12大豪车旗舰车型大盘点

    随着科技含量很高的2014梅塞德斯奔驰（Mercedes-Benz）S550即将于今年秋天上市，新一场关于谁将问鼎豪华轿车排行榜榜首的争论也将难以避免，而挟S550而来的奔驰有很大的胜算。这台售价10万美元的轿车所装备的高科技设备比一棵圣诞树上的装饰品还多，而这都是为了超过它的劲敌——宝马（BMW）、奥迪（Audi）和雷克萨斯（Lexus）的同级轿车。

    但是有一个排名勿庸置疑。自从1972年以来，S级轿车就是奔驰产品线中的旗舰，它是奔驰生产的最大、最豪华、也是最有声誉的一款车型。

    旗舰车型代表了一个品牌的巅峰成就，为整个产品线奠定了基石。不过不要把它们与所谓的“光环车”混淆了——光环车通常利用一些华而不实的设计把顾客吸引到展厅来，但是真正购买光环车的人很少。奔驰SLR就是一辆光环车，S级则是旗舰车。

    随着高端汽车销售在美国而且尤其是在中国的加速，越来越多的高端用户开始关注各大厂商的旗舰车型。以下就是最近的几款旗舰车型。

    The arrival this fall of the technology-laden 2014 Mercedes-Benz S550 will set off a new debate about who is at the peak of the premium luxury pecking order. Mercedes will have a strong argument. The $100,000 sedan is festooned with more gadgets and gizmos than a Christmas tree has ornaments, all in an effort to keep M-B ahead of top-shelf rivals BMW, Audi, and Lexus.

    One ranking will not be in dispute, however: As it has since 1972, the S-class sedan will remain the flagship of the Mercedes car line: the grandest, lushest, and most prestigious car coming out of Stuttgart.

    Flagship cars represent the pinnacle of achievement for a particular brand. They set the tone for an entire line. They are not to be confused with halo cars -- attention-getting though often impractical designs intended to draw customers into a showroom but that few people are expected to buy. The Mercedes SLR is a halo car; the S-class is the flagship.

    As sales accelerate in the U.S, and particularly in China, more attention is being paid to flagships as an attraction for upscale customers. A look at recent developments: