Mercedes-Benz Expands to Yachts, Helicopters

Mercedes-Benz Interior Designs Expand to Yachts & HelicoptersYou will not see a luxury helicopter like the EC145 parked alongside an available E-Class at your local dealer (conceal your disappointment), but you should be aware that luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz is expanding its talents into other arenas.  These arenas include luxury yacht and luxury helicopter interior designs.

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Smart Struggles-The Luxury Cars of the Future?

All luxury car fans recognize the winged badge on the nose of any Aston Martin, but would you recognize it on the nose of say, a much more diminutive Aston?  Let’s revisit the Aston Martin Cygnet.

This is a teeny member of the luxury car family, measuring in at barely 10 feet from nose to tail.  Look at the photo to the right, now try to picture James Bond behind the wheel…amused yet?  I am!Aston Martin Cygnet

This is a unique 3-door hatchback, quite futuristic and ideal for city living.  Originally the Cygnet was billed as a sort of sidekick, or the equivalent of a tender to a luxury yacht.  It seems the concept has re-emerged to fit the role as a luxury smartcar, and the timing could not be better, and is in-tune with current global realities and the worldwide auto industry’s decidedly green future.

What is more exciting is that Aston Martin is not the only company betting there is a market for downsized luxury cars.  To compliment new emission regulations in Europe and North America geared toward improving fuel economy, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Cadillac and Audi have all chimed in with their own downsized but upscale additions to their luxury fleets.

Mercedes-Benz has enjoyed success with its Smart brand, and BMW has succeeded across the board, from its large SUVs to its Mini brand.  It certainly seems all brands are interested in placing their unique take on the luxury hybrid market via their own downsized models.  It will be a little interesting to see how large of an impact these auto bits will have!

For more on exotic automobiles, luxury hybrids, Aston Martin rentals and more, follow links.

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Ask Imagine: Luxury Sedan Rentals vs Regular Sedan Rentals

Dear Imagine Lifestyles,

I was curious if you could assist me in solving a dilemma.  My in-laws are going to be visiting us here in Miami, and my husband and I are torn between renting a regular sedan or a luxury sedan for them to drive while they are here for two weeks. 

What are the perks other than the oImagine Lifestyles Luxury Rentalsbvious good looks of a luxury car?  We really enjoy following your luxury blog, and will value your input on the matter.

Sincerely,
Carol, Miami
 

 

 

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An Electric BMW? Please, Tell Me More!

BMW is the world’s leading luxury carmaker, and just keeps hitting us with awesome new models and setting new precedents.  Now, it has been reported that the luxe company intends to keep up with itself, and unleash upon us its first all-electric urban luxury car in 2013.  This is two years earlier than originally planned, andBMW Megacity Electric Car we are not complaining, it is like Christmas arriving early!

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BMW and SGL to Develop Carbon Fiber Plant

Two of our favorite luxury forces are about to combine, as BMW has plans to enter an agreement with SGL Group to develop a carbon fiber factory, right here in the U.S.  BMW is one of the leading luxury car makers in the world, and carbon fiber is currently the industry standard of what defines a luxury composite material.  This union pleases us, immensely.

The carbon factory will be located in Washington, and will have the capacity to supply material for the hybrids and electrical cars that are being developed for the future.  We can see the dollar signs now.

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Lexus Leads U.S. Luxury Car Segment

It has been an exciting past year for Lexus, starting with the launch of the Lexus LFA, their first-ever attempt at a supercar (and what an amazing standard to set, may we add) and now, the luxury carmaker is leading the U.S. luxury car segment this quarter.  It must have been a pricey endeavor to develop the amazing LFA, so we assume the extra market success is assuredly welcome by Lexus.Lexus Leads U.S. Luxury Car Sales

In fact, Lexus is just above Mercedes-Benz, with first quarter sales of 48,523 units, just above their 49,229 units.  In the month of March, Lexus successfully sold an impressive 20,023 luxury cars and SUVs, reporting a 42% gain.  Mercedes is still doing quite well, reporting a 28% gain from the previous year.

