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92-549: The Continental Mark II is an ultra-luxury coupé that was sold by the Continental Division of Ford for the 1956 and 1957 model years. The first (and only) product line of Continental, the Mark II was developed as the worldwide flagship vehicle of Ford Motor Company. Developed as a successor for the 1939–1948 Lincoln Continental , the Mark II derived its nameplate from European manufacturing practice, denoting

184-492: A front-engine, rear-wheel drive (FR) layout. The FR layout is more expensive to produce and produces lower fuel economy than a front-wheel drive layout; however, it allows for larger engines (particularly straight-six , V8 , and V12 ) to be used. Some American luxury cars during the 1970s through the 1990s switched to a front-wheel drive layout with transverse engine , due to the Arab Oil Embargo of 1973 and

276-700: A sports car roadster), the Chrysler C-300 and the Packard Caribbean convertible. Under William Clay Ford, the Special Products Division set out several objectives. In addition to creating a successor to the 1939–1948 Lincoln Continental, the Continental Mark II was also intended to revive the memory of the 1930s coachbuilt Lincoln Model K , among the flagship American automobiles of the time. In April 1955,

368-497: A 2-rows option with four seats, which typically have more features than their cheaper counterparts. By the early 2020s, manufacturers have found additional strategies to improve technologies, such as new materials, new systems, and improving exteriors. Examples of luxury MPV models include Mercedes-Benz V-Class , Lexus LM , Buick GL8 , Hongqi HQ9 , Toyota Alphard , Volvo EM90 and the Zeekr 009 . Lincoln K-series One of

460-468: A break from other luxury products offered by competitors, two-tone paint combinations were not available, while privately the customer could be accommodated if the appearance was desired. In place of style or outright performance, to justify its exclusive price, Ford Motor Company sought to market the Continental model line as the highest-quality American automobile; in line with the coachbuilt cars of

552-538: A bumper-mounted spare tire); each generation of the Mark Series (alongside the 1977–1980 Lincoln Versailles and 1982–1987 Lincoln Continental) used a variation of this feature. The Mark II also debuted the rectangular four-point star emblem, which remains in use on Lincoln-brand vehicles (in modified form) today. The Mark II was assembled by Ford at Allen Park Body and Assembly in Allen Park, Michigan . Following

644-594: A long-travel coil-spring suspension and an aluminium V8 engine. In the mid-1990s, the SUV market expanded with new entrants. By the mid-1990s, the entry-level Ford Explorer and upscale Jeep Grand Cherokee were the market leaders for SUVs. The fastest-growing sector of this market was for the so-called luxury SUVs, which included the Jeep Grand Cherokee ... the Grand Cherokee's allure: "This vehicle

736-404: A major break from Ford tradition, a moving assembly line was largely dispensed with to facilitate hand-built construction and inspection. In the factory, each vehicle was assembled on a mobile carrier; as each segment of assembly and inspection was completed, vehicles were moved by hand to different assembly stations. Following the 1957 withdrawal of the Mark II, the facility was repurposed, becoming

828-618: A second generation of the model family; Ford would later use this nomenclature for the Mark Series of flagship personal luxury cars. As the most expensive American-produced automobile of the time, the Mark II was marketed against the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud and the Bentley Continental . Produced solely as a two-door hardtop coupe, the Mark II was largely hand-assembled, sourcing its V8 powertrain from

920-516: A select group of 1930s cars with multicylinder engines, namely those manufactured by Franklin , Hispano-Suiza , Horch , Lagonda , Maybach , Packard , Rolls-Royce , Tatra , Voisin , Walter , and Marmon . The Victoria Coupe was offered as both a steel roof and a convertible, and the coupe was the inspiration for the smaller 1932 Ford Victoria coupe , also offered with a V8 engine but a more affordable price. The Lincoln Victoria coupe, first introduced in limited numbers in 1929, also competed with

1012-553: A separate marque (e.g. Lexus , launched by Toyota in 1989) or purchased one (e.g. Bentley , by Volkswagen in 1998). Occasionally, a luxury car is initially sold under a mainstream marque and is later rebranded under a specific luxury marque (for example, the Hyundai's Genesis to Genesis G80 as well as the Citroën DS to DS 5 ). For mass-produced luxury cars, sharing of platforms or components with other models

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1104-481: A status symbol for conspicuous consumption . However, since many European luxury car buyers shy away from conspicuous consumption, brands offer buyers the option of removing exterior badges that identify the model name or engine size. The suspension system of most luxury cars is tuned to prioritize ride quality over handling , however, some are marketed as "sports luxury" and have a greater emphasis on handling characteristics. Traditionally, luxury cars have used

