|
In
a world of bling bling, few things bling more lavishly than
a luxury car. They are the epitome of subtle, tasteful elegance
that, on occasion, can surpass "peel me a grape"
decadence yet remain grounded for their practical function
as a way to go places in comfort and style. The true test
of luxury is a balance of the best of all worlds and an innate
ability to garner respect for doing it. For our luxury award
winner, our natural choice is a legendary nameplate with extended
credentials: The Jaguar XJ LWB (for long wheelbase), a five-inch
lengthwise expansion of Jag's premium aluminum-bodied sedan.
This largest-ever Jag has the most complete combination of
all good things, the amenities, design, spaciousness and ability
to perform as few other automobiles can.
This
new flagship, in four iterations, is roomy and graceful,
yet agile and a kick to drive. It packs a wealth of tradition
and advancement into four different models, topped off with
a performance Super V-8 tuned version and the gratifying
Vanden Plas model, beautifully suited for lap-of-luxury
limousine duty. Among amenities are two independent rear
seat DVD systems, four zone climate controls, tray tables
for keeping up with business, IPOD, MP3 and multi-media
playback and Bluetooth-phone connectivity (available in
March). Beneath is an authoritative 4.2-liter, V-8 powerplant
with six-speed automatic. And as always, the look is distinctively
Jaguar. Nothing else has the sculpted, undulating hood and
slinky, sleek body lines that beckon "let's go."
| Honorable
Mentions: | |
Cadillac
STS
Cadillac gives this wholly-redesigned luxury sports sedan a spirited
edginess, delicious interior, excellent surround sound, and the confidence of
a pair of gutsy, performance engines, including a smooth, 4.6 liter, 320 horsepower
V-8, with all-wheel-drive option. Underpinning it is a picky driver's suspension
choice: From supple to solidly performance-based. Combined, they ensure that luxury,
function and fun can all reside in the same svelte package. When was a return
to rear-drive ever so sweet? Acura
RL
Beautiful balance is an understatement for this revised luxury sedan,
with marvelously smooth all-wheel-drive and manual-mimicing steering wheel paddle
shifters for those bored with the five-speed automatic. Advanced electronics undergird
everything in this smartly good looking package, even the road curve-following
headlamp beams. Expect ample performance from the standard 3.5 liter V-6 engine,
upgraded to 300 hp. |
|
