Premium luxury cars. Time to sell that E-class.

With the increase in the car buying population car makers have found it increasingly easy to position their car for a specific target segment and remain profitable. So for a  majority of the world population, a car is a car is a means of commuting to work and home and an occassional outing. Out of the remaining a sizeable populace segments cars as the mainstream affordable cars and then the luxury cars.  And then a few take things seriously. They either work at a car company or a related industry or are car enthisiasts like me. We segment cars in so many we ways, we lose count.

But let's say you own a Bmw 5 series or a volvo S80 or an Audi A6. The stock market just gifted you some more of that green stuff. You dont know what to do with your money. It's not enough to buy an island or an airplane or even a lamborghini or Maybach yet. And your offspring is already eyeing your car to go on a date with that green eyed cutie and burn your not so hard earned money. Here's the solution. Welcome to the niche luxury car market where you take the next step towards opulence and status and announce to the world 'I've arrived... yet again.'.  Ahem! so here goes some cars you might want to look into.

Jaguar:  Beginning with British Motors Corporation, Leyland, Ford and finally TATA, Jaguar cars has had a somewhat chequered History. The company makes three models namely the XK coupe, XF Sport sedan and the XJ limo. The British car has got enough bells and whistles to take the game heads on into the German and Swedish territory. Tata is planning to launch cheaper versions to increase sales and that is not a good thing in terms of brand equity but good for sales and profitability.

Porsche: The name Ferdinand Porsche shines in Automobile history books with the likes of Maserati Brothers, Enzo Ferrari and Ferrucio Lamborghini. Very few cars hold on to the luxury marque and still do corners like the Porsche. Those which do dont really sell as much. So that's Porsche for you all the way from Stuggart, Germany. With a recent foray into four door sedan market with Panamera, and foray into SUV's segment with the Chayenne, Porsche still holds the record for making the best fun to drive cars. Pick of the lot is definitely the 911.

Cadillac:  When upgrading to the premium car class, car buyers want them to look unique. A Porsche for eg not only looks distinct but makes you look up with its sound as well. Cadillac does the same thing in an American way that mixes Hip-Hop with Ball dancing and makes it look elegant too. It's completely German when looking at the size, engines and those sharp angular looks. One might mistake a Chris Bangle BMW(more so with Bangle leaving BMW) for some other car but a Caddy cannot go unrecognized. The brand did lose its focus and style in the early 90's but the latest car as equally opulent and reliable as any other car from any other competing brand.

Aston Martin: You are so british, your under clothes resemble the Union Jack. You have grown up watching James Bond as the ultimate spy hero who can take on Superman and Batman with his wits and weapons. Your previous car is from a British Brand that doesnt exist anymore but will still fetch a million pounds at an auction. The Aston Martin is for you. A legend associated with Aston Martin's goes that James Bond is for real and that all Aston Martin's have secret gadgetry in them. Another also goes on to say that Aston Martin owners are 00X spies in reality and that M is for Martin. Aston Martin is also one of those brand which diluted their history with a sedan ala Lamborghini and Porsche.

Maserati: Credited as one of the earliest Sports car makers, Maserati has proudly carried their emblem over the years. Nothing in the automobile comes to being as close to the word sporty as this company created by the Maserati brothers. Long before the Evos, Panameras, Estoques and Rapides the Quttraporte has held its own since 1960's. The current gen cars have engines from Ferrari which are domesticated to suit grand tourers and designs are from Italian design powerhouse Pininfarina.

Spyker:  The name Spyker has been around since even before Ford and around the same time as the Benz. But the company that makes cars today is relatively new starting business in 1999. This is not necessarily a bad thing based on their experience in building Aeroplane engines. Not surprisingly they bought another car make SAAB which again is a Scandinavian company with Aeronautical roots. With a D8 and C8 and C12 in their line up, Spyker is atacking right at Porsche where it can hurt the most. They need to correct their prices a bit. But for sheer flamboyance nothing comes close.