1196-636: A sub-marque sold through Lincoln-Mercury for 18 years, the Continental Mark Series was officially rebranded as a Lincoln model line. The Continental Mark VII became the Lincoln Mark VII, adopting Lincoln badging and a Lincoln VIN designation. The Continental Mark II was produced at the Allen Park Body & Assembly facility in Allen Park, Michigan . Established as the headquarters and assembly plant for Continental, in

1288-543: A successor to the Continental to production. A full-size clay model was approved in June 1953, “subject to minor revisions.” The same year, the two-door luxury segment saw several American-produced vehicles enter production, with the launch of the limited-production Cadillac Eldorado , Buick Skylark , and Oldsmobile 98 Fiesta convertibles by General Motors (coinciding with the launch of the Chevrolet Corvette , as

1380-515: A successor to the Model K (as of 2020 production). The original Model K appeared in the 1931 model year on a new chassis with a 145 in (3683 mm) wheelbase. Factory bodies included two- and four-door phaetons , the latter available as a dual-cowl model. The 384.8 in³ (6.3 L) engine was a derivative of the earlier L-series 60° V8 , but a dual venturi downdraft Stromberg carburetor , higher compression , and altered timing raised

1472-532: A successor. In 1952, the company formed the Special Product Operations team (later Special Products Division). Led by William Clay Ford , the team consisted of John Reinhart (chief stylist), Gordon Buehrig (chief body engineer; designer of the Cord 810 ), and Harley Copp (chief engineer). Initially meeting with rejection from upper Ford management, in 1953, design work was approved to bring

1564-401: A time when luxury car sales suffered a 1% decline, and non-luxury SUV sales were flat. By 2004, 30% of major luxury brands' U.S. sales were SUVs. Crossover SUVs became increasingly popular in the mid-2000s, and manufacturers also began to produce luxury versions of crossovers. The Lexus RX was the earliest luxury crossover on the market, and it has since been the best-selling luxury vehicle in

1656-540: A year and eight months after the introduction of the smaller two-passenger Ford Thunderbird personal luxury car (roadster). The Mark II debuted in the United States at Ford Motor Company headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan. With a $ 9,966 base price ($ 113,352 in 2023 dollars ), the Mark II was the most expensive domestic-produced automobile sold in the United States at the time. The only extra cost option offered for

1748-515: Is common, as per modern automotive industry practice. A compact executive car or a compact luxury car is a premium car larger than a premium compact and smaller than an executive car . In European classification, compact executive cars are part of the D-segment . In North American terms, close equivalents are "compact premium car", "compact luxury car", "entry-level luxury car" and "near-luxury car". Compact executive cars are usually based on

1840-461: Is proof you can have a true off-road vehicle without giving up luxuries and amenities" with the Jeep providing a crucial new intangible factor for buyers—image. The SUV models generated higher profit margins than passenger cars, and car manufacturers began introducing new luxury SUVs during the late 1990s. SUVs such as the 1995 Lexus LX , 1997 Mercedes-Benz M-Class , and 1998 Lincoln Navigator were

1932-620: The Continental Mark III flagship personal luxury car . Though the nameplate had been used in 1958, the design was developed as a contemporary successor of the Mark II, effectively removing the 1958-1960 generation retroactively from the Mark Series. Far less expensive than the Mark II, the Mark III was derived from the Ford Thunderbird , sharing its chassis and wheelbase. One of the most advanced American vehicles of

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2024-542: The Packard Light Eight Victoria coupe also in 1932. The V8 engine was replaced in the Model KA with a new 381.7 in³ (6.3 L) V12 for 1933. This L-head engine shared little with the big KB engine which continued unchanged. The 1933 K-series Lincolns featured many changes, only a few of which were readily visible. The removal of the bar linking the headlights and return of hood louvers

2116-613: The Rolls-Royce Phantom , Maybach 57 and 62 , Hongqi L5 , Bentley Mulsanne , Cadillac Celestiq , Toyota Century , and Aurus Senat . High-end sports cars which are targeted towards performance rather than luxury are not usually classified as ultra-luxury cars, even when their cost is greater than US$ 100,000 . The history of a brand and the exclusivity of a particular model can result in price premiums compared to luxury cars with similar features from less prestigious manufacturers. Ultra-luxury cars are usually selected as

2208-422: The official state car . Grand tourers are essentially high-performance luxury vehicles. These vehicles are generally two-door coupes and are made for long-distance driving, combined with the luxury of an executive car or full-size luxury car . Long before the luxury SUV segment was defined and became popular, the 1966 Jeep Super Wagoneer was marketed at the time as a fully-equipped station wagon. It

