German Car Zone

Luxury carmakers virtually always have one vehicle—usually their biggest sedan—that they consider their flagship. It’s the car they want commanders of industry, government, and organized crime to choose as their lead vessels. They’re the cars that let people know the boss has arrived. And they’re the cars that, when you buy one, announce that you’ve arrived.

The term “flagship” derives from the idea that a “flag officer”—an admiral or other senior officer entitled to fly a flag representing his command—should have one ship from which he exercises his leadership. Flagships are vessels like the HMS Victory from whose deck Admiral Horatio Nelson led 27 ships of the British Royal Navy in 1805’s Battle of Trafalgar, ultimately defeating 33 ships from the combined French and Spanish navies.

But why did Nelson pick the Victory and not one of the fleet’s other ships, say, the Orion, Neptune, or Leviathan? Size. As one of the largest ships in Her Majesty’s navy, the Victory boasted three decks of cannons, with a total tally in excess of 100 guns. A ship like that radiates confidence, strength, and the ineffable quality of leadership. When a luxury carmaker builds a flagship today, it’s trying to capture that same essence of excellence. After all, as the five following examples prove, a great flagship sets the tone for an automaker’s entire line.




2009 Audi A8 W-12




2009 BMW 7-Series




2009 Jaguar XJ




2009 Lexus LS




2009 Mercedes-Benz S-Class


Full Article: Five Fabulous Flagships - Feature/Luxury Sedans/Car Shopping/Hot Lists/Reviews/Car and Driver - Car And Driver



M

You almost feel sorry for Volkswagen.

Their Phaeton really is a fabulous flagship, and yet it's always left out of these lists.

It is no longer sold in the U.S. so that is why it was left out of this story. Though I agree it is fine car, especially the updated models.

M

Gorgeous XJ color

As a matter of fact, I love them all excluding Jag! I hope the Xj get a new face or replacement within a decade ...!

Either a 7-Series, A8 or Ls is what I'll get with a warm pocket! S-class is too comfy-looking & Xj is very old & boring ...!

I'm surprised that the Cadillac DTS was left out, after all it is supposed to be the "World Standard".


Oh that's riiight, I'm not surprised! Not in the least actually. The Caddy is f***ing garbage. You know the American car industry is in a sad state when our own magazines can't even muster enough good things to say about our cars.

From what I have read the DTS appears to be a fine car, but it is clearly outclassed here in this group, hence it probably was left out - for the better.

The DTS is a FWD, 4-speed automatic relic from another era. Sure it is a decent car to ride in, smells good, but it would have its lugs handed to it by any car in this group. The DTS is actually an embarrasment to Cadillac and GM for that matter. It is a Cadillac from another era. Cadillac's only modern big car is the STS, but it too would be mauled here in this group.

M

I guess the DTS is truly a car for a senile 90 year old.

Or someone that graduated from a Lexus ES350 and wants a V8 and more room, but not the hassle of RWD or modern technology.


M