View source for F-segment

{{Short description|Car size classification in Europe}}
{{multiple image
| align             = right
| direction         = vertical
| header            = 2020 Best-Selling
| image1            = BMW G70 740d 1X7A7230.jpg
| caption1          = [[BMW 7 Series]] 7th generation (2022–present)
| image2            = Mercedes-Benz W223 IAA 2021 1X7A0206.jpg
| caption2          = [[Mercedes-Benz S-Class]] 7th generation (2020–present)
| image3            = 2018 Audi A8 50 TDi Quattro Automatic 3.0 Front.jpg
| caption3          = [[Audi A8]] 4th generation (2018–present)
}}

The '''F-segment''' is the 6th category and largest of the [[Euro Car Segment|European segments for passenger cars]], and always belongs to "[[Luxury_vehicle#Luxury_saloon_/_full-size_luxury_sedan|luxury cars]]".<ref name= "EEC Merger Procedure">{{cite web |language=en |url=http://ec.europa.eu/competition/mergers/cases/decisions/m1406_en.pdf |title=REGULATION (EEC) No 4064/89 - MERGER PROCEDURE |publisher=Office for Official Publications of the European Communities |location=Luxemburg |page=2 |date=17 March 1999 |access-date=2019-03-03 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |language=en-uk, fr, de |url=http://ec.europa.eu/competition/sectors/motor_vehicles/prices/2011_07_full.pdf |title=Car prices within the European Union / Prix des voitures au sein de l'Union européenne / Autopreise in der europäischen Union |publisher=Publications Office of the European Union |location=Brussels |date=1 January 2011 |access-date=2019-03-03 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title= Impact on the Competitiveness of the European Automotive Industry of Potential FTA with India and ASEAN |publisher = www.europa.eu |url= http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/sectors/automotive/files/projects/report_fta_india_asean_en.pdf |page= 8 |url-status= dead |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20130429040531/http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/sectors/automotive/files/projects/report_fta_india_asean_en.pdf |archive-date= 29 April 2013 }}</ref> 

The equivalent categories are '''full-size luxury sedan''' (or "large luxury sedan") in the United States, '''luxury saloon''' (or "luxury limousine") in the United Kingdom, and '''Oberklasse''' in Germany. Extended-wheelbase [[limousine]]s and [[Armored car (VIP)|armored sedans]] are also considered as F-segment.

F-segment is a niche of the European market (approximately 0.2–0.3% in the 2010s) and the range is limited to only a few models.<ref>{{cite web |title=European sales 2019 Limousines |url=https://carsalesbase.com/european-sales-2019-limousines/ |publisher=www.carsalesbase.com |access-date=22 March 2021|date=March 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=European sales 2020 Upper Class |url=https://carsalesbase.com/european-sales-2020-upper-class/ |publisher=www.carsalesbase.com |access-date=22 March 2021|date=March 2021}}</ref>

== Characteristics ==
{{Urs|date=September 2024}}
Most F-segment cars use a [[sedan (car)|sedan]] body style; however, some have been produced as [[station wagons|wagons/estates]] or have a [[hatchback]] rear door.

Extended wheelbase variants of these cars are common, as many of the luxury features are placed for the rear-seat occupants. In some markets (depending on the manufacturer), short wheelbase models are excluded completely, and only long wheelbase variants are sold. As of 2021 the average F-segment car has a length exceeding 5m.

[[Luxury_vehicle#Ultra-luxury|Ultra-luxury cars]] are also included in F-segment.

== Current models ==
In 2020, the highest selling F-segment cars in Europe were the BMW 8 Series, BMW 7 Series, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Jaguar XJ, Porsche Panamera and Audi A8 / S8.<ref>{{cite web |title=European sales 2020 Upper Class|url=https://carsalesbase.com/european-sales-2020-upper-class/|website=www.carsalesbase.com |access-date=22 March 2021|date=March 2021}}</ref>


'''1000–10,000 sales''' '''(best-selling)'''

