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Top Cars of the Year

We pick the outstanding rides in the luxury market and come up with an envolope-pushing 11-category list of 12 cars (one tie) that define their clasees

By Paul A. Eisenstein

Even as purse strings tighten and environmental concerns heighten, the irrepressible automotive industry finds ways to create new products that redefine luxury. So once again we take it upon ourselves to name the cars that truly stand out from the crowd in a list of categories that includes a range of sizes, formats, performance and comfort levels, fuel economies and price niches.

Each category has a lot to choose from. As we noted in our previous Best-Car guide (which included 10 categories), the list of luxury automobiles has been growing at a frenetic rate. We’re seeing such new entrants as Hyundai, with its feature-packed Genesis sedan, as well as returning marques, such as Alfa Romeo, which will soon mark its American comeback with the striking 8C sports car. There are plenty of traditional sedans, and they cover more territory than ever—take BMW, where the lineup runs from the urban cruiser 1 Series to the all-new 7-er. There are coupes, sports cars and, well, some things we’re not quite sure how to categorize, such as Infiniti’s second-generation FX50. There are luxury trucks and a growing array of high-line crossovers, which provide truck-like room and utility with car-based mileage and comfort. There’s even an expanding list of high-line “green machines,” from Mercedes’ high-mileage, super-clean diesel SUVs to the all-new Cadillac Escalade Hybrid.

In the pursuit of the best, the editors of Cigar Aficionado have spent countless hours this past year slipping inside the latest Audis, Bentleys, Cadillacs and Mercedes. We’ve driven them on the highway, down city streets, on the German Autobahn and even on the track. We’ve clocked their acceleration, we’ve tested top speeds and we’ve even weighed interior noise levels. But luxury is more than sheer numbers, of course. We’ve also gauged less tangible factors, such as design, comfort and eye appeal. Do we turn heads when we pull up to a four-star restaurant, or get the best spot from the country club’s valet?

This year, we’re making one key change in our results. With so many distinct categories to choose from, we’ve decided to forgo the artificial limits of a 10-Best, and have settled for a list of 11 true standouts in the luxury car category. As always, some of our calls were close, so we’ll give you a quick look at some truly outstanding also-rans as well. Here now, Cigar Aficionado’s annual best-of-the-best luxury automobiles.

Entry-Level Luxury Model
BMW 128

The bigger the better has always been the traditional reasoning in the luxury market, in which personal success was long measured by the sheet-metal inch. Now, a very different question must be considered: how small is too small? In Europe, where roads are crowded, parking is dear and fuel prices high enough to vex even the most affluent motorist, all sorts of downsized offerings have emerged, including the pocket-sized smart fortwo, Mercedes-Benz A-Class and, to our thinking, the best of the pint-sized breed, the BMW 1 Series.

About eight inches shorter and up to 200 pounds lighter than the well-known 3 Series, the 1 Series comprises several expressions, including both coupe and soft-top versions of the 128 and 135 sedans. Unless you like a conventional ragtop, our own preference for driving al fresco is the slightly larger 3 Series hardtop convertible. But in two-door trim, we’re duly impressed by the overall design and road feel of the 1-er, the 128 in particular. True, at 230 horsepower, it’s got a little less muscle than its bigger sibling, the 135, but power comes on smoothly and steadily, and the car has a bit better balance and an unapologetic 0-to-60 time of 5.1 seconds.

Those who remember the subcompact offerings of past years needn’t fret. The 1 Series is no econobox. This handsome, well-equipped car is a luxury segment offering that has us saying small is beautiful.

Midline Luxury Sedan
Audi A4

We’ve long wondered why we don’t see more Audi products on the road in the United States. In Europe, the luxury division of Volkswagen AG has been steadily gaining ground against the better-known BMW and Mercedes-Benz with an array of outstanding vehicles, such as the dazzling R8 sports car. But the real breakthrough, at least for American motorists, could come with the launch of Audi’s all-new A4 sedan.

The German maker made the frustrating decision to introduce the sedan in Europe, then wait a year before bringing it across the pond. But those of us who’ve now had a chance to drive the A4 agree it was worth the wait. The new car is by far the most handsome entrant into the affordable-luxury segment, with a distinctive blend of curves and crisp lines. And, as always, the interior, with lavish materials coming together in a design that’s both eye-catching and wonderfully ergonomic, sets the benchmark other manufacturers can only aim for.

The 2009 A4 sits on a wheelbase that’s been stretched six inches.It’s five inches longer overall and two inches wider. That translates into a more stable, sporty ride, with lots more room for passengers and cargo. Yet Audi engineers have balanced the sedan’s added performance with notably better mileage. For those in snowy climates, the A4’s Quattro all-wheel-drive system has been improved, and for those in the Sunbelt, the updated system also improves handling near the limits.