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BMW Optimistic about Exotic Car Market Recovery

If we were to judge based on actions, rather than words, we would access that BMW foresees a revival in the luxury car market.  We only say this because the luxury company is working hard on its fresh new lineup of exotic cars, including a plethora of all-new models. 

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Like it in the Rear? BMW to Develop Front-Wheel Drive Luxury Cars

BMW Front Wheel Drive ModelsTwo weeks ago, BMW AG chairman Norbert Reithofer shocked us with the news that BMW would begin to develop front wheel drive cars.  That is like putting training wheels on a set of handlebars, or sharp teeth on a blowup doll.

BMW makes rear-wheel drive, uber-luxurious cars.  End of story.  Why play with perfection?

If you are wondering why this upsets the car enthusiast in us, it all comes down to performance.  A rear-wheel drive luxury car will drive like it is actually connected to the road.  It affects the way a car handles and steers, and driver satisfaction.

The singular advantage a front-wheel drive has over a rear-wheel drive is that it will drive better on snow and ice…sorry, but we do not plan on encountering that problem anytime soon here on Ocean Avenue.  Yes, the drive train, steering gear and engine are conveniently packaged together beneath the hood, but who needs to haul a ton of cargo when you are sporting a luxury car-it is not a soccer mom’s vehicle, buy an SUV if your main concern is space.  We recommend the Cadillac Escalade in that case, because you can still be matronly and keep your dignity.

We do not want to live in a world where comfort is rated above speed.  Front-wheel drive cars are exponentially less exciting to drive, and isn’t that what an exotic car is all about?  Excitement?

Let us not forget, BMW, that for the past three decades you have shown the world that true luxury cars are driven by their back tires.  This was proven again when Cadillac rebranded itself to compete with you, dropping their front-wheel drive models to develop the rear-wheel drive CTS, to compete with the BMW 3 Series.  I shudder to envision myself rolling down the street in my front-wheel drive BMW, singing the Rolling Stones hit,"I can’t get no satisfaction"…because that is exactly how I would feel.

For more on luxury rental cars, BMW rentals, and luxury news, follow links to your new favorite source of information and entertainment.

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The BMW 335d Diesel Hybrid Retains Impressive Power

The 2010 BMW 335d has managed to not only look like every other 3-Series BMW on the roadways, but also to retain performance standards we have come to expect from the luxury brand.  So what is the difference?  The 335d is a diesel hybrid with increased fuel efficiency and lower emissions.2010 BMW 335d Diesel Hybrid

Yes, BMW is known for being at the forefront of the ever-changing auto world, pounding out model after tasty model, each more modern and sophisticated than the next.  And now it seems, this particular model appears to be greener than its predecessors!

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BMW To Develop Engines for Police Cars?

If you are a fan of the muscle car classics, you know that the good ole’ boys often had a good time running from the local deputies.  They may not have been as lucky, had the deputies been driving a patrol car with a decent engine.  For example, BMW has recently won a contract to supply engines for U.S. police cars that could be worth approximately $1.35 billion dollars. 

We doubt they will be faster than a Hemi.  And we can’t envision them running down a Dodge Challenger, Charger, or other heavy blast from the past.  But it is a step in the right direction, as the Crown Vics are tired.  We cannot have our city’s finest driving wholesale rejects from the rest of us.

The word is that the luxury carmaker will supply roughly 240,000 six-cylinder diesel engines, cooling systems, automatic transmissions, and Carbon Motors E7 Squad Car exhausts to Carbon Motors Corporation of Indiana.  This marks the largest contract since 2007, when BMW announced its intentions to provide engine sales to other companies.

These BMW engines come with a price tag of around $3,000 each.  Carbon Motors was established in 2003, and is in the process of developing the E7.  The Carbon Motors E7, as we have covered in the past, is the first-ever car designed and developed exclusively for the U.S. police.

As for all the money, President Obama has provided a loan to the tune of $310 million  (from the U.S. Department of Energy) for Carbon Motors to develop the E7 in efforts to reduce law-enforcement costs and curb emissions.  Yet that is hardly in the billions range, we are curious if the project will stall should the funding run out. 

For more information on BMW, BMW rentals and luxury cars, follow links to our luxury blog.

 

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