2016 Audi A8L
The Audi A8L starts at $81,500, but bump the engine up to the 450-horsepower 4.0-liter turbocharged V8, and you’re well on your way to reaching $100K. Just add the available night vision system, Driver Assistance package, and the amazing 1,800-watt Bang & Olufsen audio system, and you’ll be at the century mark.
All A8 variants, with the exception of the ultrahigh performance S8, now ride on a long-wheelbase platform, allowing for limousine-like legroom for rear-seat passengers. Air suspension is standard, and all-wheel drive is optional. The A8’s dedicated cellular data connection connects the car’s Wi-Fi hot spot to the internet and streams Google Earth data into the exceptional MMI navigation system.
2016 Lexus LS 460L AWD
The base Lexus LS 460 (priced at $72,520) won’t make the $100,000 club, but move to the long-wheelbase LS 460 L, and add all-wheel drive and a few options, and you’ll hit six figures. Just add the Executive Class Seating package at nearly $16,000 and you’ll be there.
The available light and dark wood Shimamoku Espresso trim takes 38 days to form using a 67-step construction process.
If you’re looking to blend your luxury with excitement, Lexus offers the amped-up LS F-Sport, with sports-oriented tuning for the air suspension, paddle shifters for the transmission, 19-inch wheels, and high-performance Brembo brakes.
The new LS comes with “Climate Concierge” that monitors the temperature of four different zones in the cabin. It then constantly and automatically adjusts the car’s climate control system, as well as the individual seat and steering wheel heaters.
Topping the LS lineup is the LS 600h L, a 438-horsepower hybrid model, with a starting price of $120,440.
When Toyota launched its Lexus luxury division in 1989, its only product was the flagship LS sedan. It quickly matured to compete with the top luxury marques in the world, taking many of them off guard with its level of sophistication and quality.
2016 Jaguar XJL Supercharged
The Jaguar XJ lineup starts at $74,400, but it’s easy to reach the $100K mark by jumping to the long-wheelbase XJL with the 470-horsepower, supercharged V8 under the hood. Jaguar’s signature sedan, the XJ was updated for the 2016 model year with a refreshed exterior design.
The XJ’s British craftsmanship is apparent, with no detail left untouched in the formal, yet comfortable interior. Touches of the company’s heritage are felt throughout, in details such as the analog chronometer in the center of the dash and the round A/C vents.
The 2016 XJ has received a healthy dose of modern technology for its suite of advanced safety and driver assistance features, as well as an all-new infotainment system. A cutting-edge instrument cluster can display navigation system maps and cues in the background. That navigation system can learn the driver’s daily commute and plot out alternatives based on traffic flows and historic information on specific commute routes.
Jaguar also realigned the pricing of the XJ for 2016, making it more competitive with other players in the large, luxury sedan marketplace.
2016 Tesla Model S
Walk into your Tesla Store or Gallery with $108,000 to spend, and you can order a top-of-the-line Model S P90D Performance all-wheel drive model. After a $7,500 federal tax credit, you’ll be right back down to our $100,000 budget. Ludicrous speed will, however, cost another $10,000.
What’s “Ludicrous Speed,” you ask? If you would like to be electrically propelled from zero to 60 mph in 2.8 seconds, rather than the standard 3.1 seconds, you’ll need the optional upgrade. It will also get you to the 155 mph top speed of the Model S 20 percent faster than the standard mode.
The Tesla Model S P90D has an EPA-estimated range of 270 miles, and charging is free on the fast-charging Tesla Supercharger network.
2016 Dodge Viper GT Coupe
It’s the federal gas guzzler tax that pushes the Dodge Viper GT Coupe to $100,000. Its base price is $97,995 and the mandatory tax is $2,100. The GT Coupe is the second step up in the ladder of Viper trim levels, with features that make it ready for the track.