Look for the sporty S4 and tuner-edition RS 4 models, as well as a roomy and utilitarian A4 wagon, the Avant.

Affordable Performance Sedan
Cadillac CTS-V

It’s back. Well, sort of. Last year, Cadillac’s CTS sedan took honors as Best Entry-Luxury Sedan. This year, we’re giving kudos to the four-door’s sibling, the CTS-V. That’s “V,” as in “velocity,” explains General Motors’ “car czar,” Bob Lutz. And in a nutshell, it delivers. Riding street tires and in automatic gearbox trim, the Caddy set a lap record at the grueling Nürburgring racetrack of just under eight minutes last May.

The first-generation CTS-V was the first Cadillac to break the vaunted 400-horsepower mark. The new model’s supercharged LSA 6.2-liter V-8—a close cousin of the LS9 in the new $100,000 Corvette ZR1—makes a jaw-dropping 556 hp and 551 pound-feet of torque. On the street, that translates into 0-to-60 times of just 3.9 seconds, which will certainly put that punk in the Mustang Cobra to shame if he mistakenly challenges you at the stoplight.

Detroit has always done well with raw muscle. What really impresses us is the way the rest of this car comes together. The updated Magnetic Ride Control suspension is so precise that even a set of railroad tracks couldn’t jounce the sedan off line at 90 mph. We’ll spare you the engineer- speak, but the new approach now delivers all the power the engine can make right to the ground.

Some modest enhancements to the basic love-it-or-leave-it styling of the base CTS have improved aerodynamics. And there’ve been some interior tweaks as well, including new gauges designed to emphasize the car’s incredible performance. All in all, an incredible package.

High-line Luxury Sedan
BMW 750Li

Few automobiles have had a bigger impact on the luxury market than BMW’s 7 Series sedan. Hard to believe, but it’s been nearly a decade since the German maker rewrote the market rules with a look that was decidedly different from traditional luxury sedans. It featured what, for the time, seemed a ponderously large tail, with quirky, horizontal cuts for the trunk, as well as anthropomorphically hooded headlights. Most controversial of all was the all-in-one iDrive control system used to operate everything from navigation and audio to climate control.

Over the years, what were quirks became conventional wisdom for industry designers. Even the segment top-seller, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, now pays tribute to key 7-er design cues—and offers its own version of iDrive. So it comes as a shock to see what BMW is bringing to market for 2009. Sure, it still has its “Bangle-butt” (named for BMW Group’s design director, Chris Bangle), but the trunk cut lines are more traditionally vertical, and the overall look, front to back, is decidedly more elegant and refined. Yet the new car only enhances the incredible presence of the last-generation sedan.

The changes can be seen and felt inside and out. The cabin is reworked, bringing back the sort of driver’s cockpit feel for which BMW has been known. The last 7-er introduced some creative touches, including “unfinished” wood veneers. The ’09 is even more intriguing in its use of materials. But most striking to many will be the wholly redesigned iDrive system. It would take a story of its own to explain the changes. Let’s just conclude that the revised system is like going from a PC to a Mac. It’s intuitive and easy, yet does even more than before. That may be the operative definition of the new 750, overall.

Ultra-Luxury Sedan
Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speed

Those who might, mistakenly, say “stodgy” to describe the generic ultra-luxury sedan could be in for a startling reawakening if they get to log some time behind the wheel of Bentley’s new Continental Flying Spur Speed. Yes, it’s a mouthful, and if you’ve got your foot to the floor, you’re going to log quite a bit of ground by the time you’ve said it all. But the operative word is “speed,” and it’s backed up by the sedan’s 600-horsepower, 12-cylinder engine, which is arranged in an unusual “W” layout. If you’ve got a bit of the boy racer in your soul, you’ll likely be impressed by the sedan’s 4.5-second 0-to-60 times, and a top speed of an even 200 mph.

To get the most out of that W-12, Bentley engineers lowered the Speed’s road height and further enhanced the car’s road grip with a semi-active suspension. In performance mode, you’ll feel every pebble and hold course as if you’re on rails, but even the softest setting provides a firm feel of the road.

Of course, if you’re spending this much money, you certainly want more than just muscle. Like the slightly more sedate “base” sedan—which “only” makes 552 hp and 0-to-60 times of 4.9 seconds—the Speed is everything you’d expect from Bentley, and more. Its cabin is lavished in leather and wood. Some of the elegant details are so subtle it takes a trained eye to notice: like the way separate wood panels are carefully matched, as are the individual leather hides. Meanwhile, a tri-laminate underbody coating and specially laminated side glass result in a cabin so quiet you can speak in whispers—until you stomp the throttle and listen to that glorious engine roar.

