The story behind 5 of the most popular high-end cars

• Sales (2013/2014): 328/375, +14%
  
• Price range: $89,500-$229,100
  

The story: The Panamera is a perfect example of a flexible high-end architecture. The base version of Porsche’s four-door hatchback is a fine luxury cruiser with a solid six-cylinder engine mated to an advanced seven-speed Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) gearbox. Porsche also offers an E-Hybrid Panamera ($110,00) and, at the top end, the Turbo S Executive model ($229,100) has a twin-turbo V-8, all-wheel drive and almost every luxury feature imaginable. Of course, buyers can still add pricey options, such as a $2,400 SportDesign painted rear apron.

• Sales (2013/2014): 468/1,094, +134%
  
• Price Range: $100,900-$259,900
  

The story: Mercedes revamped the S more than a year ago with an eye to the future. That is, the flexible architecture is engineered well enough to form the basis of all sorts of spin-off models, from fast AMG coupes to ultra-luxury, limo-like Maybach sedans. The S represents extraordinarily smart planning from a company that has carefully assessed luxury car trends – and now is prepared to meet the demands of a growing pool of rich folks.

• Sales (2013/2014): 661/805, +31%
  
• Price Range: $96,200-$222,222
  

The story: Who would argue against describing the 911 Carrera as the most successful high-end sports car in the history of the automobile? By successful, we’re saying Porsche has spent decades refining and re-defining its iconic car in smart and creative ways. As proof of the 911’s – and the Porsche brand’s – racy bonafides, the company has always stayed active in racing, showcasing what a Porsche that looks sorta like a 911 can do in high-speed traffic. As with the Panamera, the 911 formula starts with a basic 911, but stretches to all-wheel-drive 911 convertibles with mind-blowing turbo power.

• Sales (2013/2014): 229/457, +100%
  
• Price Range: $72,900-$109,900
  

The Story: The F is a gorgeous sports car, period, and the version for the super-rich is the Coupe R with its supercharged V-8 engine and track-ready chassis tuning. Jag is following the German luxury car playbook in creating a basic architecture for the F that is flexible enough to form the foundation of a fleet’s worth of spin-off models. The long nose, short rear deck is class sports car design. The big haunches scream of the car’s strength. A huge, brand-building success that will allow Jag to grow its business with the luxury crowd.

• Sales (2013/2014): 590/897, +52%
  
• Price Range: $100,590-$150,590
  

The story: When Hollywood goes looking for an SUV status symbol that defines wealth and power, they put a Range Rover in the scene. The Range Rover line starts at more than $100,000 and then goes up in price. Here’s a sign that Tata Motor’s Jaguar Land Rover has grown up and away from its previous Ford Motor and before that BMW recent history: this Range Rover is all JLR, engineered and designed right in the British Midlands. For such a big, tall rig, the Range Rover is an amazingly easy SUV to drive, yet it’s capable of tackling muddy, off-road tracks.