While luxury vehicles have lavish interiors and breathtaking exterior designs, they also feature superior driving power and technology such as autonomous features to deliver a more convenient, comfortable and unique driving experience. Although a majority of the eight most anticipated 2016 and 2017 luxury cars on our list are targeted toward car enthusiasts with top-tier incomes and chauffeur businesses, a couple of them are financially accessible to the average Joe who simply appreciates the status and style that the cars exude.
There were strong growth and sales in the luxury car market in 2015, and this trend is expected to continue throughout 2016 and into 2017. Our list of the eight most anticipated luxury vehicles is based on several factors:
- comfort
- high-quality equipment
- interior design
- material and technology used
- performance
- precise construction
- prestige
- price
- security
- special upgrades
2016 Cadillac CT6
Image courtesy of automobilemag.com.
The first-ever Cadillac CT6 comes standard with a 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder engine that can produce 265 horsepower, rear-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission. The exceptionally clean design of the CT6 does well to hide its larger size compared to the CTS, and it comes standard with 18-inch wheels and LED headlights and taillights. The body is made with aluminum structural castings and stamped aluminum, and the amount of steel used provides remarkable sound-deadening properties.
Image courtesy of cadillac.com.
Leather upholstery is also standard, and the front seats are firm and supportive. The driver can take advantage of a rearview mirror with a display for the rear-facing camera and an updated CUE system with a trackpad to control it. A 10.2-inch touch screen for navigation is nestled in an elegant dashboard that stretches the width of the interior. The CT6 also features night vision, which uses thermal technology to detect people and larger animals on the road ahead. The rear passengers get a unique riding experience with extra legroom and an entertainment system with two large screens and several media options with onboard Wi-Fi. Coming to dealerships in March 2016, the CT6 has a starting price of $53,495.
2017 Lincoln Continental
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The final specifications for the new Lincoln Continental haven’t been confirmed, but it’s expected to have standard front-wheel drive and is projected to have a 3.0-liter, twin-turbo V6 engine with 400 horsepower. The subtle exterior design and elegant stance of the Continental features a slightly revised grille, larger openings in the front bumper and production-friendly headlamps when compared with the concept model. The taillights are much bigger and have a new cluster layout with chrome inserts.
Image courtesy of lincoln.com.
The interior is comfortable, luxurious and welcoming with leather seats and genuine wood to accent the center console and dashboard. The 30-way Perfect Position Seats adjust according to body shape and weight, providing optimal comfort and stretch. The back seat has plenty of legroom and a center armrest that is equipped with audio and climate controls. The rear seats also recline, and the windows are equipped with sunshades.
The Continental also features three drive modes: comfort, normal and sport. Adaptive cruise control paces the car a safe distance from vehicles in front of it, and Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection applies the brakes to avoid a collision. A 360-degree camera system improves driverless parallel and perpendicular parking. Set to release in fall 2016, the Continental is estimated to start at $45,000.
2016 Mercedes-Maybach Pullman
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With a twin-turbo V12 engine and 530 horsepower, the Mercedes-Maybach Pullman is the epitome of luxury limousines. The 2016 model features leather-upholstered seating and a partition that switches between opaque and transparent at the touch of a button.
Image courtesy of caranddriver.com.
In the rear, vis-à-vis seating includes two executive seats that face forward and two fold-down seats that face backward. The two executive seats have the most legroom and more headroom than seats in rival vehicles. The seats recline with calf support, and the seat cushions can be adjusted. Three analogue instruments in the headliner inform the passengers of outdoor temperature, current travel speed and time.
The rear passengers can also enjoy an entertainment system that comes with an 18.5-inch display. The Pullman also comes with either the Burmester Surround Sound System, which provides crystal clear sound, or the Burmester High-End 3D Surround Sound System, which delivers outstanding sound quality. Despite not having a date for release, the Pullman will start at $566,922.
2017 Bentley Bentayga
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The Bentley Bentayga is equipped with a 6.0-liter, W12 engine that produces 600 horsepower and can reach 187 mph. The five-seater SUV has a heavyweight design and presence thanks to its lantern eyes and an upright grille. Even though the vehicle comes standard with a panoramic moonroof, the slightly raised, theater-style rear seats have plenty of headroom. The driver and front passenger have access to an infotainment system with an 8-inch touch screen in the dash.
Image courtesy of autoblog.com.
