Top 4 Entry-Level Luxury 2011 Sedan

Here are the top 4 entry-level luxury sedan for 2011 according to autos.yahoo.com. This according for there performance in the road, style and safetenies.

Driving this cool entry-level luxury sedan is very high motivated not only for the road but also the passenger and the driver. This is perfecr for today's budget conscious consumers are looking for.

The List for Top Entry-level Luxury Sedan 2011:

1. 2011 Toyota Avalon
2. 2011 Cadillac CTS
3. 2011 Kia Optima
4. 2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid

Volvo S80 The Luxury Sedan

Volvo's S80 luxury sedan adds a more fuel-efficient PZEV (Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle) engine to its option list for 2010.

The base S80 3.2 uses a 3.2-liter six-cylinder engine, rated at 235 horsepower and 236 lb-ft of torque. Known as the B6324S, this is a very compact 24-valve, DOHC inline six, designed for transverse-engine, FWD applications. Newly optional for 2010 is a PZEV version, retuned for lower emissions and better fuel economy. The PZEV engine has only 225 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque, but meets tough Tier II, Bin 2 EPA emissions standards.

Both 3.2-liter engines lag behind key rivals in both power and fuel economy. The 3.2-liter's 16/25 EPA rating is sub-par for this class, and the PZEV engine's 18/27 rating is no better than the bigger V6s in the Cadillac CTS or Lincoln MKZ, both of which have better overall performance and greater refinement.

The S80 T6 AWD has a 3.0-liter turbocharged six, rated at 281 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. This engine, known as B6304T, has an intercooled twin-scroll turbocharger, designed to enhance power at low and mid-range engine speeds. The 3.0-liter turbo engine brings the S80's performance in line with similarly priced rivals, and its 16/24 EPA rating is only slightly worse than the 3.2-liter.

The top-of-the-line S80 V8 AWD has a 4.4-liter DOHC V8 with 311 horsepower and 325 lb-ft of torque. This all-aluminum engine, known as the B8444S, was designed by Volvo and Yamaha. It has an unusual 60-degree bank angle, making it compact enough for transverse applications. The 4.4-liter V8 is only slightly stronger than the 3.0-liter turbo, and its 311 horsepower is unimpressive for an engine of this size. The 3.6-liter V6 in the 2010 Cadillac CTS nearly matches the V8's power and soundly beats its thirsty 15/22 EPA rating.

Putting The Luxury In A Luxury Vehicle

Owning a luxury vehicle is a desire most people have. Who doesn't want to travel in the highest form of comfort and style? So what makes a vehicle luxurious and who makes these vehicles?

Adding luxury to a vehicle can include many things from genuine leather upholstery and polished woodgrain-looking dashboards to customized rims or chrome. Having a luxury car can also include the newest and latest safety features. Most luxury features trickle down to becoming a common feature in most cars, such as the concept of anti-lock breaks, heated seats or DVD entertainment systems.

But owning luxury means you get the latest technology and the best before anybody else does. So what types of features are luxury vehicles offering these days to stay ahead of the pack? They include:

1. In-dash CD changer: There was a time that CD changers were always in the trunk, which was completely impractical. Today, many luxury vehicles are coming with in-dash units that can play six CDs. This might be limited if the vehicle comes with a navigational system, which takes up the dash space and therefore puts the CD chaner back into the glove compartment, center console, trunk or cargo area, or under a seat.

2. Adaptive cruise control: This one is a safety feature and you may have seen the commercials for this. Adaptive cruise control uses radar or lasers to determine the distance to the vehicle in front of your car and then adjusts the speed accordingly, Many systems alert drivers if the vehicle in front decelerates abruptly.

3. Adaptive suspension: Want control of your ride, how bumpy or smooth it may be? This is where adaptive suspension comes in handy as it controls firmness of individual struts or shock absorbers, changing a vehicle's ride within milliseconds. Advanced systems sense road conditions and stiffen suspension points to provide appropriate handling. Some systems allow you to select your own suspension, making it have both automatic and manual.

