Top Fives Ultimate Luxury

1. Rolls-Royce Phantom L275,990

BMW was never in any doubt about the kind of car it had to build to bear the grille, mascot and name it bought in 1998. Rolls-Royce has entered the lexicon as shorthand for refinement and craftsmanship regardlessof price. BMW had to build, from scratch, literally and figuratively, the Rclls-Royceof motorcars. Itsuc:eeded:the Phantom is an imposing, wonderfully made – if not beautiful – object thafs probably also the best-riding car in the world. So a real Rolls-Royce – and right first time.

Rolls-Royce Phantom

2. Rolls-Royce Ghost L195,840

Even its significant failings cannot hope to dim the light shining from its manifest talents, Unsurprisingly, ifs no Phantom, butinstead the less grand, more intimate kind of Rolls-Royce it always needed to be.

Rolls-Royce Ghost

3. Aston Martin Rapide L139,950

The Rapide is breathtakingly good. It may not be as fast as a Panamera Turbo in a straight line but rear cabin space issues aside, ifs the better car overall. The most elegant four-door sports car in the world? You bet it is, and then some.

Aston Martin Rapide

4. Bentley Mulsanne L220,000

Ifs effortless as a flagship Bentley. As luxuriously appointed and as capable and rewarding as any car flying the wingsshould be. The Mulsanne may be slightly less lovable than an Arnage, but muchof that car’s charm lay in its flaws.

Bentley Mulsanne

5. Ferrari FF L227,077

Perhaps the key thing to understand about the FF is that ifs a very different type of Ferrari from its siblings. Nevertheless, itscombination of all-wheel drive tech and an agile sense of involvement is unmatched in this high-priced class.