2300-497: The 1930s, the Mark II was largely hand-built. While sharing its design with the standard Lincoln model line, each Continental Mark II engine was effectively factory-blueprinted; after selection from the Lincoln assembly line, the engine was disassembled and reassembled after numerous quality-control and performance inspections. Each of the four wheel covers was hand-assembled with individually fastened vanes; each letter of "Continental"

2392-701: The 1939 model year, Lincoln ended production of the Model K, selling leftover vehicles as 1940 models. For 1941 and 1942, the Lincoln Custom was sold as an indirect successor to the Model K, offered as an 8-passenger limousine or touring sedan produced as a long-wheelbase version of the Lincoln-Zephyr . Since World War II, various Lincoln sedans (the Continental or its Town Car successor) have been produced as long-wheelbase sedans or factory limousines, but no direct model line has been developed as

2484-531: The 1950s, including the Toyota Crown (1955–present), Prince/Nissan Gloria (1959–2004), Nissan Cedric (1960–2015), Mitsubishi Debonair (1964–1998), Nissan President (1965–2010), Toyota Century (1967–present), Mazda Luce/929 (1969–1991), and Honda Legend (1985–2021). Since the 1980s, overseas sales of Japanese luxury cars have increased, challenging traditional European luxury brands. Several East Asian manufacturers have created sub-brands for

2576-493: The 1955 Lincoln Futura concept car (which used a Mark II chassis and powertrain) was converted to become the Batmobile for the namesake 1960s TV series . While the Mark II two-door hardtop was the exclusive model line produced by Continental, several elements of the Mark II would live on in other Ford Motor Company vehicles. While the Continental retractable hardtop never saw production, the top mechanism would be utilized in

2668-526: The 1957–1959 Ford Skyliner ; the mechanism also would see use by the 1961–1967 Lincoln Continental and the 1958-1966 Ford Thunderbird. As part of the Lincoln brand history, the Continental Mark II is the beginning of the Mark series (with two successors in its model history), introducing the integrated "Continental tire". The four-point star emblem of Lincoln debuted on the Mark II and has remained in use on Lincoln vehicles since 1958. Today, approximately half of

2760-568: The 1972 Mark IV and the 1977 Mark V; the latter two generations are derived from the 1972 Ford Thunderbird chassis. In response to the Continental Mark II, General Motors released the Cadillac Eldorado Brougham four-door hardtop. Taking over the lead for most-expensive American car, the Eldorado Brougham cost US$ 13,074 ($ 141,831 in 2023 dollars ), over $ 3,000 more than the Mark II. The first four-door Eldorado,

2852-738: The 1979 fuel crises which eliminated many FR platforms in favor of the more economical front-wheel drive (FF) layout. From the early 2000s, several of these American luxury cars reverted to FR layouts. Since the introduction of the Bentley Continental GT in 2003, additional luxury grand tourers feature all-wheel drive . Prior to World War II , a wide array of European producers made luxury cars, including Rolls-Royce , Bugatti , Delage , Delahaye , Talbot-Lago , Bentley , Alvis , Avions Voisin , Isotta Fraschini , Horch , Simson , Stoewer , Maybach , Mercedes-Benz , Hispano Suiza , Daimler Company , and Spyker . France

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2944-427: The 1990s. The personal luxury car emerged into mass popularity and affordability as an America-specific category of popularly-priced cars made from the 1950s by the four domestic manufacturers (GM, Ford, Chrysler, and AMC) that reached peak popularity in the 1970s. The cars were stylized, mass-produced two-door coupés or convertibles , relying on standard components. These distinctively styled cars were targeting

3036-590: The 2010s. For example, Rolls-Royce Cullinan , Bentley Bentayga , Aston Martin DBX , Maserati Levante , Lamborghini Urus , and Ferrari Purosangue . Some brands, such as Lincoln , have even moved to an all SUV and/or crossover lineup. Manufacturers such as Mercedes-Benz , Toyota , Lexus , Buick , Hongqi , Zeekr and Volvo have marketed upscale luxury MPVs as luxury vehicles, mainly marketed for Asian markets. Luxury MPVs generally have 3-rows of six or seven seats; however, range-topping flagship models may also offer

3128-441: The 7-passenger Model K limousine was the marque's best-selling model despite its US$ 4700 ($ 103,197 in 2023 dollars ) price tag. The grille and front fascia were again redesigned, and a revised raked windshield and pressed steel wheels were now used. The Model K continued in production for five more years, but sales declined rapidly with the modern Zephyr and new flagship Continental being more appealing to buyers. Production

3220-465: The Brougham was fitted with rear-hinged coach doors , a stainless-steel roof, additional lower chrome body trim, and four front headlights. One of the most sophisticated cars of its time, the Eldorado Brougham was fitted with self leveling air suspension , cruise control, automatic parking brake, power windows and door locks, and power trunk release and antenna. A second-generation Eldorado Brougham

