Some people simply believe "The bigger, the better," and the extended-wheelbase Town Car helped them to reinforce that. Whether the backseat passengers were family, friends, or livery customers, somebody was going to appreciate the six added inches of rear legroom and the limo-style ambience afforded by the accent lighting and cigar-friendly ashtray, not to mention the separate audio and climate controls for their half of the cabin.

This was the only '02 Town Car that got heated rear seats - and they came standard at that. Of course, as on all incarnations of the Cartier, the niceties included higher-quality leather seats embroidered with special emblems, plus a fancy Cartier analog clock to dress up the instrument panel. Standard chrome wheels added flash to the exterior.

Of course, as the ultimate Town Car, this one was built with the performance-enhanced components, a grouping of nearly two dozen parts tuned for a sportier feel and boost in power. The main result was an additional 15 horses above the standard 220-hp engine, but an all-around firmer feel was the other benefit.