The luxury leader Mercedes-Benz C-Class (1,523) is very comfortably ahead of all in its segment's sales. However, this is in a market sector diminished by up to 10 per cent in 2002, and anyway worth just 6.3 per cent of total units sold.
But the E-Class (1,085) that should have sold substantially more than the ageing BMW 5-Series (1,094) was restricted by the wait for the new model and a supply on quota.Next down, the Saab 9-3 (475 in old and new) only lately available in a brand-new version, and the Audi A6 (458), are key players.
Upmovers in the segment include Toyota's Camry (360), which almost quadrupled units sold over the old model, and Jaguar's X-Type (121) which gained a two-litre engine option during the year.
In the super-luxury group, the arrival of the new 7-Series (153) allowed BMW to jump to second place under a Mercedes-Benz S-Class (338) that is massively, and consistently, dominant in the segment - taking more than 41 per cent of sales.
Sales of the both the Lexus GS 300/430 (88) and the LS 430 (57) flagship each dropped by about a third, but those of the SC 430 coupé/cabriolet doubled. Jaguar's XJ/XK (24) high-rollers lost out drastically, but both have new versions upcoming or recently launched, and may improve next year.
Also next year we'll see a new BMW 5-Series, and the new VW attempt at this segment, the Phaeton.
- Brian Byrne