lexus ‧ infiniti ‧ lincoln town car ‧ cadillac ‧ mercedes- benz ‧ bmw ‧ porsche ‧...
TRANSCRIPT
Lexus Infiniti Lincoln Town Car Cadillac Mercedes-‧ ‧ ‧ ‧Benz BMW Porsche Lotus‧ ‧ ‧
李常生 Eddie Lee Taipei 4/6/[email protected]
1
Lexus is the luxury vehicle division of Japanese automaker Toyota Motor Corporation. First introduced in 1989 in the United States, Lexus is now sold globally and has become Japan's largest-selling make of premium cars. As of 2009, Lexus vehicles are officially marketed in over 70 countries and territories worldwide. The Lexus marque has ranked among the ten largest Japanese global brands in market value. The division's world headquarters are located in Toyota, Aichi, Japan, with operational centers in Brussels, Belgium, and Torrance, California, United States.
Lexus originated from a clandestine flagship sedan project that began in 1983. This effort developed into the original Lexus LS, which was the first vehicle to wear the Lexus marque upon its launch in 1989. In following years, Lexus added sedan, coupé, convertible, and SUV models. In 2005, a hybrid version of the RX crossover debuted, and additional hybrid models were subsequently introduced to the Lexus lineup. In 2007, Lexus launched its F marque performance division with the arrival of the IS F sport sedan.
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Infiniti (Japanese: インフィニティ , Infiniti?) is the luxury division of automaker Nissan and vicariously, Renault through the Renault-Nissan Alliance. Infiniti officially started selling vehicles on November 8, 1989 in North America. Marketing operations have since grown to include the Middle East, South Korea, Russia, Taiwan, China, and Ukraine. Infiniti began sales in additional European markets in late 2008. The marketing network for Infiniti-branded vehicles now includes over 230 dealers in over 15 countries.[1]
The marque is not used in Japan and the automaker markets most of equivalent Infiniti models domestically as Nissans: Infiniti G as the Nissan Skyline sedan and coupe, Infiniti M as the Nissan Fuga, Infiniti EX as the Nissan Skyline crossover, and Infiniti Q45 as the Nissan Cima. The Infiniti FX has no Nissan equivalent and is not sold in Japan. The first generation Infiniti Q45 was sold as the Nissan Infiniti Q45 in Japan.
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
The Lincoln Town Car is a full-size, luxury sedan sold by Ford Motor Company's upscale Lincoln brand. The Town Car nameplate was first introduced in 1959 Continental Mark IV lineup as a top-of-the-line 4-door sedan; the nameplate became a permanent part of the Continental lineup in 1969, denoting its highest-trim interior package. In 1981, the Town Car became its own model in the Lincoln lineup, also serving as the flagship for the Lincoln brand as well as for Ford Motor Company. The Town Car features a V8 engine, body-on-frame design, rear-wheel drive and large exterior and interior dimensions.
In spite of declining sales, it remains one of the best selling American luxury cars; it is the United States' and Canada's most used limousine and chauffeured car. Since 2003, it has been available featuring ballistic protection, adding nearly $100,000 to the base price. Consumer Guide cites the vehicle's strengths as comfort, materials, ride quality, and 'braking [that is] short and stable for a heavyweight"; with weaknesses mentioned in acceleration and handling. The Town Car is one of the safest cars available on the North American market.
In 2006, Ford considered ending production of Lincoln's largest model after the planned closing of the Wixom Assembly Plant in Wixom, Michigan, in 2007. Ford ultimately decided to keep the model and move assembly to the St. Thomas Assembly Plant in Ontario, Canada, where the Ford Crown Victoria and Mercury Grand Marquis, which also use the Ford Panther platform, were assembled. The Town Car's manufacture resumed at its new location in late 2007.[2] The first Canadian-built Town Car rolled off the assembly line on January 10, 2008. The Town Car is currently the largest Canadian-made car, measuring nearly 18 feet (5.49 m) in length for a standard Town Car and 18.5 feet (5.64 m) for an L Edition.
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
Cadillac (pronounced /ˈkædɨlæk/, is a luxury vehicle marque owned by General Motors. Cadillac vehicles are sold in over 50 countries and territories, but mainly in North America.
