Luxury vehicle Lincoln (whereas it formerly competed with Mercury) and front-wheel drive Acura and Lexus models, while Cadillac is aimed at the "luxury" segment which generally encompasses the performance-oriented BMW and Mercedes-Benz marques. The premium compact segment is targeted at a niche market of consumers who found the existing entry-level luxury offerings (mostly consisting of compact executive cars - see below) to be too expensive. By offering a smaller, lighter, more fuel-efficient, and less expensive vehicle, premium compacts introduce younger buyers to the luxury marque, in hopes of retaining the coveted customer loyalty. This includes for example the Alfa Romeo Giulietta (940),
Luxury vehicle vehicles and also taking advantage of moving production to emerging countries of their low-end cars while manufacturing mid-range and high-end models domestically. Attempts are being made to develop luxury cars, but the manufacturers lack a legacy. In 2014, Citroën introduced DS Automobiles, a separate brand to embody "French luxury" in cars. Italy focused on high end sports cars in the luxury market, such as the Ferrari and Maserati. Since the 1980s, a host of new manufacturers have entered the luxury market to challenge the traditional players. The three major Japanese auto manufacturers, Honda, Toyota, and Nissan, created their respective luxury