The question was put to me: asked to name three luxury cars that I could recommend for long-distance travel - say, to a snowbird driving south and then maybe taking off on a cross-continental trip - what vehicles would I choose?
I usually respond to this type of question by asking how much questioners want to spend including taxes and the cost of insurance. Usually people already have a pretty good idea of what they can afford so it narrows the field. But then there are the dreamers.
So really, what's the best car?
There are Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Porsches, but they have drawbacks like limited passenger room, miniscule cargo space and you always have to be concerned about theft.
My choices? These days anything big rides like a dream. But let's go with the Lexus LS 600h L, Mercedes 6.3 AMG and Cadillac CTS4.
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The Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG has astounding performance, gobs of interior and cargo room, the fitting and amenities of a five-star hotel, more technological advances then you can imagine and all in a package that is (sort of) discreet. There isn't much that can accelerate, turn and stop with it, and all with four or five adults aboard.
At this year's Automotive Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) Canadian Car of the Year (CCOTY) testing, in a controlled setting, the winner of the Sports/Performance over $50,000 category was the 4.2-litre V8 Audi S5 that did 0-100 km/h in 5.2 seconds. The S63 AMG, weighing in at 2,115 kg versus 1,765 for the S5, did it in 4.6 seconds.
The S63 AMG is custom built and engineered by AMG, the performance division of Mercedes-Benz. Like all AMG products, work starts with a standard production car - in this case a 2008 S-Class sedan.
The S63 AMG features a 6.2-litre, naturally aspirated V8 that produces 518 hp and 465 lb/ft of torque. The engine is designed and built by AMG.
The suspension and brake systems are specific to the S63 and are designed for high-performance driving by people who know how to get the most out of a car.
AMG has adapted Mercedes-Benz Active Body Control (ABC), tuning it for even flatter cornering and less body movement when accelerating and braking.
In a nutshell, ABC reduces body roll in cornering, squat under acceleration and dive during braking.
Expecting a sedate ride, any preconceptions ended on the first corner going out of the parking lot when the optional multicontour front seat went into action.
The seat has bladders that expand/contract built into each side bolster. Turn right/left and the right/left bladder expands to cup you into the seat and then contract as you straighten out. Lopping along on a two-lane road, the S63 is eminently steerable, being quick to respond with just enough road feel coming through.
But, when you hit the gas, the S63 bares its teeth and takes off as if shot out of a howitzer. If I had to drive across the country, the S63 would be my choice. Of course, the S63 AMG is not cheap at $149,500, but then we are talking about the "best" here.
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Premium luxury with a conscience, that's the Lexus LS600h L.
With its combined V8 gasoline engine and electric motors, this top-of-the-line Lexus offers power equivalent to a V12 but with fuel consumption closer to that of a V6.
It's hard to believe a decade has passed since Toyota unveiled the first-generation Prius with Toyota's pioneering take on hybrids, which uses a gasoline engine, regenerative braking, leading-edge battery pack and electric motors to power the driving wheels. Lexus Hybrid Drive is termed a "full" hybrid, meaning it can run on battery power alone for part of the time. In addition to saving fuel, when the engine is not running, there is no combustion meaning zero emissions.
The LS600h L is big and very fast. Put your foot down and the electric motors come on like a supercharger and noticeably punch the big sedan forward.
The Lexus Hybrid Drive system starts with a new 5.0-litre V8 that uses state-of-the-art vibration and friction lowering technologies for ultra smooth operation. In normal operation, the fuel rating is 10.6/9.1/9.9L/100 km city/highway/combined that is similar to the Toyota Avalon with the 3.5-litre V6.
When you drive the LS600h L it starts from launch like one of those high-speed trains in Europe or Japan. Acceleration has a linear feeling with no sensation of gears being shifted. In a controlled setting it went from 0-100 km/h in 6.5 seconds. That is quick no matter how you cut it. In the critical 80-120 km/h "passing" test, the Lexus did it in 4.7 seconds.
The driver has a switch that allows him or her to modify the hybrid's performance from normal (optimized) operation to power (maximum performance) or snow (maximum control) settings.
In addition to ABS traction control, the LS has Lexus's next generation Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) system. I tried very hard on a wide expanse of controlled pavement to get the LS to slip or slide, but no way.
Price for the 2008 LS 600h L was $132,000 with no options.
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I recently had a lot of driving to do - from the Toronto area to the North American International Auto Show in Detroit and then up to the Montreal Auto Show. Luckily for me, I managed to score a Cadillac CTS with the optional all-wheel-drive system known as the CTS4.
There are two versions of the 3.6-litre quadcam V6 available in a CTS, beginning with the standard V6 263 hp. with a starting priced at $38,900. Mine was the new direct-injection version (304 hp and 273 lb/ft) version that had list price starting at $41,400.
Fuel consumption figures for the CTS4 as tested are 12.5/7.5/10.3L/100 km, city/highway/combined.
Turn the car on and the touch screen nav monitor rises from the top of the stack. There is an override that lets you retract the monitor into the dash so it isn't sticking up in the line of sight.
Now that sounds like a frill, but I have to tell you, the system is one of the most informative I've yet experienced and perfect for my Detroit run.
For instance, the "Map" function of the navigation system not only shows where the roads are but little icons show the restaurants, gas stations, points of interest, flower shops and some of them with corporate logos like Shell, Quiznos and Arbys. If you touch an icon, it gives you a popup with the name and address.
And if you really find yourself in a jam, there's always OnStar that comes with every GM product.
