????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，新一場關于誰將問鼎豪華轎車排行榜榜首的爭論也將難以避免，而挾S550而來的奔馳有很大的勝算。這臺售價10萬美元的轎車所裝備的高科技設備比一棵圣誕樹上的裝飾品還多，而這都是為了超過它的勁敵——寶馬（BMW）、奧迪（Audi）和雷克薩斯（Lexus）的同級轎車。

????但是有一個排名勿庸置疑。自從1972年以來，S級轎車就是奔馳產品線中的旗艦，它是奔馳生產的最大、最豪華、也是最有聲譽的一款車型。

????旗艦車型代表了一個品牌的巔峰成就，為整個產品線奠定了基石。不過不要把它們與所謂的“光環車”混淆了——光環車通常利用一些華而不實的設計把顧客吸引到展廳來，但是真正購買光環車的人很少。奔馳SLR就是一輛光環車，S級則是旗艦車。

????隨著高端汽車銷售在美國而且尤其是在中國的加速，越來越多的高端用戶開始關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:??