The Viper is a V10-powered monster capable of putting 645 horsepower to its massive rear tires. It’s no sports car for beginners as it’s really a race car that you can drive on the street. According to Dodge, versions of the Viper hold more track records than any other production car. It was recently named to classic car insurer Hagerty’s Hot List of future collectable cars.
2016 Jaguar F-Type R Coupe
While the model has less expensive trim levels available, the second Jaguar on our list busts our $100K budget by a few grand, but it’s worth it just for the stunning exhaust note. The Jaguar F-Type R Coupe comes in at $105,400 (you can get a base F-Type for $61,400).
Your money buys you a lightweight coupe with a 5.0-liter supercharged V8 capable of producing 550 horsepower and 502 pound-feet of torque across a wide power band. Power flows through an eight-speed automatic transmission (with paddle shifters) on its way to a robust all-wheel drive system.
Jaguar recently introduced their fastest production car ever. The F-Type SVR can accelerate from zero to 60 mph in just 3.5 seconds and has a top speed of 200 mph. It’s priced from $125,950.
2016 Mercedes SL400 Roadster
To get the iconic Mercedes-Benz SL to fit our $100,000 budget, we’ll start with the base SL400 ($85,050), with its 329-horsepower bi-turbo V6 under the hood. Add some active safety technology, a night-vision camera, and a Bang & Olufsen audio system, and you hit the $100K club.
The SL lineup has been refreshed for 2016, adding more powerful engines, a nine-speed automatic transmission, and enhancements to its retractable hardtop that allow its operation at up to 25 mph. Once roadsters like the SL were limited to fair weather due to their single-layer cloth roofs, but retractable hardtops make them suitable for four-season duty.
Other models of the SL reach stratospheric prices with the AMG SL65 Roadster starting at $217,550. Doubling your budget earns you a 621-horsepower V12 engine, handcrafted by one of AMG’s expert engine builders. “Magic Sky Control” changes the transparency of the panoramic glass roof at the touch of a button. The cabin can be filled with 900-watts worth of music from the standard Bang & Olufsen audio system, which is tuned specially for the AMG SL65’s environment.
2016 Nissan GT-R
Even the base model of Nissan’s GT-R busts our $100,000 budget, but only by a bit. The premium model starts at $101,770, but since you’re already over budget, you’ll want to spend an extra thousand for the 45th Anniversary Gold Edition ($102,770, if you’re quick enough to claim one).
The GT-R is a technological powerhouse, loaded with computers and sensors to achieve and maintain grip while laying down 545 horsepower from the twin-turbo 3.8-liter V6 engine. A six-speed dual-clutch transmission provides shifts as quick as .15 seconds, and all-wheel drive is standard. The GT-R’s suspension is computer controlled, constantly adjusting shock damping for maximum performance.
While cornering in R-Mode, the GT-R’s Vehicle Dynamic Control will actively send power to each wheel independently when it senses impending over- or understeer. In other words, the GT-R will get you out of trouble before you’re even in trouble.
2016 Cadillac Escalade ESV Platinum 4WD
Surprisingly, you’ll have to load nearly every option and accessory onto the long-wheelbase 2016 Cadillac Escalade ESV to reach the $100,000 mark, making it a relative bargain on this list. The more than 18-foot long Escalade ESV provides plenty of luxury interior space for up to eight passengers while still having ample space for their luggage.
Over the last several years, there’s been an absence of big, American luxury sedans, and so the Escalade has become the country’s de facto limousine. Power comes from a monster 6.2-liter V8, with an eight-speed automatic transmission helping to provide reasonable fuel economy of up to 21 mpg on the highway. The Platinum trim level was introduced in 2015 to bring the biggest Caddy to the luxury standard of its European competition.
2016 Land Rover Range Rover HSE 3.0 LR Td6 Diesel
The short-wheelbase Range Rover HSE with the fantastic new Td6 gets us most of the way to our $100,000 budget. With a base price of $93,450, the diesel Rover needs just a few options to reach a hundred grand. Add some of the available safety tech and you’ll be there.
