of the people (Sriviroj, 2007). The luxury items were out of reach of

the ordinary people and considered rare. Today the luxury product market has increased manifold. The young are spontaneously aware of the luxury brands with the men focusing on cars and motorbikes and women's focus on beauty and food. These reflect the desires and fantasies that are conditioned by the social environment and associations with well-being, comfort, quality and self image. F:\luxury cars\Luxury good - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.htm Two Basic Facts of Luxury Before entering a deeper discussion of luxury I think it will be good to acknowledge two basic facts: 1. Luxury is relative. One man's luxury is often another's (usually richer) everyday lifestyle. 2. The standard of luxury is mutable. Today's luxury is often tomorrow's commonly expected standard. Luxury brands are under a constant pressure from non-luxury brands trying to offer a similar value for less, thus eroding the status of luxury. http:www.themanager.org/marketing/eternal-principle-for-luxury-brands.html Even not-so-wealthy people now feel deserving of a taste of luxury. Thanks to technology, design and global competition, the standard is rising continually. There is a huge trend of offering the mid-market "popular" versions of products and services that were once the exclusive domain of the affluent. These include: flights, cellular phoned, laptop computers, vacation resorts, casinos, ski / golf / tennis clubs, home cinemas, plastic surgery, professional-level audio/video editing equipment, 4X4 cars, and many other products and services. Categories of Luxury Brands There are five broad categories of luxury brands: 1. Sumptuous products (Cars, Jewelry & Watches, Fashion & Accessories, Cosmetics Makeup & Fragrances, Food & Beverages, Cigars & Cigarettes, Furniture, Magazines, Home ware & Electronics, ) 2. Exclusive services (Banking, Financial services, Insurance, Cellular, Airlines, Clinics, Consulting, ) 3. Luscious retail spaces (Stores, Chains, Shopping centers, Malls, ) 4. Illustrious Places (Restaurants, Bars, Clubs, Hotels, Resorts, Housing projects, Offices/commercial complexes, ) 5. Prestigious organizations (Brotherhoods, selective membership,). http:www.themanager.org/marketing/eternal-principle-for-luxury-brands.html Socioeconomic Significance Several manufactured products attain the status of "luxury goods" due to their design, quality, durability or performance that are remarkably superior to the comparable substitutes. Thus, virtually every category of goods available on the market today includes a subset of similar

products whose "luxury" is marked by better-quality components and materials, solid construction, stylish appearance, increased durability, better performance, advanced features, and so on. As such, these luxury goods may retain or improve the basic functionality for which all items of a given category are originally designed. There are also goods that are perceived as luxurious by the public simply because they play a role of status symbols as such goods tend to signify the purchasing power of those who acquire them. These items, while not necessarily being better (in quality, performance, or appearance) than their less expensive substitutes, are purchased with the main purpose of displaying wealth or income of their owners. These kinds of goods are the objects of a socio-economic phenomenon called conspicuous consumption and commonly include luxury vehicles, watches, jewelry, designer clothing, yachts, as well as large residences, urban mansions, and country houses. Price elasticity of demand The demand for such goods is inelastic because their demand hardly changes with a small change in price. This inelasticity is because the products are unique, high in quality, prestige and exclusiveness. Since these luxuries are bought by the high end consumers and they do not respond towards the nominal price changes in their luxury choices thats why luxury items experience inelastic demand Income elasticity of demand Knowledge of income elasticity of demand for different products helps firms predict the effect of a business cycle on sales. All countries experience a business cycle where actual GDP moves up and down in a regular pattern causing booms and slowdowns or perhaps a recession. The business cycle means incomes rise and fall. Luxury products with high income elasticity see greater sales volatility over the business cycle than necessities where demand from consumers is less sensitive to changes in the economic cycle Over time we expect to see our real incomes rise. And as we become better off, we can afford to increase our spending on different goods and services. Clearly what is happening to the relative prices of these products will play a key role in shaping our consumption decisions. But the income elasticity of demand will also affect the pattern of demand over time. For normal luxury goods, whose income elasticity of demand exceeds +1, as incomes rise, the proportion of a consumers income spent on that product will go up. For normal necessities (income elasticity of demand is positive but less than 1) and for inferior goods (where the income elasticity of demand is negative) then as income rises, the share or proportion of their budget on these products will fall http:tutor2u.net/economics/revision-notes/as-markets-income-elasticity-of-demand The Changing Nature of Luxury