3312-615: The Cadillac Eldorado; while remaining the flagship two-door Cadillac, it was repackaged as a personal luxury car, sharing a front-wheel drive chassis with the Oldsmobile Toronado . Following the 1969 debut of the Mark III, Ford and General Motors established an informal brand rivalry between their company flagship luxury vehicles (similar to the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro). Through the 1998 withdrawal of

3404-487: The Continental Division was created by Ford Motor Company as a stand-alone division to handle the Continental Mark II. While a two-door hardtop would be offered as the debut vehicle, the model range would expand to a retractable-hardtop convertible and a four-door hardtop sedan. Ford noted in 1956 that: “At the very beginning of this program, four major design objectives were set forth: 1. The new Continental

3496-486: The Continental Division, integrating Continental into Lincoln. For 1958, the Continental branding underwent further confusion. Though Continental no longer existed as a stand-alone division, the branding was used for a new car, as Ford introduced the Continental Mark III. Developed under a mandate to reduce its price to $ 6,000 (more competitive with Cadillac Sixty Specials and Imperial LeBarons ). One of

3588-673: The European Commission. The next category of luxury cars is known in Great Britain as a "luxury saloon" or "luxury limousine," and is known in the United States as a full-size luxury sedan, large luxury sedan, or flagship sedan. It is the equivalent of the European F-segment and the German Oberklasse segment. Many of these luxury saloons are the flagship for the marque and include

3680-614: The Lincoln Mark VIII, both the Eldorado and various generations of the Mark Series competed directly against one another in the marketplace (with the exception of the 1980-1983 Continental Mark VI ). Motor Trend reviewed various generations of both model lines against one another in a "King of the Hill" series through the 1970s and 1980s. For 1986, Ford took a definitive stance over the Continental brand name; after existing as

3772-523: The Lincoln and Mercury brands had been grouped together within a common division to streamline their operations. While the Lincoln Continental had gone on to build a positive reputation, the Continental was an aging design, as a variant of the 1936 Lincoln-Zephyr . Following the withdrawal of the 1939–1948 Lincoln Continental, by the early 1950s, interest in a successor vehicle proved sufficient for Ford Motor Company to commence development on

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3864-425: The Lincoln model line and checked through the division's quality-control program during production. The 368 cubic-inch Lincoln Y-block V8 powered the Mark II, paired with the 3-speed Turbo-Drive automatic transmission. For 1956, the engines produced 285 hp, increased to 300 hp for 1957. For a distinctive appearance, the engine had unique finned, cast-aluminum valve covers. Because the engine sat lower than in

3956-480: The Lincoln model line, the Mark II was over four inches shorter, two inches narrower, and over three inches lower than the Lincoln Premiere and Capri. In an extensive contrast to other American luxury cars, the body of the Mark II was conservatively styled, with chrome limited to the bumpers, grille, rocker panels, and window trim. Few curves were added to the body, with the exception of a body accent line on

4048-472: The Lincoln—and at a different driveline angle—a special oil pan was necessary “to provide the required volume of oil for extremely steep grades.” In a 1956 report from Popular Mechanics , the Mark ll produced 16.7 mpg at 50 mph. 3-speed automatic While Continental was planned as a three-model range, the Mark II two-door hardtop coupe was the sole model to reach production. Sharing its 126-wheelbase with

4140-416: The Mark II was a $ 595 ($ 6,800 today) air conditioner. Despite its high price, Ford Motor Company estimated it lost nearly $ 1,000 ($ 11400 today) for every unit produced. The rear-wheel-drive Continental Mark II is constructed using a body-on-frame chassis layout . To lower its body and to optimize the use of dual exhausts, the Mark II uses a Y-shaped frame designed for the model line. A fully boxed crossmember

4232-541: The Mercedes-Benz brand, later joined by BMW , which acquired Rolls-Royce Motor Cars in 1998, as well as Volkswagen which much later controlled or acquired additional brands such as Audi , Porsche , Bentley , Lamborghini , and Bugatti brands. In the Soviet Union, the manufacturer ZiL (then called Zis) began producing representational limousines in the mid-1930s. In the early 1950s, GAZ joined with

4324-576: The US. Some luxury crossovers are built on a platform shared with sedans or hatchbacks. For example, the Infiniti FX is based upon the same platform as the Infiniti G35 sedans and coupes. While early luxury crossovers released in the late 1990s have resembled traditional boxy SUVs, later crossovers, such as the Infiniti FX and BMW X6 , have been designed with a sporting appearance. Despite

