With around 28,500 luxury vehicles purchased by consumers in 2016, it seems apparent this niche market is gaining more popularity than ever before. In fact, the number of sold luxury sedans and SUVs last year equates to a 16 percent increase in demand since 2015.
So what’s the reason for the sudden surge and demand in owning a luxury car? It might be because these vehicles offer more technological gizmos than ever before. When you look at the following three unbelievable cars, you’ll see the future has indeed truly arrived.
BMW i3
With a fully electric engine, the BMW i3 is changing how people look at luxury. The five-door urban electric car can travel 114 miles on a single charge, making it an ideal vehicle for daily commuting. Not only that, but it’s packed with a wealth of interior upgrades, including remote keyless entry, range estimates and remote temperature control. Plus, by downloading the BMW i Remote app on your iPhone 6, you can work all of these controls on the go.
In other words, you’ll be able to start the car, check its battery life and even get the temperature to your liking, all while still lying in bed. This makes it easy to have your car ready to go when you leave for work, especially in the cold winter months. To take full advantage of this feature, make sure you use a carrier like T-Mobile, which doesn’t enforce any data limits, so you can always stay connected on the road, no matter your location.
Tesla Model X
Though designed like a sleek sedan, the Tesla Model X is actually considered an SUV, complete with three rows of space. The all-electric, luxury, crossover SUV has incredibly fast pickup, as it can climb from 0 to 60 mph in a mere 2.9 seconds.
But perhaps the Model X’s most interesting feature is that it comes equipped with all the hardware necessary for self-driving capabilities. This includes features like auto steering up to 90 mph, lane departure warnings, auto-lane changing and automatic emergency braking.
To top it all off, the Model X includes Falcon Wing doors, making it look like a race car that a superhero would drive. And with an electric engine that gets 295 miles per charge, the Tesla is hard to beat in terms of efficiency.
Mercedes-Benz AMG SLC 43
The AMG SLC 43, featuring a 3.0-liter V6 biturbo engine that offers 362 horsepower and which can go from 0 to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds, is one of Mercedes-Benz’s most powerful cars. However, you may be most impressed by the technology on its interior. This luxury vehicle comes standard with a seven-inch color dashboard display and an eight-speaker audio system with harman/kardon LOGIC7 surround sound. With those powerful speakers, jamming to your favorite tunes will sound like you’re listening to music on your home stereo system versus cruising the open road.
The SLC 43 also comes equipped with a complimentary five-year subscription to Mercedes-Benz’s mbrace Connect service, which offers remote access, vehicle locating and tracking, and remote diagnostics for easier servicing, all via your smartphone. Through this and other similar Mercedes-Benz service packages, you’ll be able to access apps directly from your dashboard, set alerts, or even call for roadside assistance with the tap of a button on your smartphone.
These three luxury vehicles certainly aren’t the only high-end and high-tech models available in the marketplace. They, of course, have plenty of rivals, including the Alfa Romeo 4C Coupe, Bentley Continental GT and even the Jaguar XE. However, they are a good starting point if you’re ready to explore the world of futuristic luxury vehicles.