Much has been said lately about the changing nature of luxury these days. While some of the proclaimed changes are no more than the result of historical myopia, certain developments are worth noting. 1. There are now more layers of luxury than ever before to match new levels of affluence. Generally speaking, buying power in the developed economies as well as in the emerging economies has been on the rise. We have more strata of wealth and more people in each one of them. More billionaires, more multi-millionaires, more millionaires, more super affluents, affluents, and near affluents. A Toyota Camry is considered a luxury car at some level of affluence, at a higher level it's BMW 7 Series, at yet a higher one it's Maybach 62. Rolex is considered a luxury watch brand by many. Not by buyers of Vacheron Constantin or Blancpain or Girard-Perregaux or Roger Dubuis or Patek Philippe for prices that normally range between $20K and over $2M. It is a widespread view that luxury brands achieve their status by being the dream of many but only affordable for a few. This is indeed how it works for numerous luxury brands. Nevertheless, other luxury brands derive their status from being esoteric, i.e. known to only a selected few. Not many (alas, now more) know the gioielleria attolio Condognato at the San Marco square in Venice that has a cult-like following of celebrities and other moneyed mortals who travel the world to visit it and purchase its superb jewellery. Being discerning and in-the-know often defines an inner circle of sophisticated luxury buyers, thusly differentiated from more coarse others of similar affluence. 2. Some of the luxury buyers are now somewhat less interested in purchasing uniform symbols of status / identity and they opt for developing an individual style and expressing themselves in original ways. Therefore, luxury has evolved and became more diverse and more creative. The tension between the traditional (more safely genuine luxury) and the innovative has always burgeoned forth luxury. Currently, luxury leans more towards the innovative than the traditional. 3. There are more "out of class" purchases now, both upwards and downwards. This trend is not unrelated to the previous one. The wealthy feel no obligation to always buy expensive (actually, affluents typically look for the best deal on whatever they want to buy, no matter how extravagant). The result is that we often see combinations of luxury and non-luxury. The no so wealthy have also developed an appetite for luxury when and where they can afford it. There's a trend towards spending more on luxury experiences rather than goods, at least amongst wealthy Americans. Experiences include entertainment (theater, concerts and shows, casinos, etc'), social events, winning and dining, travel, SPA / massage / beauty treatment. This trend is stronger among seasoned affluents who already know that the attraction of objects wears out while cherished experiences just get better with time as they are remembered, told and re-told. This trend also includes the purchase of goods that provide experiences for the long run, e.g. home theaters. There's also the experiential value added value to goods that please the sense besides performing their function. Finally, the pleasure derived from the purchase experience becomes almost as important as the pleasure derived from purchased product itself and certainly a major motivator for retail preferences.

4. There are more luxury hits now and fewer classics. Luxury used to be defined in the traditiondriven past by classics. The novelty-driven present, that is evident in the non-luxury sectors as well, turns the success of luxury brands of the day into sweet but short-lived. http:www.themanager.org/marketing/eternal-principle-for-luxury-brands.html

PERSONAL LUXURY CAR A personal luxury car is a highly styled, luxury vehicle with an emphasis on image over practicality. Accenting the comfort and satisfaction of its owner and driver above all else, the personal luxury car sometimes sacrifices passenger capacity, cargo room, and fuel economy in favor of style and perceived cachet, as well as offering a high level of features and trim. Characteristics Personal luxury cars are characteristically two-door coups or convertibles with two-passenger or 2+2 seating. They are distinguished on the performance end from GT and sports cars by their greater emphasis on comfort and convenience; on the luxury end, by appointments, features, and style over actual vehicle performance. With great variability within the market, however, this is not absolute but a general trend. The vast majorities of personal luxury cars are mass produced rather than coach built, and typically share many mechanical components with high volume sedans to reduce production costs. However, they have additional styling elements and sometimes "baroque" designs. They are typically equipped with as many additional features as possible, including special trim packages, power accessories (e.g., windows, locks, seats, antenna), leather upholstery, heated seats, etc. Luxury cars sellers mostly follow exclusive distribution for the sale of cars. Since it enhances the car image and gives high markup, it is the best option for distribution method to be used for luxury car that is being used worldwide. Origin The antecedents of the modern personal luxury car are the highly expensive, often custombodied sporting luxury cars of the 1920s and 1930s. Typically made by Alfa Romeo, Bugatti, Delage, Delahaye, Duesenberg, Mercedes-Benz, Cadillac, and others, these extremely stylish prestige cars were favored by film stars, aristocrats, playboys, and gangsters for projecting dashing and extravagant images. Two extreme examples were the Duesenberg Model SJ and Mercedes-Benz SSK, extremely fast and expensive automobiles which eschewed both pure luxury and absolute sports performance in favor of a distinctive combination of style, craftsmanship, and power: these combined to produce cars that became status symbols . The Great Depression and World War II temporarily eroded the market for these expensive bespoke cars before post-War recovery saw a reemergence in Europe. On the sedate end of the spectrum appeared such erect yet swift two-door sedans as the H.J. Mulliner bodied, straight-8 powered Bentley Continental R Type. On the other, performance oriented GTs, relatively