4416-478: The development of the Continental division by Ford Special Products, Ford Motor Company sought to develop the most stringent quality control programs ever seen in the American automotive industry, coming up with seven major initiatives for Continental. The quality control program included all employees at the assembly facility, from assembly workers to upper management. In one instance, a transporter truck of Mark IIs

4508-640: The discontinuation of the Mark II, the facility was converted to the headquarters of the ill-fated Edsel brand. Today, it remains as the Ford Pilot Plant , where Ford pre-production vehicles are hand-assembled for testing and production development. For the 1949 model year, all three divisions of Ford Motor Company unveiled their first post-war product line, with Lincoln discontinuing the Lincoln Continental after six years of production (interrupted by World War II). Following World War II,

4600-576: The entry-level luxury segment remained strong throughout the GFC, due to prices being lowered to compete with well-equipped non-luxury cars. For example, in Canada, several luxury manufacturers set sales records in August 2009, due mostly to discounted pricing on entry-level luxury vehicles. Some auto manufacturers market their luxury models using the same marque as the rest of their line. Others have created

4692-422: The fenders and doors. In a notable departure from both American and European styling precedents, neither tailfins nor pontoon fenders were seen; a swing-away left taillamp hid the fuel cap from view. To update the Continental tire styling feature, Ford engineers moved the vertical tire inside the trunk; as the spare tire was still vertically mounted, the "tire bulge" design was introduced in order to allow for

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4784-421: The first SUVs produced by these luxury car brands. Some of these early luxury SUV models used unibody construction, becoming part of the trend moving away from the body-on-frame construction traditionally used by off-road vehicles. During the mid-2000s, SUVs from luxury car brands grew by almost 40% in the United States to more than 430,000 vehicles (excluding SUV-only brands like Hummer and Land Rover ), at

4876-534: The headquarters of Edsel . Today, the facility is used as the Ford Vehicle Operations General Office and New Model Programs Development Center, used to develop new vehicles and their manufacturing. In total, 3,005 Continental Mark IIs were produced. This number includes three prototypes and 13 pre-production vehicles. Serial numbers for Mark IIs ran from 975 to 3989; numbers 986 to 998 were unused. The first regular production car

4968-505: The history of the automobile. Several car classification schemes include a luxury category, such as: Luxury cars have traditionally emphasized higher levels of comfort and safety. Manufacturers often introduce new safety technologies and comfort amenities on luxury models before they are available on more affordable models. Some brands, like Audi and BMW have expanded their marketing by "introducing lesser priced and strip-down economy versions of their products." Luxury vehicles can be

5060-526: The increased popularity of crossover models, traditional luxury SUVs remain in production. Examples include the Lexus LX , Infiniti QX80 , and Lincoln Navigator . Research data from the mid-2000s suggested that luxury SUV buyers did not consider traditional luxury cars (e.g. sedans and coupes), therefore the SUV is becoming the key to bringing new customers into luxury dealerships. Luxury car companies have increasingly introduced SUV or crossover models in

5152-482: The lack of a historical legacy has hindered these efforts. In 2014, Citroën introduced DS Automobiles sub-brand to market luxury cars. Pre World War II intermediate car manufacturers like Renault , Fiat , Opel , Lancia , Škoda , Riley , Praga , Peugeot , Hillman and Tatra made luxury cars but were forced to make economy cars and superminis post World War II . Following World War II, Germany rose to become an export powerhouse, building on success with

5244-564: The largest cars ever built by Ford Motor Company, the Mark III was forced to abandon hand assembly, now built alongside the Lincoln Premiere; the model line was distinguished by its reverse-slant rear-window roofline (on all bodystyles, including convertibles). For 1959, the Mark III became the Mark IV, though receiving only minor model-year changes. For 1960, Ford introduced the Lincoln Continental Mark V, effectively ending

5336-551: The market. In the 2000s, both Ford and General Motors produced luxury pickups: 2002-2013 Cadillac Escalade EXT , 2002-2003 Lincoln Blackwood , and 2006-2014 Lincoln Mark LT . In the late 2000s, the Cadillac CTS and Cadillac DTS led to a resurgence in the brand's luxury sedans. The equivalent sedan from the Ford group, the 2008 Lincoln MKS , was also regarded as a significant improvement over previous models. In 2010, BMW

5428-642: The marketing of luxury cars. The first of these was the 1986 launch of Acura (a Honda sub-brand), followed by Lexus (Toyota) in 1989, Infiniti (Nissan) in 1989, and Genesis (Hyundai) in 2015. The time of the 2007–2008 financial crisis and the Great Recession was the first time since the Great Depression that the luxury car market suffered considerably, something not seen in previous economic downturns. Many such customers saw their net worth decline during this time. For example, some of

