Stretched versions provide longer and shorter cars
Thomas Geiger, Deutsche Presse-Agentur, Stuttgart
The best places are usually in the front row. But when it comes to luxury cars, the front row is traditionally left to the chauffeur while the passengers lean back in the sumptuous surroundings of the back.
Carmakers are using the quality of comfort in the back seat as a sales pitch for less luxurious models and are offering stretched versions of series models to create more room at the back.
Chrysler has for years been offering a larger limousine for a price hike of 2,600 dollars. The Grand Voyager is 29 centimeters longer than the latest Voyager.
The new, fourth generation Renault Espace comes in two versions. The conventional model is 4.66 metres long with 2,860 liters of storage space. But for another 1,200 euros a buyer gets 20 centimeters more space and almost 200 liters more storage capacity.
In view of the Espace's success, Renault now wants to offer the smaller Scenic in longer and shorter versions.
Mercedes-Benz's A Class is likewise a success. For about two years it has been offered in two versions. The 17-centimeter longer wheelbase version costs an extra 1,100 euros. The difference means more room for passengers in the back seat.
But Opel is campaigning with the most persistence to lure back- seat passengers. The Signum design is based on the Vectra but it has a longer, 2.83 metre wheelbase. This means the back- seat passengers travel business class - but the driver continues to travel economy class.
Among larger vehicles, the trend is much the same. The S-Class Mercedes has a stretched version with a 12-centimeter longer wheelbase than the short version. The price difference is about 4,000 euros. Company spokesman Florian Moser says that three of every 10 S-class owners order the longer car.
But the difference does not have to be a mere 12 centimeters. Whoever wants even more room can order an even longer car, the Pullmann. This is done by AMG GmbH - part of DaimlerChrysler - who will stretch it place another metre of car between the two axles.
However Daimler sees no great future for the Pullmann business - each costs at least 220,000 euros - because most of the few buyers around are turning to the new Maybach. The Maybach comes in two versions: the 5.73 metre Maybach 57 (price tag: 359,600 euros) and the 6.17 metre Maybach 62 (367,600 euros).
BMW is doing something similar: the 7 series comes 14 centimeters longer for an extra 6,300 euros. Anyone wanting more can look to Britain, where BMW's new Rolls-Royce is coming out in two models with different wheelbases.
Audi's new A8 will be a longer version. Its predecessor came with an alternative model with 12 cylinders and longer wheelbase. Audi says that, because about half its customers are interested in a longer version, that is exactly what will happen to the newest A8 this summer.
And Audi's Volkswagen parent company says it is thinking about stretching its new luxury Phaeton as well.