comfortable low-slung cars intended for high-speed, long-distance travel. Italian marques such as Ferrari and Maserati took the GT lead, offering distinctive, often custom-bodied two-seat and 2+2 coupes powered by exotic alloy-lightened engines straight off the race track. In between could be found such combinations of luxury and performance as the Mercedes-Benz 300SL and 190SL, BMW 507, Alfa Romeo 1900 Sprint and DKW 1000Sp. F:\luxury cars\Personal luxury car - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.htm Defining Factors of Luxury Cars There are three defining factors of luxury: 1. Luxury car is nonessential. You don't need a Mercedes to move. You can do without it, but you don't want to. Luxury is desired, not needed. In luxury you are at your best. It makes you life richer and more worth living. 2. Luxury cars are "hard to get". Their availability is restricted by high price, by small series, by exclusiveness. If you are allowed at all to try and get it, it demands an effort, a sacrifice. 3. Luxury car obviously is superb, inspiring feelings of wonder and excitement. It represents an outstanding achieveme-nt, it is a divine experience. You cannot but admire the people that created it. You are so charged up that you must share your experience with other. Market of the luxury car Traditionally the market for the luxury cars was considered to be for the ones between the age of 30 and 50 but now younger people are entering the market (Cheong & Phau, 2003). The need for materialism and appearance is not limited to the wealthy consumers but also covers the less-well off young consumers that have a desire for fashion brands. An understanding of consumer attitudes is essential for the marketers to plan their strategy in reaching the target consumers. It is essential for the marketer to understand how consumers think and value a product. There has been a vast increase in the luxury market (Sriviroj, 2007) and attempts are being made to attract the youth through different marketing strategies. The youth are vulnerable and can easily be attracted by advertising and promotions. They have higher disposable incomes towards spending on luxury. However the attitude of the youth towards luxury purchasing is no different than older adults F:\luxury cars\luxury\fytf.htm 10 Best High-End Luxury Cars These are the kinds of vehicles you buy if you make some serious money. These cars come with so many different technological toys that you feel as if youre driving around in something made by NASA. There are others out there, though they dont offer space age gizmos. Some of these high-end luxury sedans offer performance. Maserati, Porsche, and those sorts of companies have come along in recent years with sedans of their own, but with a different take on how they should be made. These machines start at around $70,000 and go very high, past the $100,000 mark.

They are classified best on the features like performance, luxury, comfort, gizmos, style and so on. Most importantly though, we are looking for the best car to drive.
10) Rolls-Royce

Phantom

What makes the Phantom so good also makes it bad. On one hand, you get ultra-luxury, but on the other you get a price tag that is ungodly massive. We love the Phantom because its a cruise ship on wheels. We love the extravagant accommodations and the magnificent ride. The car is so big and so huge that you need to build a bigger garage to store it. That being said, its hard to drive because of that size and its not going to fit in some parking spots. Plus, in order to buy one you need to sell your house. Prices start at $380,000.

9) Lexus

LS

There is not a whole lot wrong with the LS because its Japanese, but there isnt a whole lot that is really good about the LS either. The big Lexus has the exterior design of a Toyota, which just means that it isnt striking in anyway shape or form. The interior is the same way, nothing special that makes you feel like youre in a very expensive luxury sedan. The same goes with the drive, nothing special. We do like the toys and the way the car can parallel park itself, but good luck actually getting it to work. Prices start at $65,380, which is decent for a car like this. Some might disagree because this is a smart buy and if you really want to play it safe then go ahead, but we wont.

8) Bentley Continental Flying Spur Bentleys of old were big, insane luxury machines. This one isnt and its a real shame. The styling is aging a bit, as cheaper rivals look far better. The rear seat is a bit cramped and the controls are outdated. That being said, the Bentley is still very fast and very comfortable. Nothing says fun like a 552-horsepower twin-turbocharged W12 engine. Most people who buy this car wont get close to maxing this car out, but if you do you are in for a treat. We like the Bentley, but its just a bit too old for us. Prices start at $177,600.

7) BMW

7-Series

The amazingly good 7-Series has always been interesting. It was stunning before the Bangle butt and then it sort of got ugly. Now, it looks more aggressive, but its still not our favorite looking luxury car. We had a chance to drive the 740, which is the twin-turbocharged V6 version, and we liked it. The ride was firm and there are so many different controls inside that it might confuse some people. We also arent huge fans of iDrive. All that aside, the car does drive well. The engine is strong and the handling is very good. Not to mention the seats are better than sofas. Prices start at $82,000.

