Luxury has been defined by comfort and power for countless years. That is slowly changing. The youngest drivers would rather have a cool app than a 0-60 under seven seconds. Leather seats and hardwood trim have given way to iPod docks, nav systems, and voice commanded functions. The slowly dawning evolution of the driver has luxury automakers in a bit of quandary.
How to attract the emerging market? Currently, they are trying more fuel efficient cars. Smaller vehicles that may not offer the creature comforts, but have as many gadgets as can be supported by a single car battery. At the same time, they can not neglect the 70% of the car buying market that still wants a car to warm their hands and backsides while 500 ponies pull their chariot down the highway.
BMW, Audi, and Mercedes are premiering mighty engines with slight fuel economy gains over last years models right next to a fleet of green concepts. Two seat all electric cars sit next to 560 hp gas guzzlers. The luxury brands are having to fight the instincts that they developed over the past 80 years and seem headed into a realm of electric and other alternative power supplies. Nostalgia may soon be the only place to find a true V8 behemoth. At least that might be good news for your bank account; getting a Kansas car loan for a smaller, more fuel efficient car is definitely better for your long-range financial future.