10 Luxury Cars That Languished At The Top But Forgotten
Sometimes, Luxury Cars that are expensive… but worse.
Luxury Cars
Luxury cars typically have a positive ripple effect on the corresponding automakers. Businesses understand that not every buyer will walk out of the showroom with the best deal, but consumers may feel good about their entry-level model since it wears the same emblem as a vehicle that costs twice or three times as much.
However, this does not imply that the expensive option is the best one. On this list, several of the overlooked flagships suffered because they were inferior to their forerunners. Some of them had younger siblings who were all-around better automobiles. Certain cars were the appropriate decision in the wrong situation. Additionally, a few of them were merely dull.
Whether they were underappreciated, undersung, or just plain unlovable, these ten flagships obviously needed more polish on their halos. These Luxury Cars were Top Cars of Previous Era.
10:- Acura RLX Sport Hybrid
It’s difficult to imagine that a car as iconic as the Acura Legend may one day be just as forgotten as the RLX. Although the company’s now-famous Jewel Eye LED headlights were initially used on the RLX, which debuted for the 2014 model year, its unassuming design and convoluted two-screen infotainment system proved unappealing to many. It is one from the Forgotten Luxury Cars.
But it wasn’t all bad. “Precision All-Wheel Steer” was installed on the rear axle of the front-drive RLX, while a torque-vectoring rear differential was included in the optional Super Handling all-wheel-drive system to lessen understeer. Even a 372-horsepower Sport Hybrid version was available, which replaced the traditional rear diff with two electric motors. These Luxury Cars were Top Cars of Previous Era.
A third motor was positioned between the engine and the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, like the Acura NSX but with a 180-degree rotation also without turbochargers. However, the RLX’s stylish 2018 redesign and snappy performance weren’t enough to keep it from being extinct. 2020 saw its discontinuation.
9:- Cadillac CT6-V / Platinum
The 2016 Cadillac CT6, one of the best sedans the company has produced in years, nearly has it all: amazing looks, nimble performance, a tone of technology, and reasonable price. But what every flagship car ought to have was robust power and an even more robust exhaust tone, which it lacked.
When Cadillac added the Blackwing twin-turbocharged 4.2-liter V-8 to the CT6 lineup in 2019, it made up for it. The Blackwing engine was exquisite and came in two variants: the opulent CT6 Platinum and the performance-focused CT6-V. Additionally, GM’s first car featuring hands-off Super Cruise driving assistance technology was the 2019 CT6 Platinum. It is one from the Forgotten Luxury Cars. These Luxury Cars were Top Cars of Last Era.
Customers didn’t connect with the Blackwing beauty despite the amazing hardware. Due to Cadillac’s Mary Kay reputation and the CT6’s parts-bin switchgear and mid-size interior, buyers looking to purchase a $100,000 sedan may have been put off. Cadillac discontinued the Blackwing-powered CT6, despite it being the best premium vehicle produced by the company in decades, after 2020.
8:- Hyundai Equus
The Hyundai Genesis, the company’s initial effort at a premium sport sedan, is most people’s first memory of it. However, the carmaker also planned the Equus, a full-size car, to compete with the S-Class and 7 Series. When the 2011 model Equus arrived in the US, it came almost completely equipped, with an iPad in the glovebox in place of an owner’s manual, air suspension, adaptive cruise control, a 17-speaker Lexicon audio system, and a 5.0-liter V-8 engine producing 385 horsepower. Additionally, the Equus cost $58,900, which is $7,000 less than the Lexus LS460 and a staggering $30,000 less than the Mercedes S-Class—true to Hyundai fashion. These Luxury Cars were Top Cars of Last Era.
But the Equus never really competed in the premium sedan market. It is one from the Forgotten Luxury Cars. It was devoid of any Hyundai insignia, yet despite this, it and its Genesis younger sibling struggled to overcome its banal branding and persuade a significant number of Lexus and Audi owners to trade in. Before Genesis split off to become its own brand, buyers had no real interest in purchasing South Korean luxury goods.
7:- Infiniti Q45
The Infiniti Q45 promised a different, more understated kind of elegance when it made its debut in 1990. The absence of wood trim throughout the inside and the lack of a grille on the front end were obvious jabs across the bow at the chrome-and lumber-heavy Mercedes-Benz and Jaguar sedans. But although the new Lexus LS400 offered Japanese price and dependability along with levels of elegance and comfort recognized from the luxury segment, the original Q45 was too avant-garde to register as anything more than a blip on the radar of premium sedans. It is one from the Forgotten Luxury Cars.
With less power and lower performance than the first generation, the second generation automobile was even more unidentifiable. With its forceful Gatling-gun headlamps, contemporary birds-eye maple interior trim, and optional laser-guided adaptive cruise control, the third and final version Q45 was bolder. Nevertheless, the Q45 was cancelled after the 2006 model year because Infiniti products like the outstanding G35 sedan and exotic FX45 crossover overshadowed it. These Luxury Cars were Top Cars of Last Era.
6:- Jaguar XJR575
In 2019, Jaguar brought the elegant and aristocratic XJ sedan to an end, but not before launching the 575-horsepower XJR as its replacement. With a base price of $124,325 and a supercharged 5.0-liter V-8 shared with the F-Type SVR, it was more affordable than the Mercedes-AMG S63 and BMW M760i. Moreover, it weighed hundreds of pounds less than either, which allowed it to have very quick reflexes for a big sedan. The Jaguar XJ was an avant-garde vehicle with dynamic handling, quick steering, and avant-garde design, but it was short lived. It is one from the Forgotten Luxury Cars.