6) Porsche

Panamera

The four-door Porsche is a great driving car, but we could never walk out of our house and see it and feel good about it. Its just so ugly. No matter how good the car drives, we just cant bare to look at it. The minute you pass by a shiny window and see the cars reflection, you will be forced to shut your eyes. Its probably one of the fastest cars on the list and it handles like a dream, but of course, there are problems. It can be a bit dull on the road and you do feel a bit detached at times. There are also so many buttons on it that you will spend more time getting the car perfect than you will drive it. Prices of the Panamera start at $89,800, but we would advise you to buy the 4S, which is $93,800.

5) Maserati Quattroporte The Maserati provided us with an interesting predicament. We love this sedan, so much in fact that we would buy one. Yet, we wouldnt recommend it because its going to have issues. Yet, this list is for us as much as its for you so we have put it in fifth because we want it. There are so many confusing buttons on the dash and we have no idea what some of them do. It will most certainly break down and its pretty expensive. That being said, it looks brilliant, sounds brilliant, and you can customize it to high heaven. Prices start at $119,750, which is a lot, but you do get one heck of an engine.

4) Mercedes-Benz S-Class

The S-Class is a government officials favorite ride. Its used by many a leader and it offers some of the best technology you can find. While Audi and BMW have been busy refreshing their top end models, Mercedes has been sitting still and it shows. The S-Classs exterior styling is growing a bit old and the revolutionary technology that made it amazing a few years ago can be equipped on the competition as well. The AMG version is stunning, but useless, so we would advise you get the lower down versions. Prices start at $87,950 for the granddaddy of luxury sedans.

3) Audi A8 The old A8 was not so good, but this new one is a real step up. We havent had much time behind the wheel, as its not officially out yet, but the time we did have was stunning. This is a real driver focused luxury sedan and thats what we love at TopSpeed. Drivers get all the technological wizardry that you would expect from a car like this, plus a brilliant motor and great handling. Not to mention Quattro all-wheel drive.

The looks might put the older generation off, but we think its sleek and styling inside and out. Did we forget to mention the 1,400 watt Bang & Olufsen sound system? You could put on a rock concert with that system. We dont know the price yet, but it should be around $85,000.

2) Aston Martin Rapide One look at the Rapide and it is love at first sight. That big V12 makes a brilliant noise. The handling is crisp and agile. The cabin is a true work of art and you can customize it as much as you like. The back seats are good, but dont take four adults on a road trip. Sure, it costs $197,850, but its worth every penny. If you have kids and the DB9 is out of the question, this will fit your every need.

1) Jaguar XJ This vehicle used to be an older persons sedan, but it is not anymore, as the new XJ is a revolution for the old English company. Look at that exterior design and then look at the interior. The new XJ is simply fantastic looking. This car obliterates the competition, just destroys them to a pulp of their former selves. The interior is just exquisite and the engine is sublime. The ride is supple and the handling is crisp and responsive. Of course, the new XJ wont be as refined as its German rivals.

F:\luxury cars\TopSpeed's 10 Best High-End Luxury Cars - Top Speed.htm CONSUMER NEEDS Consumers adjust purchasing behavior based on their individual needs and interpersonal factors. In order to understand these influences, researchers try to ascertain what happens inside consumers' minds and to identify physical and social exterior influences on purchase decisions. On some levels, consumer choice can appear to be quite random. However, each decision that is made has some meaning behind it, even if that choice does not always appear to be rational. Purchase decisions depend on personal emotions, social situations, goals, and values. People buy to satisfy all types of needs, not just for utilitarian purposes. According to behaviorist, Abraham Maslow's there is a discernible hierarchy of human needs. Based on our level of development the meeting of one need leads into a desire for the next level of development. The lowest level of the hierarchy represents basic survival needs, food, shelter, clothing and safety. Prehistoric man grappled with this and wanted more or Twenty-first century man would not exist. He wanted what he couldn't have, and he achieved it. The biological drive to have more propels us to a higher level of social growth. After our basic, survival, needs are met we want more so we look beyond what we have, to what we "can't" have, to obtain it. Moving up the hierarchy from basic need takes us to social or cultural need. We want friendship, family, and intimacy. Once that is satisfied, our hunger stirs once again for more, for what we cannot have. We begin looking for esteem, achievement, and respect, to fill this need. As a result we form society, social groups. www.referenceforbusiness.com/management/comp-De/consumer-behavior-html