4. Advanced climate controls: Dual-zone automatic climate controls have been around for a while, especially in large vehicles. The advanced climate control allows fan speeds and airflow to vary between the two zones. The driver can program warmer air to hit their feet, while the passenger opts for cooler air to blow toward their face.

5. Heated steering wheel: Electrically heated steering wheels heat faster than traditional climate-control systems, warming hands long before the ambient air does. Most operate at the push of a button, though some automatically activate when the seat heaters are switched on.

6. Onboard data processor: An onboard processor should minimally operate as an advanced trip computer that reports relevant vehicle statistics. On pricier vehicles in this class, the feature may include a hard drive that stores music, maintenance files and navigation data.

7. Massaging seats: Okay, this is definitely luxury. This is one of the newest innovations, which is available for both front and rear seats. Some systems, such as use liquid-filled bladders that slowly flow from one side to the other; others use embedded motors. The idea is to relieve fatigue for long trips of sitting.

8. Refrigerator: Want to keep your favorite beverages cooled? Do you live in a hot climate where just about everything goes from cool to extremely warm in minutes? Then you might want a refrigerator in your vehicle. This refrigerator is typically mounted between the rear seats.

9. Panoramic moonroof: These moonroofs are essentially a fixed glass pane placed behind an existing moonroof. Panoramic moonroofs give the cabin a more airy, open feel - especially over the backseat.

The list can go on, depending on what make or model you choose or the amount of money you are willing to spend. Of course if you don't have the kind of money it requires to buy extreme luxury, just wait a few years and it is possible these features will be in a car within your budget.

Luxury Cars With Convertible Tops?

For years, a convertible roof was a feature only offered with sports cars or muscle cars. Ford Mustangs, Chevy Camaros, and other similar vehicles would always come with a convertible option, giving their drivers a unique top down, wind in the hair experience. These convertibles offered a feeling of freedom that most drivers could only envy. However, for those drivers who preferred luxury automobiles, there were other restrictions to worry about. Most luxury vehicles were designed to offer a smooth, comfortable driving experience, not a fast, sporty one. With the exception of Porsche, Ferrari, and Lamborghini, which always had a focus on combining speed with high end amenities, other luxury automotive companies couldn't provide a similar exhilarating driving experience. When the manufacturer saw a demand for a car that combined sportiness and classic luxury, a new option arose: the luxury convertible car.

This car changed the expectations that customers had for their high-end vehicles. Auto makers such as BMW and Audi were now able to offer a sportier car, with a convertible top, that didn't only focus on the driver. High-end sports cars are two seat speedsters, and are designed solely with the driver in mind. For example, a Porsche 911 turbo is clearly not meant to be a passenger car, while the BMW 3 series could provide the speed, convertible top, and 5-passenger comfort. This new breed of convertible, coupled with increased horse power, would give the owner a full sports car driving experience without the limited cabin space. Because these cars don't skimp on the amenities either, they are still viewed as complete luxury vehicles.

With the burgeoning success of these crossover vehicles, companies like BMW, Mercedes Benz, and Audi felt that they could earned the clout to offer a full on sports car to the market as well. Convertibles like the BMW Z4, Mercedes CLK200, and Audi TT would give these companies the chance to ride out the sports car wave that they started with their transitional luxury sports cars. Buyers now had options to choose from, regardless of what manufacturer they preferred, or the price tag they were looking for. Now there will always be the option of a high end luxury vehicle that boasts a convertible top and increased horsepower and a traditional convertible sports car that offers all the speed and agility of their Porsche counterparts.

Top 10 World's Luxury Cars

Here are the list of Top 10 World's Luxury Cars this 2010 according to forbes magazine.

1. Bentley Continental Supersports
2. Bentley Mulsanne
3. Jaguar XJL Supersport
4. Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S
5. Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano
6. Maybach 62S
7. Mercedes-Benz CL 65 AMG
8. Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet
9. Rolls-Royce Ghost
10. Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe