Page 17 - Indulge June/July 2015
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luxury is more than just innovation and style. Brian on Wheels museum, goes so far as to call the modern
Price of Faulkner Chevrolet Cadillac in Bethlehem says Corvette a “supercar.”
luxury “is defined by the total experience; from the buying Andrew J. Stratz, executive manager of Bennett
experience through to the everyday driving experience. It is Infiniti of Allentown, says luxury is in the eye of the
in the ease of interface with the vehicle and the feeling of beholder. “Some people feel, ‘in my circle, this Range
being refreshed, not drained, after a long drive.” Rover is the best.’ ” Others, he says, will lean toward
Imagine putting on your Jackie O sunglasses and something sportier, like Maserati’s Ghibli or Quattroporte,
heading off in a sweet ride like the 2015 Cadillac or Jaguar’s F-Type or XJL.
Escalade SUV. Stratz says today’s luxury-minded mother often goes
Cars.com calls it “the most expensive and luxurious for full-sized, seven passenger SUVs such as Infiniti’s QX
one of all. The redesigned Escalade has … a revamped 80 or QX 60. “They’re not big fans of the minivan, and
interior with a focus on premium materials, more they go for the big luxury SUV because they can … they
entertainment and safety technology and a new V-8 want luxury, but they also want something safe that can
drivetrain.” Those premium materials include matte- carry a large group.”
finish wood trim; nappa leather heated and cooled “Luxury is an upscale vehicle that people aspire to,”
seating; 16-speaker Bose audio and more. says Haldeman Ford Lincoln owner Paul Haldeman.
For those who are more focused on performance, “All cars are extensions of people’s personalities. The
Price says, the 2015 Corvette Stingray offers speed emotional rationale behind the purchase of a luxury car
and style. Designers “took the interior to a whole new is as important or more important than the features and
level with high quality materials and craftsmanship” — performance of the product itself.”
including heated and ventilated power seats with memory, Haldeman says the epitome of luxury will be the
leather-appointed dash and door panels; suede cabin Lincoln Continental, expected to return in 2016. “The
trim, a head-up display and a performance data recorder. concept was shown at the New York Auto Show, and
“The C7 Stingray is a more modern, angular design this car is very Bentley-ish looking; in fact the Bentley
intended to attract a younger following and not only designers threw some digs at Lincoln over it.”
rival, but surpass its foreign competitors,” Price says. The concept features a silky headliner, deep-pile
“Whereas past [Corvette] generations were impressive in carpeting, a reclining rear seat complete with a footrest,
a straight line, the C7’s improved chassis dynamics and and a briefcase integrated into the seat back. The seats
460 horsepower engine can master any road course.” are adjustable 30 ways; heated, cooled, massaging —
Alan Gross, vice president of the board of directors and, according to Lincoln, have 50 patents pending.
and exhibit committee chairman at Allentown’s America On the other hand, the redesigned 2015 Lincoln
Navigator offers both luxury and utility, Haldeman says.
Tow a boat or trailer while immersing yourself in climate
controlled comfort and a heated (or cooled) 10-way
power leather-trimmed seat. Your passengers can relax in
leather bucket seats, listening to the THX II Certified 5.1
Surround Sound audio system or watching a movie on a
built-in entertainment system.
Gross says the U.S. luxury auto got its start in 1927,
when General Motors hired Harley Earl.
Earl, who worked at a custom-build auto business, was
commissioned to design the LaSalle —a companion brand
for Cadillac. The ’27 LaSalle did so well, GM decided to
hire Earl to help develop the “Art and Colour” department
of General Motors — the industry’s first design division.
For Helmer, who’s 70, some of those older cars are
Photo by Patrick O'Donnell the true embodiment of luxury, in part because they look
distinctive. “Today, I find that so many of these cars are JUNE/JULY 2015 • INDULGE | 17
so commonly shaped, it’s tough to tell them apart. As a
kid, you could see cars a quarter mile away and tell what they are.”
Knopf is one of a handful of dealers in the northeast selected to be a Porsche
Classic Partner. Helmer says the program “includes buying and selling, and also
certifying a car so that it’s a Porsche-certified classic.”
They won’t be limiting the inventory to Porsche, though — Helmer says the
dealer will carry other classic high-end cars, such as Audis and Mercedes, and also
offer a classic car finding service. “We can find a car anywhere. We can tell you if
it’s a good investment, negotiate with the seller for you and restore it for you.”
