Executive car
Executive car is a British term for a large car, and is considered equivalent to the European E-segment and American full-size classifications.[1] Executive cars are larger than compact executive cars (and the non-luxury equivalent mid-size cars), but smaller than luxury saloons / full-size luxury sedans.
The term has also been adopted by Euro NCAP, a European organization founded to test car safety.[2]
Background
[edit]The term was coined in the 1960s to describe cars targeted at successful professionals and middle-to-senior managers.[3] It was used by businesses as an incentive for employees in senior roles and to exploit Britain and Europe's tax schemes as a company-owned vehicle. Early executive cars typically offered engines with displacements of 2.0–3.5 L (122–214 cu in), compared with 1.6–2.4 L (98–146 cu in) for an equivalent sized—but less luxurious—"large family car".[citation needed]
Prior to the 1990s, executive cars were typically sedans; however, in recent years, they have also been produced in other body styles, such as estates (station wagons), convertibles, coupés, and five-door hatch versions.[4] They typically need to be "comfortable, refined and display some form of driving pleasure" on occasion.[5]
Body styles
[edit]In general, executive cars are 4-door saloons, though may include estate, 5-door hatchback or 2-door coupé variants. Rover, Saab, Renault and Citroën formerly have been known to prefer hatchbacks, with Ford also offering alternatives through the 1990s. Audi, BMW and later Mercedes-AMG have recently offered hatchbacks as separate models for their executive cars since 2010s.
Production by country
[edit]China
[edit]One of the first Chinese-built executive cars was the 2006 Roewe 750, based on the Rover 75.[6] In 2012, the Roewe 950 was introduced, which is a re-bodied version of the 2010 Buick LaCrosse.[7] In 2020, BYD Han officially went on sale in China.[8]
Several overseas brands have produced long wheelbase versions of cars specifically for the Chinese market, due to the preference Chinese owners have for being driven by a chauffeur.[9] Examples include the "XF L" version of the 2016 Jaguar XF (X260),[10] the "Li" version of the 2017 BMW 5 Series (G30)[11] and other models from Audi, Mercedes-Benz, and Volvo.
France
[edit]
In France, executive cars are known as "Routière", a class of comfortable long-distance cars that first emerged on the French market in the 1930s.
Peugeot began producing large cars in the early 1900s. Following the Peugeot 601 being discontinued in 1935, Peugeot ceased production of large cars until the Peugeot 604 was introduced in 1975.[12][13][14] The 604 was replaced by the Peugeot 605 in 1989, which in turn was replaced by the Peugeot 607 in 1999. Following the end of the 607's production run in 2010, Peugeot no longer produces any executive cars.
Citroën's first large car was the 1934 Citroën Traction Avant. In 1955, the Traction Avant was replaced by the iconic