<gallery widths="300">
File:BMW i7 xDrive60 1X7A6835.jpg|[[BMW 7 Series (G70)|BMW 7 Series]] <br /> 7th generation (2022–present)
File:Mercedes-Benz W223 IAA 2021 1X7A0206.jpg|[[Mercedes-Benz S-Class (W223)|Mercedes-Benz S-Class]] <br /> 7th generation (2020-present)
File:2017 Porsche Panamera E-Hybrid 4 S-A 2.9 Front.jpg|[[Porsche Panamera]] <br /> 2nd generation (2017–present)
File:2018 Audi A8 50 TDi Quattro Automatic 3.0 Front.jpg|[[Audi A8#Fourth generation (D5; 2018%E2%80%93present)|Audi A8]] <br /> 4th generation (2018–present)
</gallery>


'''Less than 1000 sales'''

<gallery widths="300">
File:Lexus LS 500h (GVF50) IMG 5829.jpg|[[Lexus LS#Fifth generation (XF50; 2017)|Lexus LS]] <br/> 5th generation (2017-present)
File:2018 Maserati Quattroporte V6 Automatic 3.0 Front.jpg|[[Maserati Quattroporte#Quattroporte VI (M156, 2013–2023)|Maserati Quattroporte]] <br/> 6th generation (2013–present)
File:Genesis G90 RS4 3.5T AWD Valencia Gold (14) (cropped).jpg|[[Genesis G90#Second generation (RS4;_2021)|Genesis G90]] <br/> 2nd generation (2021-present)
</gallery>



'''Less than 1000 sales''' '''(ultra-luxury models)'''

<gallery widths="300">
File:Bentley Flying Spur (2019) IMG 2635.jpg|[[Bentley Flying Spur (2005)]] <br/> 3rd generation (2019–present)
File:2022 Rolls-Royce Ghost Black Badge in Arctic White, front left.jpg|[[Rolls-Royce Ghost]] <br/> 2nd generation (2020–present)
File:2019 Rolls-Royce Phantom V12 Automatic 6.75.jpg|[[Rolls-Royce Phantom VIII]] <br/> 8th generation (2017-present)
</gallery>