We want to be valued within our social groups. We want what we cannot have and we seek ways to make it so. Ultimately, we want to be more like our creator. We want to be God-like, to utilize that part of us that was created in his image. We want to be self-actualizing, to value and appreciate what is around us, to create beauty, to organize ourselves into productive, moral cultures that solve problems and work harmoniously together. We want what we cannot have so we strive to grow. We reach and we grasp and we stretch for what we cannot have. Whether one believes in evolution or not is immaterial, as a species human social and emotional development result from this desire to have what we do not have, what we cannot have. The motivation to have what we do not have drives us to achieve it. It stretches us. In some of us it manifests itself as the need to "keep up with the Joneses." In others it generates the growth of wings, the desire to explore the unknown, or a commitment to serve the masses. It is in the reaching that we grow, not necessarily in the grasping, as Browning might say. Wanting what we cannot have motivates us to obtain it. It is what being human all is about. It is what separates us from the rest of the animal species. Personality traits and characteristics are also important to establish how consumers meet their needs. Pragmatists will buy what is practical or useful, and they make purchases based more on quality and durability than on physical beauty. The aesthetically inclined consumer, on the other hand, is drawn to objects that project symmetry, harmony, and beauty. Intellectuals are more interested in obtaining knowledge and truth and tend to be more critical. They also like to compare and contrast similar products before making the decision to buy. Politically motivated people seek out products and services that will give them an "edge," enhancing power and social position. And people who are more social can best be motivated by appealing to their fondness for humanity with advertising that suggests empathy, kindness, and nurturing behavior. www.referenceforbusiness.com/management/comp-De/consumer-behavior-html Consumers also vary in how they determine whose needs they want to satisfy when purchasing products and services. Are they more concerned with meeting their own needs and buying what they want to, for their own happiness? Or do they rely on the opinions of others to determine what products and services they should be using? This determines, for example, whether or not they will make a purchase just because it's the newest, most popular item available or because it is truly what they need and/or want. This also influences the way marketers will advertise products. For example, a wine distributor trying to appeal to people looking to satisfy their personal taste will emphasize its superior vintage and fine bouquet; that same distributor, marketing to those who want to please others, will emphasize how sharing the wine can improve gatherings with friends and family. Cultural and social values also play large roles in determining what products will be successful in a given market. If great value is placed on characteristics such as activity, hard work, and materialism, then companies who suggest their products represent those values are more likely to be successful. Social values are equally important. If a manufacturer suggests their product will make the consumer appear more romantic or competitive in a place where those values are highly regarded, it is more likely consumers will respond. PERSONAL VALUES

Values are traits or qualities that are considered worthwhile; they represent your highest priorities and deeply held driving forces. When you are part of any organization, you bring your deeply held values and beliefs to the organization. There they co-mingle with those of the other members to create an organization or family culture. Examples of Values ambition, competency, individuality, equality, integrity, service, responsibility, accuracy, respect, dedication, diversity, improvement, enjoyment/fun, loyalty, credibility, honesty, innovativeness, teamwork, excellence, accountability, empowerment, quality, efficiency, dignity, collaboration, stewardship, empathy, accomplishment, courage, wisdom, independence, security, challenge, influence, learning, compassion, friendliness, discipline/order, generosity, persistency, optimism, dependability, flexibility Identifying and Establishing Values Ones values are made up of everything that has happened to him in his life and include influences from: ones parents and family, religious affiliation, friends and peers, education, reading, and more. Effective people recognize these environmental influences and identify and develop a clear, concise, and meaningful set of values/beliefs, and priorities. Once defined, values impact every aspect of ones life.

One demonstrates and models his values in action in the personal and work behaviors, decision making, contribution, and interpersonal interaction. He uses his values to make decisions about priorities in his daily work and home life. The goals and life purpose are grounded in his values.

Choosing the values that are most important to a person, the values he or she believes in and that define that character. Then living them visibly every day at work and at home. Living ones values is one of the most powerful tools available to him to help him be the person he wants to be, to help him accomplish his goals and dreams, and to help him lead and influence others. Influence of Values on Product Ownership The role of personal values in explaining human behavior has been of interest to social scientists for many years. Values have been defined as beliefs regarding preferable end-states of existence and modes of conduct, and it has been argued that they serve to guide actions, attitudes and judgments (Rokeach 1973). In the last two decades, values research has also proven to be an important topic forconsumer researchers. Research has demonstrated relationships between values and choice of product class (Howard 1977), choice criteria for goods and services (Pitts and Woodside 1983, 1984; Vinson, Scott, and Lamont 1977), automobile purchases (Henry 1976), health food purchases (Homer and Kahle 1988), cigarette consumption (Grube et al. 1984), purchase of computers (McQuarrie and Langmeyer1985), recycling behavior (McCarty and Shrum 1993a, in press), choice of leisure activities (Beatty et al. 1985), and measures of advertising effectiveness such as involvement (Sherrell, Hair, and Bush 1984)