Ultra-Luxury Coupe
Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe

Staid Rolls-Royce caused quite a stir a few years back when it pulled the wraps off its stunning 100EX concept car. Now the show vehicle is back, but this time in production form, as the Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe. The two-door we had a chance to drive around Switzerland a few months back has much in common with the bigger Phantom sedan, but Rolls has engineered in a number of key changes that make the Coupe significantly more fun to drive and, to our minds, a lot nicer to look at.

To the latter point, the massive Phantom grille has now been more effectively integrated into the nose and bonnet, as the Brits call the hood. The chopped roofline is the Coupe’s visual signature, sitting several inches lower than that of the four-door. It’s a mixed blessing; it gives the new Rolls a sporty and powerful look, but makes it a bit more difficult to climb in and out of this high-riding automobile. The Coupe’s unusual reverse-opening doors—a feature shared with the marque’s new convertible, the Drophead Coupe—meanwhile enhance access to the rear seats.

Despite its imposing silhouette, the Coupe is lighter than one would expect, due, in part, to its lightweight aluminum chassis. Though the two-door’s 6.75-liter V-12 makes an impressive 453 horsepower, it doesn’t quite match the performance of its archrival, Bentley. But this Phantom isn’t meant to be driven like a sports car. The Coupe is a classic grand tourer that makes the tour in grand and eloquent style.

Luxury Crossover
Infiniti FX50

The crossover segment has emerged as one of the automotive market’s fastest-growing segments. That’s especially true in the luxury car range, where products like the Infiniti FX series are rapidly replacing more conventional SUVs. (Indeed, some makers are converting traditional truck-based sport-utes to car-based crossovers, such as the Mercedes-Benz ML.)

Infiniti deserves a lot of credit for this grand transformation. Where many makers have chosen a cautious transition, by switching to car-based platforms but maintaining traditional truck-like body designs, Infiniti took a more aggressive approach, with dynamic styling. And the newest version of the FX is even more of a sports car, thanks to its longer wheelbase and wide track. If the FX50 looks like a cat ready to pounce, that’s not surprising. In concept form it was dubbed the “bionic cheetah” by Infiniti designers. And like a cheetah, it has plenty of muscle, in the form of a 5.0-liter V-8 that makes 390 horsepower—70 more than the earlier FX45.

If the old car fell short, it was in terms of interior refinement: too much plastic, for one thing. Now you’re enveloped in modern wood and sumptuous leather, and the remaining plastics have the refinement of Bang & Olufsen. Now add an assortment of high-tech systems, including the intriguing Around View Monitor, which gives a virtual bird’s-eye, 360-degree view of whatever surrounds the crossover. The FX takes this category hands down.

Luxury Roadster
Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG It’s the classic debate eventually faced by every automotive designer and engineer: evolution or revolution? Do you shift gears and come up with an entirely new look and feel for a popular product, or simply aim to make the best better? We’re grateful that the folks at Mercedes-Benz chose the latter path when it came to updating their SL roadster. The SL has never fit quite cleanly into any one category; it’s a blend of roadster, grand tourer and sports car. But in its latest incarnation, it just does everything a lot better. As we mentioned in our Good Life Guide review in our August 2008 issue, the ’09 clearly looks familiar, despite the more distinctive headlamps and grille. Yet the overall feel, in the words of AMG chief Volker Mornhinweg, is that of “an athlete in a tailored suit.”

The ’09 SL comes in a variety of iterations, including the SL550, which should prove the best seller. For those who want to wear their wealth, there’s the SL65 AMG, with its twin-turbo, 604-horsepower V-12. But for our money, the real athlete is the SL63 AMG, which features a 6.3-liter, normally aspirated V-8 that “only” makes 518 hp. That’s still enough to turn 0 to 60 in a neck-snapping 4.5 seconds. This two-seater is undeniably the best-balanced version of the SL lineup, and is certain to wipe the smirk off the face of anyone who doubts the roadster’s sports car bona fides.

Luxury Sports Car
Porsche 911 Targa 4S

Racing around the mountain passes near Lake Garda, Italy, we didn’t take long to concede that Porsche has come up with a real winner in its new Targa 4S. Of course, it’s never easy to argue against a member of the 911 family. Porsche’s first Targa debuted in 1965, at a time when safety considerations raised serious questions about the long-term viability of the convertible. Porsche’s strategy was simple: replace the ragtop with a well-supported, mostly glass top, and make it possible to lower some of those panels to retain the al fresco feel. As it turns out, the convertible has survived, but so has the Targa, in part because it offers added security—notably when parked—as well as increased stiffness during high-performance maneuvers.