== Sales figures in Europe ==
{| {{Table|sort}}
! 2020<BR>rank 
! Brand 
! Model
! data-sort-type=number | 2013
! data-sort-type=number | 2014
! data-sort-type=number | 2015
! data-sort-type=number | 2016
! data-sort-type=number | 2017
! data-sort-type=number | 2018
! data-sort-type=number | 2019
! data-sort-type=number | 2020
! data-sort-type=number | 2021
! % change<BR>(2020–2021)
|-
! 1
| [[Mercedes-Benz]]
| [[Mercedes-Benz S-Class|S-Class]]
| 8,736
| 17,669
| 16,583
| 14,967
| 14,757
| 14,373
| 10,571
| 6,239
| 11,069
| {{Increase}} +77%
|-
!2
|[[BMW]]
|[[BMW 8 Series|8 Series]]
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|1,299
|6,640
|7,486
|5,873
|{{Decrease}} –22%
|-
! 3
| [[BMW]]
| [[BMW 7 Series|7 Series]]
| 5,980
| 5,307
| 5,985
| 13,320
| 11,533
| 9,552
| 9,248
| 6,346
| 5,235
| {{Decrease}} –18%
|-
! 4
| [[Porsche]]
| [[Porsche Panamera|Panamera]]
| 5,679
| 5,676
| 4,191
| 3,140
| 10,478
| 9,454
| 8,436
| 4,308
| 5,097
| {{Increase}} +18%
|-
! 5
| [[Audi]]
| [[Audi A8|A8]] / [[Audi S8|S8]]
| 5,486
| 6,556
| 6,717
| 5,372
| 5,887
| 5,791	
| 4,477
| 3,648
| 2,865
| {{decrease}} –21%
|-
! 6
| [[Mercedes-Benz]]
| [[Mercedes-Benz EQS|EQS]]
| &ndash;
| &ndash;
| &ndash;
| &ndash;
| &ndash;
| &ndash;
| &ndash;
| &ndash;
| 1,027
| New
|-
! 7
| [[Bentley]]
| [[Bentley Flying Spur (2005)|Flying Spur]]
| 313
| 624
| 555
| 627
| 637
| 359
| 54
| 438
| 451
| {{Increase}} +3%
|-
! 8
| [[Rolls-Royce Motor Cars|Rolls-Royce]]
| [[Rolls-Royce Ghost|Ghost]]
| 255
| 189
| 233
| 180
| 166
| 113
| 92
| 89
| 186
| {{Increase}} +109%
|-
! 9
| [[Lexus]]
| [[Lexus LS|LS]]
| 370
| 173
| 131
| 83
| 101	
| 636
| 248
| 98
| 117
| {{Increase}} +19%
|-
! 10
| [[Maserati]]
| [[Maserati Quattroporte|Quattroporte]]
| 452
| 812
| 815
| 682
| 562
| 459
| 251
| 116
| 115
| {{decrease}} –1%
|-
! 11
| [[Rolls-Royce Motor Cars|Rolls-Royce]]
| [[Rolls-Royce Phantom VIII|Phantom]]
| 120
| 105
| 97
| 124
| 95
| 171
| 100
| 46
| 41
| {{Decrease}} –11%
|-
! 12
| [[Bentley]]
| [[Bentley Mulsanne (2010)|Mulsanne]] (Ceased production in 2020)
| 156
| 185
| 209
| 227
| 186
| 108
| 112
| 69
| 19
| {{decrease}} –72%
|-
! 13
| [[Genesis Motor|Genesis]]
| [[Genesis G90|G90]]
| &ndash;
| &ndash;
| &ndash;
| &ndash;
| &ndash;
| &ndash;
| &ndash;
| &ndash;
| 16
| New
|-
! 14
| [[Jaguar Cars|Jaguar]]
| [[Jaguar XJ|XJ]] (Ceased production in 2020)
| 2,287
| 1,905
| 1,616
| 1,847
| 1,495
| 1,099
| 724
| 247
| 11
| {{decrease}} –96%
|-
! &ndash;
| [[Aston Martin]]
| [[Aston Martin Rapide|Rapide]] (Ceased production in 2020)
| 250
| 165
| 197
| 108
| 124
| 74
| 86
| 34
| &ndash;
| {{decrease}} –100%
|-
|-
|-
!Segment Total
!
!
!31,877
!41,127
!38,807
!40,754
!45,928
!42,189
!41,039
!29,164
!32,122
!{{Increase}} +10%
|-
!Source
!
!
!<ref>{{cite web|date=February 2014|title=European sales 2013: Limousine segment|url=https://carsalesbase.com/european-sales-2013-limousine-segment/|access-date=22 March 2021|website=www.carsalesbase.com}}</ref>
!<ref>{{cite web|date=March 2021|title=European sales 2014: Limousine segment|url=https://carsalesbase.com/european-sales-2014-limousine-segment/|access-date=22 March 2021|website=www.carsalesbase.com}}</ref>
!<ref>{{cite web|date=March 2021|title=European sales 2015: Limousine segment|url=https://carsalesbase.com/european-sales-2015-limousine-segment/|access-date=22 March 2021|website=www.carsalesbase.com}}</ref>
!<ref>{{cite web|date=March 2021|title=European sales 2016: Limousine segment|url=https://carsalesbase.com/european-sales-2016-limousine-segment/|access-date=22 March 2021|website=www.carsalesbase.com}}</ref>
!<ref>{{cite web|date=March 2021|title=European sales 2017: Limousine segment|url=https://carsalesbase.com/european-sales-2017-limousine-segment/|access-date=22 March 2021|website=www.carsalesbase.com}}</ref>
!<ref>{{cite web|date=March 2021|title=European sales 2018: Limousine segment|url=https://carsalesbase.com/european-sales-2018-limousine-segment/|access-date=22 March 2021|website=www.carsalesbase.com}}</ref>
!<ref>{{cite web|date=March 2021|title=European sales 2019: Limousines|url=https://carsalesbase.com/european-sales-2019-limousines/|access-date=22 March 2021|website=www.carsalesbase.com}}</ref>
!<ref>{{cite web|date=March 2021|title=European sales 2020: Upper Class|url=https://carsalesbase.com/european-sales-2020-upper-class/|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220416134725/https://carsalesbase.com/european-sales-2020-upper-class/ | archive-date= 2022-04-16 | first = Bart | last = Demandt | website=www.carsalesbase.com}}</ref>
!<ref>{{cite web|date=February 2022|title=European sales 2021: Upper Class|url=https://carsalesbase.com/european-sales-2020-upper-class/|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221127180631/https://carsalesbase.com/european-sales-2021-upper-class/ | archive-date= 2022-11-27 | first = Bart | last = Demandt | website=www.carsalesbase.com}}</ref>
!
|}