5520-438: The marque's new L-head V12 engine . The 447.9 cuin (7.3 L) 65° L-head unit produced 150 hp (112 kW). Both series featured a new grille with less of a surround, vent doors rather than vertical louvers on the sides of the hood, a parking light on top of each front fender, and 18 inch wire wheels. The Lincoln V-12 competed directly with cross town rival Cadillac V-12 introduced earlier in 1930, and it joined

5612-675: The most exclusive vehicles produced in the United States during the 1930s, the Model K competed domestically against the Cadillac V-12 and V-16 , Packard Twin Six , Chrysler Imperial , Pierce-Arrow Model 53 and the Duesenberg Model J , as well as bespoke bodied ultra-luxury models from Hispano-Suiza , Rolls-Royce , Bentley , Bugatti , and Mercedes-Benz . Alongside multiple body configurations produced by Lincoln, bare chassis were provided for coachbuilders . After

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5704-474: The needs of individual customers, not an entire family. The longest running model lines were the 1958-1997 Ford Thunderbird , 1956-1998 Lincoln Mark Series , and the 1967-2002 Cadillac Eldorado . In 1990, American luxury brands dominated, with Cadillac selling over a quarter-million cars, and Lincoln had its best year ever at 231,660 units. However, the market was changing with an ever greater acceptance of smaller, more efficient imported luxury brands while at

5796-584: The newest automotive technology. Several models are available in long-wheelbase versions, which provide additional rear legroom and may have a higher level of standard features. Examples of luxury saloons / full-size luxury sedans include the BMW 7 Series , Jaguar XJ , Cadillac CT6 , Genesis G90 , Audi A8 , Mercedes-Benz S-Class , Lexus LS , Hongqi H9 , Porsche Panamera and Maserati Quattroporte . Luxury cars costing over US$ 100,000 (as of 2007) can be considered as "ultra-luxury cars". Examples include

5888-548: The original Continental coupe sold relatively poorly in contrast to its convertible counterpart, the Special Products Division had set out to introduce a full range of body styles in contrast to the Cadillac Eldorado and Packard Caribbean. Intended as a successor to the Lincoln Continental, effectively making its predecessor a Mark I, the Continental Mark II made its world debut at the Paris Motor Show in October 1955,

5980-441: The original circa 3,000 cars still exist in various states of repair; an active Mark II Forum exists. Luxury vehicle#Ultra-luxury A luxury car is a car that provides above-average to high-end levels of comfort , features, and equipment. Often, more expensive materials and surface finishes are used, and buyers expect better build quality . The usually higher pricing and more upscale appearance are often associated with

6072-427: The platform of a mid-size car (also known as large family car or D-segment ), while some models may be based on a compact car (also known as small family car or C-segment ). Executive car is a British term for an automobile larger than a large family car . In official use, the term is adopted by Euro NCAP , a European organization founded to test for car safety. It is a passenger car classification defined by

6164-565: The postwar era. From 1946 until the late 1990s, Cadillac was the top-selling brand of luxury cars in the U.S., while Lincoln was second. The most successful and long-running model names during this era were the Cadillac DeVille , Lincoln Continental , and the Chrysler Imperial . The Lincoln Mark Series and Cadillac Eldorado were positioned in the personal luxury category, and competition between them continued into

6256-475: The power to 120 hp (89 kW). It competed with the recently introduced Chrysler Imperial , Renault Reinastella , Rolls-Royce Phantom II , Mercedes-Benz 770 , Duesenberg Model J , Packard Eight , and the Cadillac Series 355 . Lincoln offered their clients a long list of coachbuilders with very desirous reputations that were contracted to provide coachwork. Providers who were retained from

6348-466: The previous Model L were Wolfington, Judkins, Willoughby, Brunn, LeBaron, Dietrich, Locke, Derham, Rollston, Waterhouse, and Murphy. The Lincoln K series was split in 1932 into two lines, the V8 carryover Model KA and the new V12 -powered Model KB . The V8 car reverted to a 136 in (3454 mm) wheelbase, though engine output was pushed to 125 hp (93 kW). The KB, on the other hand, featured

6440-459: The replacement once again of louvers with doors on the side of the hood. The Lincoln line was greatly trimmed for 1935, with all cars simply called Model K. The marque attempted to improve profitability by focusing on the lofty over-US$ 4,000 ($ 88,893 in 2023 dollars ) segment, limiting sales in the depression-wracked United States. The Model K's days were numbered as the less-expensive and more-modern Lincoln-Zephyr debuted for 1936. Nonetheless,