We think you’ll need a lot of willpower to avoid pushing the Targa, with its performance-tuned all-wheel-drive system, to the limits. The sports car’s 3.8-liter flat-6 engine makes a thunderous 385 horsepower, 30 more than the old Targa 4S, and will readily get you to a top speed of around 185 mph. (Yet, in keeping with the times, Porsche brags that the ’09 model delivers nearly 15 percent better fuel economy.) Longtime 911 fans may lament the loss of Tiptronic, one of the few automatic gearboxes worthy of the Porsche brand. But along with the requisite manual, the automaker expects to see huge demand for its new Doppelkupplung (call it PDK, for short). It’s a race-derived, electronically shifted double manual gearbox. It’s so smooth, whether in manual or semi-automatic mode, you may not even notice the gears change.

Luxury Exotic
Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano

Blindingly fast, heart-throbbingly beautiful, the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano comes a hair’s breadth away from laying claim to being the ultimate la bella machina ever to emerge from the automaker’s factory. OK, the Enzo was a bit quicker, and the new California is even more exclusive, but we’re just overwhelmed by the 599’s overall, exotic demeanor.

The sleek shape of the new coupe sweeps from the low, aggressive nose across a bulging hood line, and back to its broad, rear fenders. The visually intimidating design was heavily influenced by the aerodynamic demands of high-speed driving. The flying buttresses help improve downforce, something quite useful when you’re approaching a top speed of “over 205” mph.

Under the 599’s sensual hood, in a mid-front configuration, sits a 620-horsepower, 48-valve, 6.0-liter V-12—a retuned version of the Enzo engine. That V-12 is, by itself, awe-inspiring, but even more impressive is the six-speed electro-hydraulic transmission, one of the newest in a growing number of auto-shifted manuals on the market. But no one seems to have gotten it quite as right as Ferrari has with its Formula One–inspired gearbox. The F1-Superfast can shift in as little as 100 milliseconds—barely the blink of an eye. That’s significantly faster than with previous Ferraris, and compares with shift times of 50 milliseconds in a Ferrari F1 racer.

While extreme performance and eye-popping looks are Ferrari trademarks, what’s also significant about the 599 is that it comes as close as any Ferrari to date to being a true daily driver. That is, of course, if you can get your hands on one. Even in the current economy, expect a waiting list of well over a year.

Luxury Green Machine
Mercedes-Benz ML320 Bluetec and
Cadillac Escalade Hybrid (tie)

We know we’ll get some calls on this one, but we simply had to declare the category a tie this year to honor the intriguing technology and promising strategies taken by Daimler AG’s Mercedes-Benz brand and General Motors’ Cadillac.

The ML320 Bluetec is the new, diesel-powered version of the German maker’s SUV/crossover. Make that “clean” diesel, for Bluetec is Mercedes’ code name for an advanced power train system that brings the traditionally dirty oil-burner into compliance with even the toughest new California emissions standards. At the same time, the 320 is rated at 18 mpg city, 24 highway, markedly better than any traditional gasoline engine in its segment. And in real-world driving, we’ve repeatedly found it to deliver better numbers than such hybrid competitors as the Lexus RX400h.

Forget what you might think you know about diesels. Today’s engines not only are clean and fuel-efficient, but quick, comfortable and smooth, without the smell. Now, add a well-equipped Mercedes SUV body and you’ve got a luxurious and utilitarian package you shouldn’t ignore if you’re considering a sport-ute or crossover.

As for Caddy, its Escalade has provided us with the slang dictionary definition of automotive bling. That’s another way of saying excess, which is why the ’Slade hasn’t exactly been a favorite of the environmental crowd. But that could change with the debut of the Escalade Hybrid. According to the EPA mileage numbers, you’ll feel about 25 percent less guilty behind the wheel. Yet there’s really no sacrifice, unless you consider the SUV’s hefty price tag. The ’09 Escalade Hybrid still features a 6.0-liter V-8, with all the power you need for towing or fast launches. But it’s mated to GM’s new two-mode hybrid, which is designed to one-up earlier gasoline-electric systems by boosting mileage both in city and on the highway. Oddly, if there’s anything to complain about, it’s the subtle badging of the Hybrid. In keeping with the ’Slade’s bling factor, shouldn’t it blare out in—low-power LED lights—your environmental friendliness?

Contributing editor Paul A. Eisenstein writes on automotive issues for Cigar Aficionado.

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