The Bentayga also features adaptive cruise control for semi-autonomous driving in traffic, a blind-spot warning system, lane-keep assist, night vision and pedestrian detection. However, it’s the Dynamic Ride 48-volt electric anti-roll system that sets this SUV apart from others in the market. As an industry first, this system can loosen and tighten the anti-roll bars three times as fast as conventional hydraulics. It can also disconnect the bars for maximum wheel articulation during off-road driving. Expected to launch in May 2016, the Bentayga will have an estimated starting price of $229,100.
2016 BMW 750i xDrive
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As the top-of-the-line model in the 7-series, the BMW 750i xDrive has a 4.4-liter, turbocharged V8 engine that delivers 445 horsepower. The car is made with carbon fiber bonded over steel, and the doors and lid of the trunk are made of aluminum. The front of the sedan features narrow LED headlights that touch the grille, making the front look more streamlined than its predecessor.
Image courtesy of pursuitist.com.
The interior features leather upholstery and several wood trim options, and all of the shiny buttons are made of real metal. When the doors are unlocked, LED lights illuminate the floor, and there’s a scent diffuser in the cabin with the capacity for two perfumes. You can open the trunk by waving your foot under the rear bumper, and the key features a screen that indicates when the car is locked and the windows are closed.
The Surround View parking assistant gives you a third-person view to make parking easier. Currently available at dealerships, the 750i xDrive has a starting price of $97,400.
2016 Jaguar XJR LWB
Image courtesy of jaguarusa.com.
Producing a staggering 550 horsepower, the Jaguar XJR LWB has a 5.0-liter, V8 engine, and the body and underlying structure are made of aluminum. The beautiful exterior design has a larger, more-upright bold grille compared to the 2015 model, and it has a gorgeous roofline and sail-away rear pillar. The LED headlamps are fully adaptive and feature intelligent high-beam assist.
Image courtesy of jaguarusa.com.
Inside, the driver and passenger seats are multi-adjustable, heated, and ventilated. The new InControl infotainment system comes with an 8-inch touch screen and a customizable home screen for additional convenience. The Meridian Digital Surround Sound System delivers impeccable sound with 20 speakers.
The XJR LWB features a multitude of safety features, some of which include radar sensors on the rear bumper, automatic park assist, lane-keep assist, night vision, and blind spot monitoring. Additionally, adaptive cruise control helps drivers get through traffic, and traffic sign recognition tells them when the speed limit changes. This new Jaguar model is available now starting from $121,000.
2016 Audi A8 L W12
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The new Audi A8 L W12 is an all-wheel drive, eight-speed automatic with a 6.3-liter, 12-cylinder engine that generates 500 horsepower for effortless acceleration. The long wheelbase hugs the road rather well, and the ride is always smooth. The front exterior features a large grille, narrow LED headlamps and narrow vent openings at the base of the front bumper. In the rear, the car sports LED taillights, fog lights and a chrome bar integrated into the bumper.
Image courtesy of edmunds.com.
The luxurious cabin is almost completely covered in leather, from the seats and center console to the airbag covers and door armrests. The A8 L W12 comes standard with heated front seats and 22-way power adjustment, including lumbar adjustment, massage function, memory and ventilation. The rear seats also have power lumbar adjustment. While the driver gets a heads-up display with navigation and 7-inch infotainment display, the backseat passengers enjoy an entertainment system with two 10-inch screens and a DVD player. Also available is a 10.4-liter refrigerator box in the rear seat. The Bose Surround Sound System includes 14 speakers for all-around music enjoyment. The A8 L W12 is available now from $137,900.
2016 Rolls-Royce Dawn
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With a powerful 6.6-liter, twin-turbo V12 engine, the Rolls-Royce Dawn produces 563 horsepower that accelerate it from zero to 60 mph in just 4.9 seconds. You have the option of painted 20- or 21-inch wheels or polished 21-inch wheels, and the top is made of six-layer canvas that retracts behind the wood deck behind the back seats. The rear of the car is an elegant echo of the vintage boat-tail roadster design.
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The unique coach doors with stainless steel handles open to an interior covered in wood trim, fine leather and wool carpets. Rolls-Royce offers a wide range of upholstery colors for the Dawn. In the rear, passengers have plenty of legroom. Behind the rear head restraints is a roll-over protection system that is specifically designed to deploy in a crash. Additionally, the car has a heat detection system that can distinguish animal and human heat signatures to issue an audible warning of potential danger. Available in March 2016, the Dawn has a starting price of $300,000.
Do you agree that these are highly anticipated luxury vehicles for 2016 and 2017?
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