Big Luxury Sedans Debut in Monterey

Don’t get us wrong, we love the advanced green technology being introduced on a multitude of electric cars destined for the near future, but the automotive world also needs its share of luxury, too. Thankfully, California’s Monterey Peninsula Automotive Week is a great place for automakers to introduce new luxurious sedans including the 2009 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Just days after Hyundai confirmed that it will be bringing its full size Equus sedan to the United States next year, some major players in the luxury market also showed some future products at the events in Monterey. While Infiniti and Bentley introduced completely new or redesigned models, Porsche managed to grab its fair share of attention by bringing its all-new sedan to the U.S. for the very first time.

Bentley may be synonymous with big luxury sedans, but that doesn’t take anything away from the British automaker when it introduces vehicles like the 2011 Mulsanne. Replacing a car such as the Arnage is obviously no easy task, but Bentley looked to its past when designing its newest flagship model. Bentley claims that the new Mulsanne was inspired by the 1930 8-litre designed by the automaker’s founder, W.O. Bentley, but the new model uses a similar design language as the Arnage-based Brooklands coupe. Everything from the sculpted front fenders and the stylish C-pillars give the 2011 Mulsanne a familiar look in Bentley’s lineup, but the large headlamps and offset parking lamps are familiar with the 1930 touring coupe.While official pricing for the Mulsanne is not yet known, the first one to be produced will cost exactly $500,000 courtesy of a charity auction in Monterey. This seems like a relative deal, however, as we’d expect pricing for the all-new Mulsanne to start north of the Arnage’s $224,990 starting pricing and most likely above the $300,000 mark. The 2011 Bentley Mulsanne will begin production next year with sales beginning sometime in the middle of 2010.

After releasing a single sketch of its redesigned flagship sedan prior to the Monterey events, Infiniti finally unveiled its 2011 M sedan. Similar to the teaser sketch, the design of the 2011 Infiniti M is based largely off the Infiniti Essence Concept that made its debut earlier this year at the Geneva Motor Show. Instead of the rather conservative styling of the current M, Infiniti gave its newest flagship sedan a design that will stand out against competitors from Mercedes-Benz, Audi and BMW. Up front, the 2011 M features styling very similar to the current G and EX, but in its profile focuses more on a luxurious appearance than the sporty look of the smaller Infiniti models. From the rear view, the new M has a much more flattering design than the car it replaces, and gives it one of the most stylish designs in Infiniti’s lineup.

Like the current M sedan, the 2011 model will be available in two trim designations based on the engine size. The 2011 Infiniti M37 will come with the same 3.7-liter V-6 found under the hood of the Nissan 370Z, which produces 332 horsepower in the sport coupe, up from the 303 horsepower of the 2009 M35. The top-of-the-line model will continue to use a V-8 engine, but the displacement and horsepower have been increased significantly. Replacing the 2009 M45, the 2011 Infiniti M56 will feature a 5.6-liter V-8 that produces more than 400 horsepower – a considerable bump in power compared to the same engine size found under the hood of the 2009 Infiniti QX luxury sport utility vehicle. When the 2011 Infiniti M goes on sale next spring, pricing is expected to stay close to that of the 2009 model’s $45,800 starting MSRP.

Porsche’s controversial Panamera sedan already made its official debut at this year’s Shanghai Auto Show, but the German automaker decided to make the car’s U.S. debut in Monterey. Porsche packed 31 examples of its new 2010 Panamera aboard a 747 jet to show them off in California. Marking the first-ever sedan under the Porsche nameplate, the new Panamera looks to build on the success of other unconventional Porsche models such as the current best seller, the Cayenne. With its sporty front end and hatchback design, the 2010 Panamera attempts to mimic the classic design of Porsche’s iconic 911, but features a large, spacious interior that is expected from such a mammoth luxury sedan.

Porsche has already released pricing and specs for its newest model which now stands as the fourth in Porsche’s lineup (fifth if you count the Boxster and Cayman separately). The all-new Panamera will be available in three trim designations with pricing starting at $89,800 for the 400-horsepower, rear-wheel drive Panamera S. Stepping up to all-wheel drive, the Panamera 4S offers improved performance over the S and comes with a starting MSRP of $93,800. For a true Porsche experience, the Panamera Turbo produces 500 horsepower and starts at $132,600. While these prices are just a starting MSRP, Porsche claims that the car’s cabin is fully customizable based on the desires of its owner which would most likely add a hefty charge to the bottom line.

Although these three cars will never directly compete with one another on the actual market, their debut in Monterey symbolizes what the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance is all about. The Bentley Mulsanne will compete against the upper echelon of luxury sedans including Rolls Royce and Maybach, while the Porsche Panamera will go up against cars such as the Maserati Quattroporte, Aston Martin Rapide and Audi A8. The Infiniti M competes against more mainstream full size luxury sedans such as the BMW 7 Series, Acura RL and the Lincoln MKS.