Luxury sedans and limousines: the flagship buying guide

The eighth-generation Phantom family, in its Series II era, combines a tall Pantheon grille, upright roofline and coach rear doors with a V12 powertrain. Choose the standard car or Phantom Extended according to the rear space you actually need. The Gallery’s glass-fronted fascia provides a setting for commissioned artwork.

Bespoke finishes, seat layouts and entertainment equipment require an individual specification. The Phantom suits an owner who values chauffeur travel and ceremonial presence. Its compromises are scale and the cost of a personal commission: neither a photograph nor a highly configured asking price establishes what every Phantom includes.

Steering and market: LHD: USA; RHD lead: UK showroom. Confirm the ordered wheelbase. Regional model source.

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Current Ghost Series II develops the second-generation car. A lower silhouette, slimmer lighting and a cleaner front give it a less ceremonial character than Phantom. Rolls-Royce’s Series II release confirms a 6.75-liter twin-turbo V12, eight-speed gearbox, all-wheel drive and all-wheel steering; its digital environment uses SPIRIT.

Ghost Extended addresses a stronger rear-seat priority, while Black Badge offers a different interpretation. Compare seating and Bespoke equipment on the build sheet. Ghost suits owners who sometimes drive personally, accepting that its more approachable character still brings considerable commissioning and ownership costs.

Steering and market: LHD: USA; RHD lead: UK showroom. Confirm standard or Extended specification. Regional model source.

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The latest Flying Spur combines a long hood and sculpted shoulders with a refreshed face using one oval headlamp per side. Its current range includes Flying Spur, Azure, S, Speed and Mulliner. Azure uses a 4.0-liter V8 plug-in hybrid; a historic W12 description does not apply.

Compare rear seating, chassis equipment, veneers and audio on the ordered car; options and Mulliner choices change the invoice. The Flying Spur suits buyers balancing passenger luxury with driving character. The price below describes an earlier-styled 2026 Azure, while the illustration represents the refreshed family: obtain a separate quote for the new appearance.

Steering and market: LHD: USA; RHD lead: UK range. Facelift and powertrain vary by build date. Regional model source.

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The long-wheelbase 2027 U.S. S-Class adds star-themed lights, a revised grille and MBUX Superscreen. S 500’s inline-six mild hybrid lists 442 hp; the V8 S 580 lists 530 hp. Standard AIRMATIC and optional E-ACTIVE BODY CONTROL are separate chassis specifications.

Rear ventilation, massage and seating equipment depend on the configuration; power rear seats are optional on S 500. Inspect the package behind your driver’s normal position. S-Class suits business travel and regular personal driving, with the cost of selecting the right rear cabin as a key tradeoff. UK long-wheelbase engines differ from the U.S. lineup.

Steering and market: LHD: USA; RHD lead: UK S-Class Long range. Regional engines differ. Regional model source.

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The D5-family A8 pairs a broad Singleframe grille and disciplined body lines with a restrained executive presence. Audi’s 2027 U.S. A8 is a long-wheelbase car; A8 L is separately named in the UK. The U.S. 3.0-liter V6 mild hybrid produces 335 hp with quattro AWD.

Standard U.S. features include 22-way front comfort seats, S line exterior styling and OLED taillights. All-wheel steering is available. Examine the actual rear package rather than infer amenities from the front seats. A8 suits discreet business travel; the compromise is finding the right regional wheelbase and equipment. S8 is the performance-oriented family alternative.

Steering and market: LHD: USA long-wheelbase car; RHD lead: UK A8 and A8 L range. Regional model source.

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BMW’s 2027 update remains within the seventh-generation family. Its large kidney grille, slim upper lights and smaller lower lamps accompany a redesigned cabin with Panoramic iDrive and a standard Passenger Screen. The 31.3-inch rear Theater Screen and specialized rear equipment require an option check.

U.S. launch models include gasoline mild-hybrid 740 and 740 xDrive; the U.S. 750e plug-in hybrid follows in Q1 2027, on a different timetable from the UK. Choose 7 Series for its technology and adaptable passenger space. Its compromises are an assertive appearance, substantial dimensions and the cost of assembling the desired cabin.

Steering and market: LHD: USA 740 xDrive; RHD lead: UK 750e range. Do not assume identical engines. Regional model source.

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Longer rear-cabin proportions, a vertical grille and formal rear windows distinguish Maybach from a regular S-Class. The 2027 U.S. S 580 uses a 4.0-liter V8 mild hybrid; S 680 uses a 6.0-liter V12. Both have 4MATIC. The U.S. guide lists Superscreen and dual 13.1-inch rear displays as standard highlights.

Compare specialized seating, finishes and optional equipment on the build sheet; two-tone paint is a choice. Maybach suits predominantly chauffeured journeys, with size and cabin specification costs as tradeoffs. A UK hybrid is a different derivative and cannot inherit the U.S. S 580’s engine description or price.

Steering and market: LHD: USA; RHD lead: UK Maybach range. UK hybrids are a separate specification. Regional model source.

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Second-generation G90 distinguishes itself through a large Crest grille and thin Two-Line headlights. The 2026 U.S. range offers 3.5T AWD and a V6 configuration with an available 48V e-Supercharger. Nappa leather is standard; premium audio and Easy Close doors are equipment-dependent.

