A record number of luxury cars are being sold across the globe, with demand highest in the United States, comprising 30% of the global sales volume. Bentley and Ferrari are still the Kings of the luxury marque sector, though they are followed quite closely by Rolls-Royce and Aston Martin. In part, their success has to do with the rise in the number of global billionaires. From 2010 to 2016, these buyers rose from 1,011 to 1,810 in number. Nothing beats the luxury of a high-end bespoke car, made-to-measure in everything from the interior leather to the stitching and of course, design features that make it safer, more entertaining, and infinitely more exciting, to cruise into the city within a leopard on wheels.
The Bentley Continental GT’s Rotating Display
Bentley’s new Continental GT has been touted as “the most definitively perfect grand-touring machine the world has ever seen” and much has to do with its technological updates. Yes, the GT is now wider and lower, lending it a more sporty look, but its interiors take the marriage between technology and design to new heights. Forget about just one central display screen; this car boasts a rotating display with three different faces. First is the main 12.3 touchscreen, which can be swivelled to reveal three analogue gauges (a chronometer, compass, and outside air thermometer), as well as a bespoke dashboard and conceals the screen altogether. The new GT also takes tech features to the extreme, having been shaped with a new tech process called Super Formed, which heats aluminium to 500ºC, thus giving rise to a car that is 176 pounds lighter and more dramatic in its curvature.
The Rolls-Royce Phantom 7’s Gallery
Most drivers are concerned with coverage, fuel consumption and maintenance, but the new Rolls-Royce Phantom 7’2 new ‘Gallery’ feature is exclusively for those who are keen on stamping their identity onto their vehicle, sans a budget. Instead of the standard dashboard with its aircon, glove box and screen, the Gallery is a glass-covered space that is fully customizable to the buyer’s requirements. “The Gallery is an innovation that furthers Rolls-Royce’s unparalleled bespoke capabilities,” notes Rolls-Royce CEO, Torsten Müller Ötvös. “Patrons are now invited to commission artworks for their own personal Gallery within Phantom, in essence, bringing art, within art.” Rolls-Royce also offers options such as a 24-karat gold panel, or a ceramic design containing roses, for those who wish to keep their substantial art collections at home.
The Aston Martin Vantage’s Sporty Interiors
It may be Aston Martin’s most affordable car to date, but the new Vantage is miles ahead of its predecessor in terms of interior design. Sporty is the word here; an 8-inch LCD screen at the center of the dashboard and infotainment controls on the center console make for an ergonomic experience in which your hand never needs veer too far from the gears to change the music or power up the air conditioning. Features such as the keyless start/stop, tire pressure monitoring and park assist make for an easy, safe ride, while the luxurious leather interiors add dynamism to this extroverted, flamboyant vehicle.
Bentley, Rolls-Royce and Aston Martin are three luxury brands that are successfully blending tradition and innovation. Top quality materials, a new appreciation for art, and cutting edge ergonomics are making a luxury ride more pleasurable than it ever was.