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[Stealthgate007]

I have wondered why auto manufactures make an extended version of their flagship vehicles. It does give extra leg room and comfort in the back for those occupants, but since you are the driver of the vehicle, what more does it give you? They make these vehicles in greater numbers for the masses to expect they are only made for those who can afford *ahemm* a chauffer..

In the McLaren Spy Photo thread, I was trying to figure out a road going car that they will create to make up their numbers for 2011 and I came across the new Jaguar XJ, a fantastic sports sedan:



They also make the XJL, an even longer fantastic sports sedan:



BMW does the same thing with the 750i and the illn' 750li. Lexus has the LS 460 and the LS 460 L. Longer wheelbases respectively.

Granted this may not be your thing when it comes to driving, but it begs a couple of questions from me. If there are people that are rich enough to have an assistant drive them around or bodyguard or something is this what they would choose? If you were at the office and someone said lets go to lunch and you drove, would you be jealous that they are riding in the back seat? Especially if you were the boss?

If you are able to afford one of these then I would assume that you could have someone drive, like Huck did in driving miss daisy.

Or is it just a question of opulence. "My car is bigger than yours."

Lexus LS 460 L



BMW 750li


Anyone have any thoughts?

[scotty]

Longer wheelbases tend to give stability and (more importantly on a road car) better ride quality.

If ya want it put a technical way so to speak, consider the 2007 Ferrari/Mclaren F1 cars: the Ferrari's had a longer wheelbase and were very stable through long, fast corners, and the McLarens had a slightly shorter wheelbase, which meant they were more nimble but less stable through long corners - and, imo, this was evident throughout that season. For example McLaren dominated at Monaco but the Ferrari's were far better at say Magny Cours.

In reality though, the only reason car manufacturers make these long wheelbase cars is for extra passenger foot room, as you said. Just for bragging rights and comfort really.

[madbrad]

There are also 2 wheelbases of the mercedes S class(have been for decasdes), the Maybach, the Chrysler 300, the Chrysler minivans(every generation), the previous gen GM minivans, Audi A8, Lincoln Town Car, Ford Expedition, GM full sized SUVs, I could go on...

[Gaz]

if you gonna get a car that big your not gonna be going on twisty country roads with it fast its for motorway cruising so LWB would be better for that surely.

[madbrad]

Sure if you are gonna be sitting in the back and want more legroom for yourself then if you're not driving it why does it need to be sporty? However if you reverse engineer that question, you look at it from the manufacturers point of view. We make an expensive sporty sedan. consumer clinics show support for a long wheelbase version, so lets build one and make lotsa money! Those rich guys don't use reasoning. If they like the BMW 750 and the Audi A8 and want more legroom then that's their business, and it's the carmaker's call as to whether to cater to them. Sometimes they do drive it(justifying the sporty part) but need more legroom for whoever is in the back, just to impress them.
I drive a 2007 Chevy Impala SS(which has a V8 and is the sporty model) and I want more rear legroom for the kids, so they don't kick me in the back or get the back of the seats dirty. So I WILL be driving it, and I would like a LWB version available. But I am not rich so they don't care.

[Stealthgate007]

I guess its not as expensive to build a LWB car alongside the standard model. Well, not so much that they would consider doing away with them, or rich people would by them.