For a few years now, there have been rumor’s of a battery-electric XJ redux, but the rumor’s have not resulted in the release of a real product. This implies that the 300-horsepower, four-cylinder XF is currently Jaguar’s flagship four-door vehicle. Hopefully, the cat will return to the big sedan game soon. These Luxury Cars were Top Cars of Last Era.
5:- Kia K900
The Optima and K5 sedans, the Telluride family SUV, and an excellent selection of electric crossovers have all contributed to Kia’s rise in the previous ten or so years. The K900 luxury sedan is one that most certainly won’t be remembered as one of Kia’s greatest ever. Similar to its Hyundai Equus platform-mate, the 2015 K900 was difficult to persuade devoted luxury shoppers to switch to Kia while offering an abundance of equipment and luxuries for the money. It is one from the Forgotten Luxury Cars.
But the manufacturer gave the K900 another go and unveiled a new model for 2019. The only available powerplant was a twin-turbocharged 3.3-liter V-6, replacing the naturally aspirated V-6 and V-8 engine options. Despite having slightly more elegant and conventional exterior design than the nearly fastback first generation model, buyers weren’t overly enthralled with Kia’s large sedan. In the US, the K900 was quietly discontinued following the 2020 model year. These Luxury Cars were Top Cars of Last Era.
4:- Lexus LS600h L
The carmaker made its first sincere attempt to infuse some passion into the full-size luxury sedan with the fourth-generation Lexus LS. Additionally, the LS600h L was the automaker’s first attempt at a hybrid flagship vehicle. It was more of a competitor to the 12-cylinder vehicles that Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi provided than it was an economy play. The hybrid LS had a single electric motor that produced 439 horsepower from a 5.0-liter V-8 engine (as opposed to the 4.6-liter engine found in the LS460). The LS600hL was a tastefully styled hybrid, save for the beady LED headlights and blue-tinted badging that alluded to its gas-electric power. It is one from the Forgotten Luxury Cars.
However, given the price, Lexus’s hopes for V-12 performance with V-8 fuel efficiency fell short. The basic price of the LS600h L was more than $120,000 when it was discontinued in 2016, yet its power output was only about 100 less than that of the German flagships mentioned earlier. However, the electrified luxury formula survived the 600—the 500h model of the fifth-generation Lexus LS continues to be available with a hybrid drivetrain. These Luxury Cars were Top Cars of Last Era.
3:- Lincoln MKT Eco Boost
The Lincoln Town Car, with its lengthy history and enduring appeal among limo and taxi services, is arguably the most commonly seen luxury vehicle available. Thus, Lincoln chose a three-row SUV to replace the four-door sedan when the time came. Yes, it is correct. It is one from the Forgotten Luxury Cars. The unibody crossover presented a challenge to limousine and livery firms who were used to working with body-on-frame sedans.
All in all, the MKT was fairly boring. The 3.7-liter V-6 engine in the front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive CUV made for a boring ride, but if you opted for the optional twin-turbo 3.5-liter engine, power increased to a thrilling 355 horsepower (365 on 2013 and later versions). Nevertheless, not many people gave the curiously styled MKT a second glance. Lincoln moved 50,000 MKT units between 2009 and 2020, reaching a peak of 7,094 in 2012. These Luxury Cars were Top Cars of Last Era.
2:- Lincoln Continental Coach Door Edition
Lincoln revived the Continental Coach Door Edition for the 2020 model year after it was first limited to 80 units for the 2019 model year. The Coach Door Edition, which was made in collaboration with Cabot Coach Builders, included rear-hinged doors with a power soft-close function and a 6-inch larger wheelbase. These Luxury Cars were Top Cars of Last Era.
The next most affordable car with rear-opening doors is the Rolls-Royce Ghost, which costs over $300,000. In comparison, the special-edition Lincoln Continental is a great deal. It is one from the Forgotten Luxury Cars. However, asking over $100,000 for something that uses the same platform as the Ford Taurus could have been too much to bear, which is why Lincoln was still giving discounts on the Coach Door Edition in 2021—a year after the Conti’s manufacture came to an end.
1:- Volvo S80 V8
From the Toyota 2000GT to the Lexus LFA, with stops at the Ford Taurus SHO along the way, Yamaha has handled some of the greatest engines in history. However, the Japanese engineering company also teamed up with Volvo to develop a 4.4-liter V-8 engine that produced 311 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque and was meant for the 2005 XC90 SUV. A few years later, the V-8 was also seen beneath the bonnet of the high-end S80 sedan. The engine’s transverse position in the XC90 and S80 required an uncommon 60-degree bank angle, but it also gave the engine an exciting, un-Volvo-like snarl. These Luxury Cars were Top Cars of Last Era.
Even yet, the S80 was a massive vehicle, with the majority of its weight distributed across the front axle. Furthermore, the typically timid, safe nature of the sedan was at variance with the V-8’s temperament. In addition to being a well-built luxury sedan with an impeccable engineering history, the S80 V8 is an uncommon offering for a corporation that wasn’t known for taking chances at the time. It is one from the Best Forgotten Luxury Cars.
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