Direct and indirect influences of human values on product ownership (article name) www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=articleundi=B6V8H-3W19H88-2 According to (ask.com, 2006) personal values come from circumstances with the outside world and may or may not change over a period of time. Personal values are made up of choices, personal values motivates decision making by allowing an individuals decisions to be compared to other choices that are in connection with their values. Personal values is something one posses over a lifetime and in some cases it can be hard to change or deter the individual from their value, it is also made up of your social environment such as your culture, religion, and political beliefs. Personal values are not universal it derives from family, genes, and nation and historical environment all of these factors help mold your personal values. The concept of value may or may not be universal and every human being has there own conception or knowledge of whats appropriate for their personal values. (ask.com, 2006) F:\today data\Personal Values - College Essay - Ausher25.htm Consumers' choice of products may be influenced by the human values that they endorse. These values can influence product choice directly or indirectly depending on the meaning of the product and the kind of judgement used to evaluate that meaning. Specifically, values would have a direct influence on product choice when consumers attend to a product's symbolic meaning and make an affective judgement, and have an indirect influence (via tangible attribute importance) when consumers attend to a product's utilitarian meaning and make a piecemeal judgement. www.helium.com/items/1413331-personal-values-and-their-importance MOTIVATION- A DRIVING FORCE The poet, Robert Browning, put it this way, "Ah, but a man's reach should exceed his grasp or what's a heaven for." Browning was right about our reaching seeming always to exceed our grasping. We humans typically strive for more than we have. It is built into who we are. It is instinct. In one context it is called motivation. In another it may be called greed or ambition. Still, in another, it is labeled only wishful thinking. Whatever we call it our wanting what we cannot have has produced some of the most significant advances of civilization. One of the most heard the expressions, "The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence," or "They always have to keep up with the Joneses," or maybe "He's never satisfied with what he has." Some may consider it a negative characteristic but in one way it is a positive, motivating force that drives invention, achievement, and progress. If we buy into the concept that we (humans) were created in the image of God, it would seem this is a bit of the "god-likeness" that is within us. We are creative in our ability to imagine, to design, and to develop, as God was in creating the universe.

We want more, better, the best, and we are eternally looking to optimize our situation with what it seems we cannot have. The urge to get the best and be the best is what is driving people towards luxury cars otherwise the need for having means of transportation can be fulfilled by the small cars as Cuore, Cultus etc www.helium.com/items/1171876 why-people-always-want-what-they-cant-afford (article by James Lynne) RISING INCOME LEVELS A persons income situation influences the product choice. People who live hand to mouth cant think of following fashion trends and having luxuries. Based on the hierarchy of Maslow, people having limited income would prefer to first satisfy their basic needs that come under necessities. However when they are left with excess money after their necessities are fulfilled people start thinking of the luxuries. Thus it is because of the rising income levels and improved standard of living that we see more and more people moving towards the luxury cars. Now even these luxuries are being treated as necessities by the upper class of our society. PURCHASE PATTERN FOR LUXURY CARS While all of this information might be helpful to marketers, it is equally important to understand what compels the consumer to actually make a purchase, as opposed to just generating interest. For example, some consumers respond based on how they are feeling, or more emotionally, while some are focused on making the wisest economic decision. Knowing the different elements that stimulate consumer purchase activity can help marketers design appropriate sales techniques and responses. There are various contributing factors leading to the purchase of luxury cars and this purchase pattern is recognized by certain characteristics. Consumer behavior in terms of such item purchase is markedly different from that of for the usual convenience goods. How One Values Himself and How He Wants Others to Treat Him One of the most dominating factors in buying a luxury car is that this purchase is used to reflect how one values himself and how he wants others to treat him. People wishing prestige, admiration and social acceptance are the ones going mostly for such cars. Their motive is more than just getting a vehicle. Therefore when they go to make a purchase their focus is more on intangible benefits they perceive they will receive with the product. Factors such as price, fuel efficiency, life and thus yet others get dominated by the desire to impress others.
Rosenberg, M. (1965), Society and the Adolescent Self-Image, Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.

Concerned Less With Price

Money for such people is not an issue so while doing a deal they are concerned less with price than with looks, style, recognition as superior in luxury cars etc. Thus the evaluation on these factors is critical and the desire is to get the best item no matter what the price goes. The urge to be the best among his social circle drives the person to compromise on cost but not on the admiration that the car would bring to him

