Acompact executive car,also known as acompact luxury car,is a premium car larger than apremium compactand smaller than anexecutive car.Compact executive car is a UK term and a part of theD-segmentin the European car classification.
An executive car generally needs to be comfortable and well-equipped while also being cheap to run as acompany car.[1]They may have performance features and are often viewed as status symbols. A high percentage of the "executive cars" market share consists of corporate-owned cars, or vehicles provided by a firm for the business and sometimes private use by employees.[2]
Cars related to the term by country
editUnited States
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The "compact executive car" description is not often used in the United States, but it describes certain models imported from Europe.[3]
TheCadillac ATShas been described as a compact executive car.[4][5][6]The ATS was succeeded by theCadillac CT4.
Before the ATS, a heavilybadge engineeredversion of theSaab 9-3was sold in Europe as theCadillac BLS(2005–2009). The BLS was both developed and manufactured bySaabinTrollhättan,Sweden.The model was never sold in theNorthern Americanmarket. Cadillac's previous attempt at a compact executive car for the US market was theCimarronmanufactured in between 1981–1988. The Cimarron is largely considered to be a market failure and also at least partially responsible for the market struggles that Cadillac faced during and after its production.[7]
United Kingdom
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The 1971Triumph Dolomiteis an early compact executive car.[8][9]
Jaguar's first compact executive car (although larger than the 1960s'Jaguar Mark 2) was the 2001Jaguar X-Type.[10]Sales, however, were disappointing.[11]The X-type was replaced by theJaguar XEin 2014, competing in the same sector.[10]
Italy
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Alfa Romeo's models 75 and 155 are considered compact executive cars in the United Kingdom.[12]The 1996Alfa Romeo 156has been classified as such.[13][14]This was followed by theAlfa Romeo 159and then theGiulia (Type 952).[13]
An early compact executive car from Lancia is the 1972Lancia Beta (Type 828).The Beta morphed into theLancia Trevi,which was produced from 1980 to 1984. Following an absence from the segment for five years, Lancia returned in 1989 when theLancia Dedrareplaced the smallerLancia Prisma.The Dedra was replaced by theLancia Lybra,which was produced from 1998 to 2005.[15][failed verification]
Germany
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An early compact executive car produced in Germany was the 1966BMW 02 Series,followed by theBMW 3 Seriesin 1975.
In 1965Audiintroduced their first compact executive modelAudi 72.
The 1983Mercedes-Benz W201range (also known as the "Mercedes-Benz 190" ) was the first compact executive car from Mercedes-Benz.[16]In 1993, the W201 was replaced by theMercedes-Benz C-Classrange.[17][18]
France
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DS Automobilesoffers a compact executive with itsDS 4hatchback. From earlier models also the largerDS 5(sold until 2018) could be considered a compact executive car.[19]The DS brand used to be a sub-marque ofCitroën,and thus earlier model years (before 2015 for the DS 4 and DS 5, but the change depends on the model) carry the Citroën logo. The smallest model offered by DS has been theDS 3(sold until 2019), which could be considered to be a subcompact or evensuperminiexecutive car. The currentDS 3 Crossbackdiffers from the earlier model substantially, as it is a smallcrossover SUV.
Sweden
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TheVolvo S60as well as its estate versionVolvo V60are considered to be compact executive cars.[20][21]
Saab Automobile,which went defunct in 2011, had the9-3-model which was a compact executive car. Based on heavily modifiedGMengines and platforms, the 9-3 was available as aconvertible,hatchback(first generation),sedan(second generation) andstation wagon(second generation). The 9-3 had a wide variety of both petrol and diesel engine options. Most of the petrol engines wereturbochargedand supported the use ofethanol fuel,which were both relatively uncommon features for a mass production car in the00's.The 9-3 also had high emphasis oncar safety,which was a high priority in the design of all Saab cars. Also the previousSaab 99andSaab 900could be considered as compact executive cars at some markets, while especially inNorthern Europethese models were more commonly seen as ordinary small family cars.
Japan
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An early compact executive car produced in Japan was the 1988Mazda Persona / Eunos 300.[22]The first Japanese compact executive car to be successful in overseas markets is the 1998Lexus IS / Toyota Altezza.[23][24]
Other Japanese compact executive cars include theInfiniti Q50(by Nissan),[25]Acura TLX(by Honda)[26][27][28]andMazda Xedos 6.[29]
South Korea
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Compact executive cars produced in South Korea include theGenesis G70.[citation needed]
Subcompact executive cars
editSubcompact executive cars,also calledpremium compacts,is the category of the smallest premium cars. It is part of theC-segmentin the European car classification. Examples include theMercedes-Benz A-ClassandCLA-Class,Audi A3,Volvo S40,BMW 1 Series,and2 Series.Premium compacts compete with well-equippedmid-size cars,and highly optioned premium compact cars can have pricing and features that overlaps with compact executive cars.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^"Best executive cars 2021".What Car?.Retrieved8 February2021.
- ^"Executive Cars: Europe".statista.com.Retrieved25 March2019.
