Ultimate Luxury Cars

When you start talking about Ultimate Luxury, there are really only 3 companies operating in that rare atmosphere: Maybach, Bentley and Rolls-Royce.

These are the sort of cars that waft you along rather than you get in and drive. Someone else is getting you where you need to go. We know that they all need approximately 6.75 liters and 12 cylinders and enough cows to feed a family of 311.

Lets start with Maybach. Based on a Forbes report, they sold 57 cars in the US last year. This with a model that really hasn't changed since 2002 when it was launched. But 57? That is nearly $20 million bucks. I would say that the majority of those are rolling around the NBA right now. How long will the brand survive. I don't think after 2010 that they will be bothering with this experiment any longer.

Rolls Royce is really the big man on campus in this market. Last year, they sold over 300 Phantoms in the US. That's a lot of money, but it really is a class unto itself. This car was introduced into the market in 2003, and I know that the numbers take into account the drophead as well. I had the pleasure of sitting in an original Phantom a while back. After wading through the carpet and settling into the rear seat, I felt like a bazillionaire. Its an extraordinary piece of work. The level of fit and finish is quite astonishing.

Rolls has of course got a new model called the Ghost,which is much smaller than the Phantom, although still a large car. The entry level Rolls. I'll let you know when I get to that entry level position.

Bentley have just announce the new Mulsanne which sort of fits between the Rolls Royce Ghost and Phantom models. This is more tailored to the customer that wants to drive rather than be driven. If you want to drive, but a Continental. I don't like the look of the Mulsanne very much, but I am sure in the flesh its a much better looking car.