Inspect the massage seating and rear armrest controls on the actual car. A Korea-market extended specification is not automatically the U.S. offering. G90 suits a full-size executive brief with a different marque identity. The overseas tradeoffs are regional support and equipment compatibility; the cited U.S. material does not confirm factory RHD.

Steering and market: LHD: USA; factory RHD not confirmed in the cited material.

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The fifth-generation LS 500 AWD Heritage Edition is Lexus’s final-year U.S. offering for 2026, limited to 250 cars. Ninety Noir paint, dark exterior details and Rioja Red upholstery complement its spindle grille and flowing roof. Its 3.4-liter twin-turbo V6 delivers 416 hp; heated rear seats and Mark Levinson audio are specified.

The attraction is a coherent limited edition, with reduced choice and remaining-stock uncertainty as compromises. Japan’s LS range is a separate regional offering. The U.S. announcement does not establish a worldwide production shutdown or an RHD Heritage package. Confirm the exact car available with the retailer.

Steering and market: LHD: U.S. Heritage Edition; RHD lead: Japan’s separate LS range. Regional model source.

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Century sedan’s rectangular lights, phoenix grille and formal rear pillar express a Japanese chauffeur tradition. It is separate from the higher-riding Century. Toyota’s December 2025 specification identifies UWG60: a 5.0-liter V8 full hybrid, 5,335-mm body and 3,090-mm wheelbase, rather than the other Century’s plug-in powertrain.

Evaluate its rear-cabin specification, upholstery and controls. Japan is the relevant RHD reference; the catalog does not establish a normal LHD factory order. The Century suits specialist chauffeur use, with overseas registration eligibility, service support and regional compatibility as practical tradeoffs.

Steering and market: RHD: Japan-market sedan; factory LHD not verified in the cited catalog. Regional model source.

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The updated G70-family i7 retains 7 Series’ long cabin and imposingly upright grille, with the new panoramic cockpit. U.S. 2027 launch variants are i7 50 xDrive and 60 xDrive, both dual-motor AWD. Rear Theater Screen and executive seating specifications remain choices to verify.

BMW currently shows a 344–362-mile preliminary estimate for its i7 60 reference, dependent on equipment and using EPA test procedures. This is not an unconditional certified range for every i7. Choose it for electric flagship passenger space, accepting charging planning and regional hardware, software and warranty checks when buying internationally.

Steering and market: LHD: USA; RHD lead: UK i7 range. Verify the regional trim name. Regional model source.

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EQS’s aerodynamic roof arc and short hood contrast with a traditional S-Class. Mercedes calls it a sedan, but its rear hatch makes it a liftback. The 2027 technical release specifies 800-volt architecture, a 122-kWh usable battery and charging up to 350 kW under suitable conditions.

Its cited up-to-925-km EQS 450+ range is WLTP, not U.S. EPA. U.S. 450+ is rear-drive; 500 and 580 are AWD. Hyperscreen, AIRMATIC and available rear entertainment suit electric business travel. Check rear options, charging conditions and local ratings; EQS SUV is a separate body.

Steering and market: LHD: USA; RHD lead: UK EQS Saloon. Sedan/liftback, not EQS SUV. Regional model source.

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Air Touring’s low nose, fine light strip and curved glass cabin offer a lighter executive presence. Lucid’s current model-year-2027 page lists AWD and 620 hp. The up-to-431-mile range is explicitly a manufacturer projection on 19-inch wheels, with official EPA estimates to follow; charging illustrations also require specified conditions.

Compare upholstery, optional comfort packages and the rear seat against your passengers. Touring suits owner driving and electric distance rather than Phantom Extended’s passenger-first brief. Regional service coverage and compatible charging are important overseas tradeoffs. The cited U.S. range does not establish a factory RHD version.

Steering and market: LHD: USA; factory RHD not confirmed in the cited current range.

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Third-generation Panamera is a four-door luxury liftback with sculpted fenders, taller headlamp housings and a sporting roofline. Its 2027 U.S. range includes rear-drive gasoline, AWD and E-Hybrid choices. Adaptive air suspension with PASM is standard; Active Ride is optional for E-Hybrid models.

Try the rear seating layout and access: four doors do not guarantee dedicated-limousine accommodation. The liftback can help with luggage, while the cabin posture deserves a personal assessment. Panamera suits buyers prioritizing driving character, with rear-cabin priorities and option costs as tradeoffs. Do not assume a historic Executive derivative remains in the current range.

Steering and market: LHD: USA; RHD lead: Great Britain range. Verify the selected derivative. Regional model source.

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Taycan’s low hood, slim lights and sculpted rear shoulders express an electric sports-sedan brief. The 2027 U.S. entry sedan is rear-drive, with AWD alternatives separately priced. Porsche describes 800-volt architecture, charging up to 320 kW under suitable conditions and Performance Battery Plus as standard on its current page.

Check variant-specific rear steering and Active Ride options. Try the low seats and rear access, and obtain the range rating for the exact battery and wheels. Taycan suits performance-led owner driving; its tradeoffs are rear space, access and charging requirements. Cross Turismo and Sport Turismo are distinct bodies, not substitutes for the sedan.

Steering and market: LHD: USA; RHD lead: Great Britain sedan range. Exclude Turismo bodies. Regional model source.

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