- ^Jacobs, Andrew James (2016).The new domestic automakers in the United States and Canada: history, impacts, and prospects.Lexington Books. pp. 160,169–170, 331, 412.ISBN9780739188262.
- ^"A 505HP Cadillac ATS-V May Be on the Horizon".motor1.com.Retrieved25 March2019.
- ^"2020 Cadillac CT5 Sedan Will Replace ATS, CTS, XTS".autoevolution.com.30 July 2017.Retrieved25 March2019.
- ^"2018 Cadillac ATS Sedan Review, Trims, Specs and Price".carbuzz.com.Retrieved25 March2019.
- ^"The 50 Worst Cars of All Time – TIME".
- ^Bremner, Richard (4 March 2019)."Wolves in sheep's clothing: the Q cars".autocar.co.uk.Retrieved6 March2019.
- ^"Icon of icons: Autocar Awards Readers' Champion – BMW 3 Series".Autocar.Retrieved12 July2019.
But it set the template. Other cars might have made the market for what would eventually be known as the compact executive saloon. One was Alfa Romeo's 1962 Giulia saloon, another the 1971 Triumph Dolomite, but their makers failed to fully capitalise, leaving BMW to develop the compact, sporty two-door saloon that was the E21 3 Series of 1975.
- ^ab"Jaguar X-Type Model Description, History and Parts Information".Jagbits. Archived fromthe originalon 6 July 2017.
- ^"Jaguar X-type Facelift".16 July 2007.Retrieved8 February2021.
- ^Foskett, Robert (2013).Alfa Romeo 916 GTV and Spider: The Complete Story.Crowood.ISBN9781847975331.Retrieved8 February2021.
- ^abLee, Daryl (11 May 2018)."Car Review: Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce is quite easily the best handling executive saloon".Singapore: Robb Report.Retrieved8 February2021.
- ^"Compact Executives".autoexpress.co.uk.11 June 2007.Retrieved8 February2021.
Let battle commence. Up for grabs is the title of world's best compact executive car – an award BMW's 3-Series has made its own since the launch of the current fifth generation in 2005. [...] Waiting in the wings to snap up buyers with an eye for style, value and individuality is the Alfa Romeo 159 2.4 JTD.
- ^"As the final Lancia Lybra rolls out of the Mirafiori factory this month after a six-year stint, we pay tribute to this excellent, yet underrated, bearer of the famous shield".italiaspeed.com.20 June 2005.Retrieved28 February2019.
The Lybra's death brings to an end, at least temporarily, Lancia's offerings in the compact executive class, a line which stretches back from the Lybra to the Dedra, Prisma, Beta and Flavia/2000.
- ^Car: The Definitive Visual History of the Automobile.DK Publishing. 2011. p. 15.ISBN9780756689384.Retrieved9 May2012.
- ^Pattni, Vijay (11 March 2014)."A brief history of the Mercedes C-Class".topgear.com.BBC.Retrieved8 February2021.
- ^Crouch, Jonathan (1 April 2009)."Mercedes-Benz C-Class (1993–2000) used car review".rac.co.uk.RAC Motoring Services.Retrieved8 February2021.
- ^"10 of the best compact executive cars".RAC Motoring Services.15 January 2016.Retrieved11 February2017.
- ^Jonathan Lopez:A Swedish challenger for the German titan,28 June 2018, retrieved 21 March 2019
- ^Jordan Katsianis:New Volvo V60 estate aims its crosshairs at compact executive rivals,22 February 2018, retrieved 21 March 2019
- ^"Detailed specs review of 1989 Eunos 300 2000DOHC offered since October 1989 for Japan".automobile-catalog.com.Retrieved22 March2019.
- ^"Car Reviews: Lexus IS200 Sport – The AA".theaa.com.Retrieved22 March2019.
- ^"Lexus IS200".autoexpress.co.uk.Retrieved22 March2019.
- ^"10 of the best compact executive cars".raccars.co.uk.RAC Motoring Services. 15 January 2016.Retrieved3 March2019.
The Infiniti Q50 is a forgotten compact executive contender. It's Nissan's successful upmarket brand taking on Europe with a dedicated compact saloon model, and there are several attractions such as a high-quality interior and gadget-packed cockpit. Another non-obvious choice.
- ^"The History and Evolution of the Acura TLX".moneyinc.com.12 December 2018.
- ^"Acura's 2018 TLX a bargain of an entry-level luxury sedan".boston.com.14 June 2017.Retrieved13 March2019.
- ^"We drove a $54,000 Audi A4 and a $46,000 Acura TLX to see which luxury sedan we liked better — here's the verdict".Business Insider.12 April 2018.Retrieved13 March2019.
- ^Jonathan Crouch (10 October 2005)."Mazda Xedos 6 (1992–1999) used car review".raccars.co.uk.RAC Motoring Services.Retrieved2 March2019.
The Xedos 6 was the car that launched the Xedos (pronounced 'ker-see-dos') brand back in 1992, Mazda's attempt to break into the BMW, Mercedes and Audi-dominated compact executive saloon sector.