High Involvement Unlike usual convenience goods that we purchase on daily or say routine basis, such a purchase decision marks high involvement of the consumer. High level of evaluation is done before the final purchase by going to the different show rooms, talking to the luxury car users, searching for what is in and what is out etc. Cognitive Dissonance Since this purchase involves huge sum of money, buyers wish is to reduce the cognitive dissonance associated with this purchase decision. Considering the time and effort involved, the wish is always to go for such a car that gives maximum satisfaction after purchase. Extensive Evaluation Extensive evaluation (is the state in which consumers consider the prices and promotions of all brands before making a choice) is done. There are also in-between states of evaluation, depending again on the importance of the purchase and the time available to make a decision (some consumers, usually those who earn higher incomes, value their time more than the cost savings they would incur). Murthi, B.P.S., and Kannan Srinivasan. "Consumers' Extent of Evaluation in Brand Choice." Journal of Business, April 1999. Being Different Here the role of being different is seen more now than conformity. Formerly buyers of luxury cars used to think that for social acceptance they need to go for conformity i.e. if someones friends are having Mercedes-Benz these days, he must also go for it in order to remain in the group. But nowadays we see people seeking novelty and innovation. Everyones desire is to be unique and different apart from conforming to the group. The environment of competition is more dominant. Now one desires to be the trend setter and influencer or say opinion leader in his circle. He tries to be the first one to buy Rolls Royace. The young consumers are not conformist. They do not want to confirm to societal or group norms and are individualistic in their choice, although minor differences can be found in different societies of the world. The young are evolutionary as they give importance to selfconcept; the brand must communicate a sense of well-being and self-respect. They are trendy and modern they want luxury car that match their lifestyle. They are very conscious of the luxury labels available and they have access to them as the young have higher disposable

incomes. What was considered rare and precious has become an object of compulsive buying if it matches the self-image of the young.
Arndt, J., Sheldon Solomon, Tim Kasser, and Kennon M. Sheldon (2004), The Urge to Splurge: A Terror Management Account of Materialism and Consumer Behavior, Journal of Consumer Psychology, 14, 3, 198-212.

Tool For Developing Relationships Last but not the least, luxury car is not the need or necessity but it is a one of the tools to develop relationships. If one desires to be the part of some group whose members own a lavish sports car, buying or owning the same car may ease the way to enter the group. Terror Management Theory is a well-established theory and framework that has been recently linked to consumer behavior. The theory has often been applied to situations where persons have chosen to disengage from social affiliation with individuals who did not share the same cultural worldviews as themselves. However, it has had limited application in positive social affiliation in settings where others share the same worldview and may serve as a protective device from the fears associated with mortality salience. WHY PEOPLE BUY LUXURY CARS Purchasing certain branded luxury car help people to display their own tastes and values. For some it serves to fulfill the emotional needs where they see luxury as an indulgence of their senses. It would not be wrong to say that these cars are bought for what they mean, beyond what they are. Most consumer experts say that there's an emotional connection that people create with a brand. It makes them feel uplifted. Extravagant cars are not only about prestige. Most luxury autos are having more advanced safety options. They even have the best entertainment technology and the most posh interiors. Car owners even have the privilege to customize it. When you think of luxury automobiles, sports cars suddenly pops into your mind. Most owners have the hunger for speed. That is why most luxury car manufacturers excel in their safety. It is something that they greatly invest on. There are new innovations that you will greatly appreciate. There are the blind-spot warning systems, anti-lock brake systems and the electronic stability control. Nowadays, most luxurious vehicles are equipped with it and have added side-front airbags and curtain airbags. http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=George_Z_Battles Aside from the performance of the vehicle, owning a lush car carries and insubstantial value of status. It greatly illustrates as to how successful a man is when he owns a lavish car. According to a study by researchers at UC Davis those who drive luxury cars are no surprise status seekers. Men and older or retired people are more likely to drive luxury cars. In particular, luxury car drivers are over-represented among highly educated and higher-income people.

In psychographic lingo, the achievers profit-oriented workaholics who like being independent are also likely to drive luxury cars and/or sports cars. Sixteen usages of luxury cars There are sixteen usages that consumers have for luxury cars, a stable set of benefits that motivate us to buy. People buy luxury cars in order to: Feel special and apart from the crowd. Feel superior and privileged. Feel of value and importance. Exercise ability and freedom ("I can afford it", "I can do that"). Reward themselves for efforts and achievements. Console one and recuperate from a setback or misfortune. Signal status and command acknowledgement and respect. Demonstrate refinement, connoisseurship and /or perfectionism. Delight the senses, experience pleasant sensations and feelings or create an infrastructure for future favorable experiences. Participate in a certain group and lifestyle. Signal affiliation and belonging. Remind oneself of one's "real" (aspired?) identity. Enflame hope and mobilize motivation and energy. Indulge and pamper oneself, take care of oneself. Feel loved, taken care of and even spoiled. Show feelings of gratitude, admiration or great affection.

http:www.themanager.org/marketing/eternal-principle-for-luxury-brands.html

Luxury cars are specifically designated to serve as means for consumers to fulfill one or more of these tasks. About 75% of all the buying decisions are based on unconscious needs and wants, such as prestige, habit or perceived values Three Main External Effects That Influence Purchase There are three main external effects that influence the purchase of luxury cars. These include: 1. The veblen effect -individuals use product price to display wealth 2. The snob effect - the item is purchased because of its scarcity 3. The bandwagon effect - when consumers buy goods because it conforms to a social group (Seringhaus, 2002). BEHAVIORAL DIFFERENCES

