Peter Carroll reports on new technological developments at the luxury end of the market.

Never mind a week being a long time in politics, developments at the luxury end of the car market are coming at a furious pace – despite the recession.

No sooner had Land Rover unveiled the ‘world’s first dual view infotainment screen’ as part of a major revamp of its three most expensive models, then Mercedes-Benz hit back by announcing similar ‘Splitview’ technology for its S-Class (pictured above).

What we are talking about here is the ability of a driver to look at a display screen on the dashboard and see one thing – for example, a satellite navigation map – while the passenger views a DVD or television programme on the same screen, at the same time.

I saw the Range Rover version in action at a product demonstration day at Gaydon and it’s a fantastic feature which uses the latest 3D technology to work.

It and the Range Rover’s replacement of traditional instrument gauges with ‘virtual’ dials on a TFT screen are likely to be a real talking point for those who can afford Land Rover’s top end product.

BMW does not have this feature, yet, but has just announced two of the fastest ever SUVs in the form of the X5 M and the more coupe-styled X6 M.

These V8-engined four-wheel drive monsters can each hit 62mph in a blistering 4.7 seconds – which is supercar performance in anyone’s book. Even a £75,000 Porsche Cayenne Turbo 4×4 cannot match that.

Meanwhile, the Toyota-owned Lexus is replacing its hybrid RX 400h with the RX 450h. This model cleverly plays on the firm’s reputation for being eco-friendly while offering every conceivable luxury feature as well.

Rich customers with a conscience might end up plumping for one of these.

So why is there all this action at the top end of the market, when you would think that manufacturers would be looking to offer more affordable vehicles in these recessionary times?

Part of it will be the natural cycle of product replacement, but you get the sense that manufacturers are desperate to attract the really rich customer – the sort of person who doesn’t need to worry about financing their purchase with a loan, or off-loading a trade-in; the sort of person who doesn’t need to seek clearance from hubby or the missus before they commit to buying a new car.

Whatever the state of the economy there will always be rich people looking to spend their money – and unsurprisingly these are the people that all car companies would love to have as customers.

Which is why they are investing millions in the ‘parallax barrier’ technology that can display two images on a screen at once, or the development of twin turbo-charged, five and a half litre petrol engines that will propel a two-tonne SUV to 60mph in under five seconds.

The main comfort for the rest of us is that the new technology which debuts on prestige cars tends to work its way down to more affordable vehicles sooner, rather than later.

When computer-controlled automatic reversing first came along you had to be able to afford an £80,000 Lexus to gain the benefit.

Now you can get a similar feature on the new Golf Plus which will be arriving soon in UK showrooms.

Yes, give it another couple of years and the rest of us will have Freelanders and Smarts with ‘dual view’ screens too – even if the rich will probably be thrilling to the latest sci-fi feature to be developed for the luxury end of the market.

By Peter Carroll