There are a bevy of Luxury marque flagship sedans on the market today. In no particular order:

• Mercedes-Benz S-Class
• BMW 7-Series
• Audi A8
• Jaguar XJ
• Lexus LS
• Maserati Quattroporte
• Porsche Panamera
• Aston Martin Rapide / Lagonda

This year there are 4 new challengers. How would you rate these new flagship sedans? a. For the brand itself, and b. Against the competition?

Volvo S90



Genesis G90



Cadillac CT6



Lincoln Continental

 

I don't care for any of them much, the Genesis G90 looks to be the nicest with the nicest interior to me but then again I have not even seen any of them in person yet.

 

Most interested in the Continental and the CT6. The Volvo is going to have an awesome engine. The Genesis is just a rebadge, but its a pretty credible flagship vehicle.

 

I would argue that the MB S class, 7 series and the Aston Martin Rapide are now in a higher tier than all of the others mentioned.

 

I wouldn't put the S90 or the Continental in that league.

A rebadged what?

 

It will be interesting to see how the Genesis will do. The world wasn't ready for a 50-60K Hyundai a few years ago, and I dont think they are ready for it now, new name or not. They should have came out with the sub-brand when they launched their premium vehicles, and now that they waited, its too late.

 

I don't think its too late at all. Most consumers aren't going to even put the Equus and Genesis together.

 

How the Continental, CT6, and S90 would fit in (or not fit in) IMO, right now, is pretty much guesswork. We don't really know enough about them. Some of us who attended the L.A. and Detroit shows might have seen them up on a turntable, maybe unlocked, but few if any of us have actually had a chance to drive one or even sit inside one. Until I myself do, I'm not even going to try and make any predictions.

 

We do know that the S90 and Continental are transverse FWD layouts. In the true flagship class they need to be longitudinal RWD based platforms to really be legitimate competitors.

Volvo and Lincoln are also not equipped to service the higher end luxury buyer, dealer network and quality isn't there...especially for Lincoln. This isn't an issue for Cadillac, and shouldn't be for Genesis once they get their dealers fleshed out...

 

True, but some great sedans over the years have used the FWD layout. I say let's wait and see or drive them before passing judgement. Look, for example, at what an excellent design and how well-respected the FWD Acura Legend was.....until Acura replaced it with the 1Gen RL.

 

Never anything in this class of vehicle. I've owned FWD transverse cars before and enjoyed them, but when you're going to spend $80,000+ on a flagship car, it needs to be longitudinal and RWD based.

No carmaker who has ever tried to compete in this class with a FWD vehicle has been successful.

I think its a moot comparison though as Lincoln and Volvo don't intend these vehicles to compete in this class. Cadillac does with the CT6.

 

FYI, see the following interview with Lincoln about the Contintnental. Fast forward to 2:30 and he discusses the competitive set, all mid price cars, A6, 5 Series, Lexus GS...no mention of flagship cars and the price will start below $50,000.

Not an LS, 7, A8, S Class competitor.

 

Overall, if all of the flagship cars are RWD yet the Continental is FWD or AWD, it would be difficult to say that the Continental should be compared.

BUT, the Audi A8 according to Wiki the Audi A8 is front wheel drive so I do not believe the whole argument that is has to be RWD anymore.

 

The A8 is FWD in its base form that does not come here, BUT what you don't realize is that Audi's FWD vs Quattro cars, the Quattro cars have longitudinally mounted engines and rear biased AWD...making them RWD cars.

Audi is the perfect example of a company that recognizes that to do business in the US and in places where that type of vehicle is preferred in these segments they need to be able to offer a longitudinal layout. A6, A4 all the same way, Quattro cars get the engine put longways and a rear biased AWD setup.

Even outside of the Continental being transverse, its not in the same price category. Watch the link, thats out of Lincoln's own mouth.

 

Pethaps for the typical continental buyer at least those issues won't matter.