The youth look for exclusive benefits and if products create an emotional value for consumers it represents that the product has been beneficial. The emotional value that the youth look for include pleasure, excitement and aesthetic beauty. They indulge in luxury items as it gives them a sense of well-being and self-respect and would also go the extent of using their credit cards for them. They prefer these luxuries against bringing up a child while the elders indulged in luxury only after their basic responsibilities were fulfilled (Hamilton, 2004). The elders seek more than value when considering purchasing a luxury brand. They try to balance the product's tangible and intangible value with price. They assess discretionary purchases as either dispensable or indispensable, based on more deeply held core values (Salzman, 2009). While the youth focus on increasing their influence, power and wealth, the elders seek new priorities driven the fundamentals of human development. The traditional materialistic values are less important for the elders. INFLUENCING FACTORS The three major influencing factors shaping consumer behavior with regard to purchase of the luxury cars are marketing, media and interpersonal factors Media Consistent with this interest in values by academic researchers, the values-related concepts of life style and psychographics have become increasingly important among marketers and advertisers as a basis of market segmentation and targeting. Typically, it has been argued that analysis of life style and psychographics provides information about consumers over and above that provided by demographics (cf. Boote 1981; Demby 1974; Plummer 1974). In particular, it has been suggested that life style and values information can help "flesh out" the consumer of a product category or brand in a way that sterile demographic information cannot. Therefore, life style and psychographics can be useful in the development of advertising creative strategy (Wells 1974; Ziff 1974), providing the creatives in an agency with a more detailed sense of what the consumer of a particular product or service is like. Furthermore, as Boote (1981) suggests, personal values information may also provide more distinct groupings of consumers of a product or service for the purposes of market segmentation than can demographics alone provide. F:\today data\role of personal values.htm People are now more aware of the trends and car models because of the informative role media is playing nowadays. Through various car shows on television, chat rooms and networking on internet more segment of the market is catered. Media is playing vital role in educating people how they can best fulfill their values through the available alternatives. For example by associating the sports cars with adventure, excitement and joy it makes those consumers who are driven by such values to buy them in order to achieve satisfaction. Marketing Creating Awareness The buying behaviour of the young has been influenced to a large extent by the marketing campaigns and the marketing communications used by the marketers. To attract the young consumers companies usually use talent -celebrity endorsement like movie actors, models, athletes or famous people. Young consumers like responding to car shows

because a charismatic personality signifies a strong, deep, long-lasting relationship between the consumer and the brand personality. Brands have personalities or images, and consumers seek those brands that match their self-image or the image they would like to project to others. Selfconcept is important to the young as self-perceptions motivate behavior, giving control and direction to human performance. The elders on the other hand are less idealistic than they were. They are easily turned off by advertising, stores and shopping malls. They prefer informative-intensive ads that identify a product's benefits rather than image-oriented marketing that targets young consumers. Interpersonal factors Where media and marketing is playing their role in shaping consumers behavior, interpersonal communication is another worth mentioning factor in influencing what to buy and what not, what to opt and what to drop. It is when one communicates with his group, friends and relatives. When opinion leaders try to play in, they influence others. They are the ones whom others follow as they are the trend setters especially for those who are laggers in adopting trends. When someones relative talks about the Phantom after he buys it and praises the features, one ultimately starts thinking of what if I also get the same. Here is when the interpersonal communication starts playing its role.

Hawkins, Delbert, Best, Roger, Coney, Kenneth. Consumer Behavior: Building Marketing Strategy. New York: McGraw-Hill/Irwin 9th Edition, March 2003. Mantel, Susan Powell, and Frank R. Kardes. "The Role of Direction of Comparison, AttributeBased Processing, and Attitude-Based Processing in Consumer Preference." Journal of Consumer Research, March 1999. www.grokdotcom.com/2007/06/25/what-makes-people-buy/ Rosenblatt, A., Jeff Greenberg, Sheldon Solomon, and Tom Psyzczynski (1989), Evidence for Terror Management Theory: I. The Effects of Mortality Salience on Reactions to Those Who Violate or Uphold Cultural Values, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 57 (October), 681-690. Richins, M., & S. Dawson (1992), A Consumer Values Orientation for Materialism and Its Measurement: Scale Development and Validation, Journal of Consumer Research, 19 (3), 303316. Greenberg, J., Linda Simon, Sheldon Solomon, and Dan Chatel (1992), Terror Management and Tolerance: Does Mortality Salience Always Intensify Negative Reactions to Others Who Threaten Ones Worldview? 63 (August), 212-220. Greenberg, J., Tom Psyzczynski., and Sheldon Solomon (1986), The Causes and Consequences of a Need for Self-Esteem: A Terror Management Theory, in Public and Private Self, ed. R.F. Baumeister, New York: Springer-Verlag, 189-212.