6532-497: The same time, the domestic manufacturers were downsizing their models with product decisions that backfired on quality and brand respect. Since the late 1990s, Japanese and German brands have sold the most luxury-type cars in the United States. However, the Cadillac Escalade has led the luxury SUV segment sales in the United States since its introduction in 1998, with the highest sales for 15 out of its first 20 years on

6624-967: The somewhat smaller "Chaika" model range. In 2018, Aurus Motors was established to produce luxury vehicles for the Russian market. The luxury car phenomenon began at the start of the automobile industry when the wealthy frequently invested in manufacturing such models to gain social prestige. Emphasis was also placed on custom-built coachwork. The 1920s and 1930s were the apogee of production of these very large luxury automobiles from many manufacturers. The significant North American manufacturers from 1910 until 1940 included Auburn , Buick , Cadillac , Chrysler , Continental , Cord , Daniels , DeSoto , Duesenberg , Franklin , Imperial , LaFayette , LaSalle , Lincoln , Marmon , Packard , Peerless , Pierce Arrow , Ruxton , Stearns-Knight , and Stutz . The Great Depression put many luxury car manufacturers out of business; others would hold on before going defunct during

6716-459: The standard Lincoln line. Following the 1957 model year, the Mark II was discontinued, with the hand-built coupe replaced by a rebranded Lincoln. For 1969, Ford revived the Mark series chronology, debuting the (second) Continental Mark III coupe, leading to five successive generations, ending with the 1998 Lincoln Mark VIII coupe. Alongside its nameplate nomenclature, the Mark II debuted the integrated "Continental" spare-tire trunklid (in place of

6808-537: The steepest drop-offs came at the high end, including the BMW 7 Series and Rolls-Royce Phantom , and in 2010 Mercedes-Benz dropped the price of the W212 E-Class . The unusually sharp decline in luxury car sales has led observers to believe that there is a fundamental shift and reshaping of the luxury automotive market, with one industry official suggesting that the marques no longer command the premiums that they used to and another saying that conspicuous consumption

6900-402: The time, the Mark III was fitted with full power equipment, full instrumentation, air conditioning, and was one of the first vehicles offered with an optional sunroof and anti-lock brakes. Many features of the exterior design of the Mark III was adopted by the Lincoln Continental for 1970, influencing Lincoln design through the end of the decade. Through the 1970s, Ford followed the Mark III with

6992-402: The trunklid to close. While Continental was intended largely as a luxury vehicle, interior elements of the Mark II were intended to make the vehicle more personal than a typical American luxury vehicle. Central to the interior design was the wraparound windshield (mounted 8 inches further rearward than in a Lincoln). In contrast to Lincoln and Mercury vehicles of the time, the Continental Mark II

7084-500: The use of the stand-alone Continental name. For 1961 production, Ford condensed the Lincoln brand solely to a single Lincoln Continental nameplate, dropping any generational nomenclature. With the exception of the 1977-1980 Lincoln Versailles, Continental was the exclusive nameplate used by Lincoln until the 1981 rebranding of full-size Lincolns as the Lincoln Town Car . For the 1969 model year, Ford Motor Company introduced

7176-801: The users' higher social status compared to low- and mid-market segment cars. The term is relative and partially subjective, reflecting both objective qualities of a car, as well as the projected and perceived image of the vehicle marque . Luxury brands rank above premium brands , though there is no clear distinction between the two. Traditionally, most luxury cars were large vehicles , though smaller sports-oriented models were produced. " Compact " luxury vehicles such as hatchbacks and off-road capable sport utility vehicles are more recent expansions of luxury qualities in various cars. Increasing comfort features, materials quality, interior space, innovations, and or performance have consistently been competitive strategies between car makers practically throughout

7268-563: Was a leading producer of powerful luxury automobiles before World War II. After World War II, the French government used puissance fiscale tax regulations to encourage manufacturers to build cars with small engines, and French motorists to buy them. The Maserati-powered Citroën SM and the Citroën C6 were arguably the last domestic French luxury cars. In the 2010s, some French manufacturers have attempted to develop luxury cars, however

7360-506: Was given a vertically angled steering wheel (with a full set of gauges grouped behind the steering wheel). The Continental Mark II would have an extensive list of standard equipment for the time, equipped with power steering, power brakes, power windows, power seats, power vent windows, and full instrumentation, including a tachometer and a low-level fuel warning. In total, the Mark II was offered with nineteen standard exterior colors and 43 interior design schemes (with five interior fabrics). In

7452-514: Was given to the wife of William Clay Ford as a personal vehicle; initially painted white, it was later painted sky blue. Many Mark IIs were purchased new by wealthy and prominent figures. These included Barry Goldwater (no. 2804), Dwight Eisenhower (no. 3411), Frank Sinatra (no. 1884), and Liz Taylor (no. 3196). The Continental Mark II was featured in the 1956 film High Society , starring Frank Sinatra , Bing Crosby , Grace Kelly , and Louis Armstrong . After its sale to George Barris ,

