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If it feels as if Bentley has delivered a barrage of new Continental models lately, it's because it has. After the second-generation Continental GT debuted late in 2011, Bentley followed up with a new GTC convertible, a pair of V-8-powered models, several high-performance Speed variants, and even a race-prepped coupe built to GT3 class rules.

Mercedes may be neck-and-neck with BMW for luxury sales dominance in America, but that's not enough. Daimler profits have fallen short of targets, which may explain why the E-class - the company's Brot-und-butter, high-margin model worldwide - has received such a thorough facelift for 2014.

Bugatti has the Veyron. Lamborghini has the Aventador. Bentley recently unveiled the Continental GT3. Porsche will soon release the 918 Spyder. And what does Audi have? The Volkswagen Group's fifth premium marque was supposed to have the R8 E-tron, but that car is either half dead or barely alive, depending on the source. An ailing halo car is not what Audi's new R&D chief, Wolfgang Duerheimer, expected when he recently moved over from Bentley. Instead, the former BMW and Porsche top manager is pushing for a new, even more ambitious sports car project known as the R20.