AUTOMOTIVE - AUTOS: Top 11 Luxury Cars Of 2012

There are plenty of great luxury sedans of all shapes and sizes, but here are the ones that shine in 2012. Although we aimed for a Top 10 list, we couldn?t decide which one of these beauties to cut, so in the immortal words of the faux band Spinal Tap, ?We?ve got 11.?

Here?s the list, in alphabetical order:

Audi A6 ? Beautifully updated for 2012, the midsize sedan has been overshadowed by its flashier sibling, the A7.

Bentley Continental Flying Spur ? Splendid British luxury powered by a VW-sourced W12 engine with 552 horsepower, and priced at $181,000.

BMW 5-Series ? Still the benchmark midsize luxury sedan for driving enthusiasts, highlighted by its high-performance M5 version.

Cadillac CTS-V ? In either sedan, coupe or wagon form, the super Caddy comes with a 556-horsepower supercharged V8, Magnetic Ride Control and Brembo disc brakes to compete with the world?s best luxury/performance cars.

Infiniti M class ? These choice sedans come in a range of types, from the base M35 to the high-performance M56 and the clean M35h hybrid.

Jaguar XF ? Stylish and refined, the new model drives like a thoroughbred, with the performance-tuned XFR boasting a 510-horsepower supercharged V8.

Lexus LS460 ? The lush full-size sedan provides the exemplary comfort and smooth-riding characteristics favored by many luxury-car buyers. Also available as a pricey hybrid.

Lincoln MKS ? The flagship sedan can be boosted with an EcoBoost V6 that efficiently generates 355 horsepower in the full-size luxury craft.

Maserati Quattroporte ? A sexy Italian body and finely crafted interior make the Quattroporte (Italian for four-door) a fitting sedan model for the storied performance brand.

Mercedes-Benz E-Class ? The German automaker?s most-popular model is better than ever with sharpened styling and a wide choice of variations including the high-performance AMG version and the impressive Bluetec diesel.

Rolls-Royce Ghost ? Here?s the real deal, the top of the luxury-car heap and the latest craft to wear a Flying Lady on its nose, in either base or extended-wheelbase model, priced from $250,000 to $290,000.

For a gallery of photos, see Best New Luxury Sedans

Bob Golfen, Automotive Editor for SPEED.com, is a veteran auto writer based in Phoenix, Arizona, with a passion for collector cars, car culture and the automotive lifestyle. SPEED.com fans can email Bob Golfen at

Source: http://automotive.speedtv.com/article/autos-top-11-luxury-cars-of-2012/

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