7544-568: Was individually bolted onto the trunklid. As American leather was sprayed vs vat dyed, Bridge of Weir leather (imported from Scotland) was used throughout the interior; as Continental felt the results were better-wearing, the leather used the Vat dye process and was dyed in the United States. While metallic-style exterior paints had become popular on 1950s American luxury cars, durability concerns forced Continental to adapt lacquer-based paint colors (the first Ford Motor Company vehicle to do so). During

7636-463: Was most noticeable, but the revised chassis, thermostatic shock absorbers, and transmission made the greatest difference. Drivers would notice the adjustable-pressure brakes. Both V12 engines were replaced for 1934 by a single 414 cu in (6.8 L) version of the new Model KA V12, with the KA and KB names now denoting the wheelbase only. Styling changes included a body-colored grille surround and

7728-454: Was no longer attractive in poor economic conditions. Additionally, mainstream brands have been able to offer amenities and devices such as leather, wood, and anti-lock brakes, previously found only on luxury cars, as the costs decline. However, luxury vehicle sales remained relatively high compared to their non-luxury counterparts. This was aided by growing interest in luxury vehicles from emerging markets such as China and Russia. Sales in

7820-403: Was number 1001. The three prototype cars were numbered 500, 501, and 502F. The first two were scrapped in June 1956, and the third car survives today. While a convertible never reached production, two 1956 Mark IIs were converted to convertibles on an official basis. One was converted by Hess & Eisenhardt (no. 1126), while another was converted by Derham Body Company (no. 3190). The latter car

7912-401: Was placed under the front seats, with six tube-style crossmembers located through the rest of the chassis. While the suspension layout itself was largely adapted from the Lincoln model line, to improve the handling and ride of the 5,000 pound vehicle, the Mark II introduced speed-sensitive shock absorbers for the front wheels. To streamline production, powertrain components were adapted from

8004-567: Was produced from 1959 to 1960; styled by GM, the limited-production $ 13,075 model was assembled in Italy by Pininfarina. More conservatively styled than its predecessor, the second-generation Eldorado Brougham previewed many design features introduced on early 1960s Cadillacs (including smaller tailfins). In contrast to its predecessor, the new generation shared greater commonality with the standard Eldorado, though air conditioning, automatic high beams, and cruise control remained. For 1967, GM redesigned

8096-581: Was returned to the factory as a gate security guard noticed a paint defect on one vehicle. Developed as the successor to the first-generation Lincoln Continental, the branding of the Continental Mark II has been a source of confusion. Though the Continental Division was a stand-alone division (with a dedicated manufacturing facility), its product line was marketed and serviced through the Lincoln-Mercury dealer network (as Continentals shared mechanical commonality with Lincolns). In July 1956, Ford closed

8188-532: Was the best-selling luxury vehicle manufacturer by sales, with Audi and Mercedes-Benz the second and third highest selling luxury brands. Chinese manufacturer Hongqi was launched in 1958, making it the oldest Chinese luxury car marque. Later newcomers joined taking advantage of the rise of electric powertrains, with NEV brands such as Nio in 2014, Lynk & Co in 2016, HiPhi in 2019, and Zeekr in 2021 producing luxury electric and hybrid vehicles. Japanese manufacturers have been producing luxury cars since

8280-420: Was the first off-road SUV to offer a V8 engine and automatic transmission along with luxury car trim and equipment. Standard features included bucket seating , a center console, air conditioning, a seven-position tilt steering wheel, a vinyl roof , and gold-colored trim panels on the body sides and tailgate. By the late 1970s, optional equipment included an electric sunroof. The 1978 Jeep Wagoneer Limited

8372-488: Was the spiritual successor to the Super Wagoneer and was the first four-wheel drive car to use leather upholstery. The Range Rover was released in 1970 as a two-door vehicle for off-road durability with few "creature comforts." A four-door version was added in 1981, and the model was pushed upmarket in 1983 by introducing an automatic transmission (Chrysler's A727 TorqueFlite ) as an option. The Range Rover had

8464-519: Was to have distinctive styling. The styling was to be based upon clean, classic lines, rather than modernistic innovations. 2. The new car was to include technological advancements and special features which would enhance its value to the customer in terms of comfort, durability, safety, performance, and prestige. 3. The overall height of the car was not to exceed 58 in. 4. There was to be maximum interchangeability of chassis parts with Lincoln, including engine, transmission, rear axle, and suspension.” While

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