Cadillac is currently the second oldest American automobile manufacturer behind Buick and among the oldest automobile brands in the world. Depending on how one chooses to measure, Cadillac is arguably older than Buick. Since GM has discontinued offering Oldsmobile, Buick has the distinction as the oldest American make.
Cadillac was born in 1902, at the dawn of the twentieth century. Its founder, Henry Leland, a master mechanic and entrepreneur, named the company after his ancestor, Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac , born Antoine Laumet, the founder of Detroit. It was purchased in 1909 by General Motors and within six years, Cadillac laid the foundation for the modern mass production of automobiles by demonstrating the complete interchangeability of its precision parts, also establishing itself as America's premier luxury car. This is also the inspiration for the company’s crest, which is based on a coat of arms "created" by Detroit's founder, around the time of his marriage in Quebec, in 1687 (there is no ancient "Cadillac" family or coat of arms in France). Cadillac pioneered many accessories in automobiles, including full electrical systems, the clashless manual transmission and the steel roof. The brand developed three engines, one of which (the V8 engine) set the standard for the American automotive industry . Cadillac is the first American car to win the prestigious Dewar Trophy from the Royal Automobile Club of England - having successfully demonstrated the interchangeability of its component parts during a reliability test in 1908; this spawned the firm's slogan "Standard of the World". It won that trophy a second time, in 1912, for incorporating electric starting and lighting in a production automobile. 27
28
29
30
31
CONCEPT32
33
34
Mercedes-Benz (German pronunciation: [mɛʁˈtseːdəs ˈbɛnts]) is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is a division of its parent company, Daimler AG. Mercedes-Benz traces its origins to Karl Benz's creation of the first petrol-powered car, the Benz Patent Motorwagen, patented in January 1886 and Gottlieb Daimler and engineer Wilhelm Maybach's conversion of a stagecoach by the addition of a petrol engine later that year. The Mercedes automobile was first marketed in 1901 by Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft. The first Mercedes-Benz brand name vehicles were produced in 1926, following the merger of Karl Benz's and Gottlieb Daimler's companies into the Daimler-Benz company. Mercedes-Benz has introduced many technological and safety innovations that later became common in other vehicles.[2] Mercedes-Benz is one of the most well-known and established automotive brands in the world, and is also the world's oldest automotive brand still in existence today.
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (info) (BMW), (literally English: Bavarian Motor Works) is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini brand, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands. BMW is known for its performance and luxury vehicles, and is a global leader in premium car sales.
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
Porsche Automobil Holding SE, usually shortened to Porsche SE (German pronunciation: [ˈpɔʁʃə][3], UK: /pɔːʃ/, US: /pɔːrʃ/), a Societas Europaea or European Public Company, is a German automotive manufacturer of luxury high performance automobiles, owned by the Piëch-Porsche family. Porsche SE is headquartered in Zuffenhausen, a city district of Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg.
Porsche SE has one main subsidiary – Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG (which stands for Doktor Ingenieur honoris causa Ferdinand Porsche Aktiengesellschaft), often shortened to Porsche AG, which is responsible for the actual production and manufacture of the Porsche automobile line. The company is majority owned by Porsche Automobil Holding SE which owns a 50.1% stake. Volkswagen AG, the parent company of the Volkswagen Group, owns a 49.9% stake.
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
Lotus Cars is a British manufacturer of sports and racing cars based at the former site of RAF Hethel, a World War II airfield in Norfolk. The company designs and builds race and production automobiles of light weight and fine handling characteristics.
Lotus is owned by Proton who took over after the bankruptcy of former owner Romano Artioli in 1994.
The company was formed as Lotus Engineering Ltd. by engineer Colin Chapman, a graduate of University College, London, in 1952. The first factory was in old stables behind the Railway Hotel in Hornsey, North London. Team Lotus, which was split off from Lotus Engineering in 1954, was active and competitive in Formula One racing from 1958 to 1994. The Lotus Group of Companies was formed in 1959. This was made up of Lotus Cars Limited and Lotus Components Limited which focused on road cars and customer competition car production respectively. Lotus Components Limited became Lotus Racing Limited in 1971 but the newly renamed entity ceased operation in the same year.
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66