Luxury on four wheels

When looking at the top end of the automotive market, buyers never have to wait too long for new models nor do manufacturers need to wait for better times to launch their new creations. Thanks primarily to new markets, the 10 best brands in the world - concentrated in Great Britain, Germany and Italy - are all satisfied with their exports and face challenges at the high-end of their offer where cars need to combine luxury and performance without too many compromises since the market is continuously raising the price and performance bar. Aston Martin, for instance, proposes the V12 Vantage S. It’s extreme, as always, and improves on all the incredible specifications offered by the Vantage by, on average, over 10%. Its agility, among other things, given by 80% torque available at just 1,000 revs, sets this car apart. But the car-maker has also improved on the Vanquish Volante, which has even greater performance, but also plenty of carbon fibre and sporty elements that make it the most coveted high-end grand tourer. The Bentley GT V8 S Coupé also aims high with improved performance thanks to increased horsepower, lower ride height and more direct steering, as well as intelligent features that ensure fuel savings by cutting out 4 of the 8 cylinders when cruising. The Rolls-Royce Phantom Celestial is an entirely different concept. This limousine par excellence is 10 years old. It is celebrating its anniversary by adding a rear roof panel that mimics, with 1,000 fibre optic lights, the night sky of its inauguration. Exclusivity is a way of life for the German cars, beginning with the naturalised Bugatti, which has presented a very special series, the Veyron Vitesse Legend with 1,200 horsepower and a price tag of almost