== Market share in Europe ==
2019 - Sales of limousines in Europe were down 6% in 2019 to just over 41,000 sales which makes this the second consecutive year of decline for the segment.<ref>{{cite web |title=European sales 2019 Limousines|url=https://carsalesbase.com/european-sales-2019-limousines/|website=www.carsalesbase.com |access-date=22 March 2021|date=March 2021}}</ref>

2020 - European sales of limousines and upper class vehicles were down 29% in 2020, to just over 29,000 deliveries. This lowers their share to 0.2% of the total European car market, down from 0.3% the year before.<ref>{{cite web |title=European sales 2020 Upper Class|url=https://carsalesbase.com/european-sales-2020-upper-class/|website=www.carsalesbase.com |access-date=22 March 2021|date=March 2021}}</ref>

== Asia ==
In China, [[Hongqi CA72]] was launched in 1958, making it the oldest Chinese F-segment car.<ref name="FAW Timeline">{{cite web |url=http://www.faw.com/webcontent/aboutfaw.jsp?pros=history_KeyEvent2_6.jsp&phight=2050&about=Key%20Events |title=About FAW > Key Events |publisher=First Automobile Works |location=China |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090304060115/http://www.faw.com/webcontent/aboutfaw.jsp?pros=history_KeyEvent2_6.jsp&phight=2050&about=Key%20Events |archive-date=2009-03-04}}</ref>

The first F-segment car from an Asian manufacturer for an outside market was the 1989 [[Lexus_LS#First generation (XF10; 1989)|Lexus LS400]]. Before the debut of luxury orientated Japanese manufacturers such as [[Lexus]] or [[Infiniti]], most flagship models were limited for Japan only. Examples included the [[Toyota Century]] and [[Nissan President]].

In South Korea, early F-segment cars were the result of partnerships with long-established manufacturers, for example the 1999 [[Hyundai_Equus#First_generation_.28LZ.3B_1999.E2.80.932009.29|Hyundai Equus]] (based on the Mitsubishi Proudia/Dignity). More recent F-segment cars from South Korea include the [[Genesis G90]].

== Europe ==
The lineage of Mercedes-Benz's current F-segment car begins with the 1951 [[Mercedes-Benz W187]]. The W187 was replaced by the [[Mercedes-Benz W180]] (nicknamed "Ponton") in 1954, which was replaced by the [[Mercedes-Benz W111]] in 1959, which was replaced by the [[Mercedes-Benz W108]] in 1965. The W108 was replaced by the [[Mercedes-Benz S-Class]] in 1972, which has been produced for six generations and remains in production today.

Jaguar's first F-segment car was the 1951 [[Jaguar Mark VII]]. The Mark VII was replaced by the 1956 [[Jaguar Mark VIII]], then the 1959 [[Jaguar Mark IX]] and the 1961 [[Jaguar Mark X]], which was renamed the "Jaguar 420G" in 1966. The 420G was replaced by the [[Jaguar XJ]] in 1968, which has been produced for four generations and has just ceased production in 2020.

The 1952–1963 [[BMW 501|BMW 501/502]] sedans are predecessors to BMW's current line of F-segment cars. The successor to the 501/502 was the [[BMW New Six]] (also known as E3), introduced in 1977. The E3 was replaced by the [[BMW 7 Series]] in 1978, which has been produced for six generations and remains in production today.

The [[Maserati Quattroporte]] was released in 1963 and is currently in its sixth generation.

The first F-segment car from Audi was the 1988 [[Audi V8]]. The Audi V8 was replaced by the [[Audi A8]] in 1994, which has been produced for four generations and remains in production today.

== United States ==
{{Main|Full-size car}}

F-segment cars are known as "full-size luxury cars" in the United States, and form part of the [[full-size car]] category (along with non-luxury large cars and the smaller E-segment cars).

== See also ==
* [[E-segment]]
* [[Full-size car]]
* [[Euro Car Segment]]
* [[Car classifications]]
* [[Limousine]]
* [[Luxury car]]

== References ==
{{reflist|30em}}

{{EC car classification}}
{{Automobile configuration}}

[[Category:Euro car segments]]
[[Category:Luxury vehicles]]