For your money you get two SUVs in one: The Range Rover is one of the most luxurious vehicles available today, but it’s also one of the most capable when you leave paved roads. The Range Rover recently was awarded ALG’s “Best Premium Full-Size SUV” for its ability to retain value over its first three years, making the vehicle attractive for customers who lease vehicles.
If you can stretch your budget a bit, to about a quarter-million dollars, you can pick up the Range Rover’s new Holland & Holland signature design edition for a starting price of just $244,500. You’ll have to be quick though, they’re only bringing 30 of them to the United States.
2016 Land Rover Range Rover Sport V8 Autobiography
In the shadow of the big Range Rover lurks its trimmer, more athletic brother, the Range Rover Sport. Though it has a base price in the mid-$60s, you can quickly join the $100K club by stepping up to the 510-horsepower, supercharged V8 models. The Autobiography trim starts at $93,295.
In 2015 the Range Rover Sport was named Best Luxury 3-Row SUV in the U.S. News Best Cars for Families awards. In the 2016 awards it was dethroned by the 2016 Volvo XC90.
In addition to impressive performance on the pavement, the Sport retains Land Rover’s legendary off-highway prowess. Four-corner air suspension gives the Sport the ability to ride low for top highway performance and then stretch its legs to maximize ground clearance off-road. An electronic terrain response system tunes the Range Rover Sport’s suspension, engine, and four-wheel drive hardware to maximize their capabilities.
2016 Lexus LX 570
Lexus might not come to mind when you think of ultra-capable SUVs, but the 2016 LX 570’s heritage comes from the venerable Toyota Land Cruiser. The LX 570 comes in with a base price of $88,880. Even adding every option on the list, the LX falls just shy of $100,000.
For 2016 the LX 570 received a major refresh inside and out, gaining a bold version of the brand’s signature spindle grille, a host of new electronic safety technology, and an eight-speed automatic transmission. LED headlights, turn signals, and fog lights are now standard, as is a panoramic camera system. The LX 570 can tow up to 7,000 pounds when properly equipped.
2016 Porsche Cayenne GTS
The Porsche Cayenne GTS approaches $100,000 with the GTS model and its base price of $97,200. Add in just a special paint color and the destination charge and you’ll join the $100K club. The GTS touts a 440-horsepower 3.6-liter twin-turbo V6, plus the sportier Cayenne Turbo model’s front fascia.
Like most Porsche lineups, there are several Cayennes available, with base prices ranging from $58,300 to $157,300. Included is the Cayenne S E-Hybrid with a wildly complex hybrid system that seamlessly synchronizes the best performance characteristics of its electric motors and gasoline engine to provide acceleration from zero to 60 mph in 5.4 seconds, and an estimated 47 miles per gallon equivalent (combined). When you’ve spent a $100K on an SUV, saving a little money at the gas station doesn’t hurt.
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The $100,000 Club
They say a dollar doesn’t go as far as it used to. But 100,000 of them, well, they still go a long way. The $100,000 club spans the auto industry, from sports cars to SUVs. If you have $100K to spend on a car, your cash will buy you exceptional speed, luxury, or a bit of both.
Check out our selection of vehicles priced around the magic $100,000 mark. Some have a base price of $100,000, others can be optioned up and customized to get there. The $100,000 club is where you find cars that can rocket from zero to 60 mph in less than three seconds. It’s where you find opulent interiors with seats that not only heat and cool, but also massage and recline while the cabin is filled with aromatherapy scents.
The groundbreaking all-electric Tesla Model S sedan lives in the $100K club, with its stunning performance and 200-plus mile range. There’s also a diesel Range Rover, with a sophisticated four-wheel drive system that can act like off-road cruise control, making even novice drivers look like pros. There’s even a supercar from a brand known more for its everyday commuter cars. And, if you have $100 grand sitting in a bank account, any one of the cars in the $100K club can be yours.