????隨著科技含量很高的2014梅塞德斯奔馳（Mercedes-Benz）S550即將于今年秋天上市，新一場(chǎng)關(guān)于誰(shuí)將問(wèn)鼎豪華轎車排行榜榜首的爭(zhēng)論也將難以避免，而挾S550而來(lái)的奔馳有很大的勝算。這臺(tái)售價(jià)10萬(wàn)美元的轎車所裝備的高科技設(shè)備比一棵圣誕樹上的裝飾品還多，而這都是為了超過(guò)它的勁敵——寶馬（BMW）、奧迪（Audi）和雷克薩斯（Lexus）的同級(jí)轎車。

????但是有一個(gè)排名勿庸置疑。自從1972年以來(lái)，S級(jí)轎車就是奔馳產(chǎn)品線中的旗艦，它是奔馳生產(chǎn)的最大、最豪華、也是最有聲譽(yù)的一款車型。

????旗艦車型代表了一個(gè)品牌的巔峰成就，為整個(gè)產(chǎn)品線奠定了基石。不過(guò)不要把它們與所謂的“光環(huán)車”混淆了——光環(huán)車通常利用一些華而不實(shí)的設(shè)計(jì)把顧客吸引到展廳來(lái)，但是真正購(gòu)買光環(huán)車的人很少。奔馳SLR就是一輛光環(huán)車，S級(jí)則是旗艦車。

????隨著高端汽車銷售在美國(guó)而且尤其是在中國(guó)的加速，越來(lái)越多的高端用戶開始關(guān)注各大廠商的旗艦車型。以下就是最近的幾款旗艦車型。

????The arrival this fall of the technology-laden 2014 Mercedes-Benz S550 will set off a new debate about who is at the peak of the premium luxury pecking order. Mercedes will have a strong argument. The $100,000 sedan is festooned with more gadgets and gizmos than a Christmas tree has ornaments, all in an effort to keep M-B ahead of top-shelf rivals BMW, Audi, and Lexus.

????One ranking will not be in dispute, however: As it has since 1972, the S-class sedan will remain the flagship of the Mercedes car line: the grandest, lushest, and most prestigious car coming out of Stuttgart.

????Flagship cars represent the pinnacle of achievement for a particular brand. They set the tone for an entire line. They are not to be confused with halo cars -- attention-getting though often impractical designs intended to draw customers into a showroom but that few people are expected to buy. The Mercedes SLR is a halo car; the S-class is the flagship.

????As sales accelerate in the U.S, and particularly in China, more attention is being paid to flagships as an attraction for upscale customers. A look at recent developments:??