Courtesy of Mercedes-Benz USA
Price of Faulkner Chevrolet Cadillac in Bethlehem says Corvette a “supercar.”
luxury “is defined by the total experience; from the buying Andrew J. Stratz, executive manager of Bennett
experience through to the everyday driving experience. It is Infiniti of Allentown, says luxury is in the eye of the
in the ease of interface with the vehicle and the feeling of beholder. “Some people feel, ‘in my circle, this Range
being refreshed, not drained, after a long drive.” Rover is the best.’ ” Others, he says, will lean toward
Imagine putting on your Jackie O sunglasses and something sportier, like Maserati’s Ghibli or Quattroporte,
heading off in a sweet ride like the 2015 Cadillac or Jaguar’s F-Type or XJL.
Escalade SUV. Stratz says today’s luxury-minded mother often goes
Cars.com calls it “the most expensive and luxurious for full-sized, seven passenger SUVs such as Infiniti’s QX
one of all. The redesigned Escalade has … a revamped 80 or QX 60. “They’re not big fans of the minivan, and
interior with a focus on premium materials, more they go for the big luxury SUV because they can … they
entertainment and safety technology and a new V-8 want luxury, but they also want something safe that can
drivetrain.” Those premium materials include matte- carry a large group.”
finish wood trim; nappa leather heated and cooled “Luxury is an upscale vehicle that people aspire to,”
seating; 16-speaker Bose audio and more. says Haldeman Ford Lincoln owner Paul Haldeman.
For those who are more focused on performance, “All cars are extensions of people’s personalities. The
Price says, the 2015 Corvette Stingray offers speed emotional rationale behind the purchase of a luxury car
and style. Designers “took the interior to a whole new is as important or more important than the features and
level with high quality materials and craftsmanship” — performance of the product itself.”
including heated and ventilated power seats with memory, Haldeman says the epitome of luxury will be the
leather-appointed dash and door panels; suede cabin Lincoln Continental, expected to return in 2016. “The
trim, a head-up display and a performance data recorder. concept was shown at the New York Auto Show, and
“The C7 Stingray is a more modern, angular design this car is very Bentley-ish looking; in fact the Bentley
intended to attract a younger following and not only designers threw some digs at Lincoln over it.”
rival, but surpass its foreign competitors,” Price says. The concept features a silky headliner, deep-pile
“Whereas past [Corvette] generations were impressive in carpeting, a reclining rear seat complete with a footrest,
a straight line, the C7’s improved chassis dynamics and and a briefcase integrated into the seat back. The seats
460 horsepower engine can master any road course.” are adjustable 30 ways; heated, cooled, massaging —
Alan Gross, vice president of the board of directors and, according to Lincoln, have 50 patents pending.
and exhibit committee chairman at Allentown’s America On the other hand, the redesigned 2015 Lincoln
Navigator offers both luxury and utility, Haldeman says.
Tow a boat or trailer while immersing yourself in climate
controlled comfort and a heated (or cooled) 10-way
power leather-trimmed seat. Your passengers can relax in
leather bucket seats, listening to the THX II Certified 5.1
Surround Sound audio system or watching a movie on a
built-in entertainment system.
Gross says the U.S. luxury auto got its start in 1927,
when General Motors hired Harley Earl.
Earl, who worked at a custom-build auto business, was
commissioned to design the LaSalle —a companion brand
for Cadillac. The ’27 LaSalle did so well, GM decided to
hire Earl to help develop the “Art and Colour” department
of General Motors — the industry’s first design division.
For Helmer, who’s 70, some of those older cars are
Photo by Patrick O'Donnell the true embodiment of luxury, in part because they look
distinctive. “Today, I find that so many of these cars are JUNE/JULY 2015 • INDULGE | 17
so commonly shaped, it’s tough to tell them apart. As a
kid, you could see cars a quarter mile away and tell what they are.”
Knopf is one of a handful of dealers in the northeast selected to be a Porsche
Classic Partner. Helmer says the program “includes buying and selling, and also
certifying a car so that it’s a Porsche-certified classic.”
They won’t be limiting the inventory to Porsche, though — Helmer says the
dealer will carry other classic high-end cars, such as Audis and Mercedes, and also
offer a classic car finding service. “We can find a car anywhere. We can tell you if
it’s a good investment, negotiate with the seller for you and restore it for you.”
Courtesy of Mercedes-Benz USA
