AC

CARMEL, Calif. — As a trio of new luxury flagships were unveiled at a fancy car show here, prestige auto executives have their manicured fingers crossed that rising stock prices and a stabilizing housing market will signal a turnaround for their cars. Don't hold your breath. The luxury sector has taken a bubble bath this year, worse than predicted. Folks at the upper end may still have millions socked away, but they also are mindful of appearances. Financial scandals, government bailouts, executive compensation and still rising unemployment signal that it's not the time to flaunt affluence. "They may be trust-fund babies, but you don't want to look like a jerk," quips Rebecca Lindland, auto analyst for IHS Global Insight. In July, luxury vehicle sales fell as much or more than mainstream brands. Cadillac was off 52.6%, Mercedes-Benz fell by 21.8%, BMW sagged 31.5%, Jaguar-Land Rover slumped 25%, and even previously bulletproof Lexus fell 16.5% from the year before, Autodata says....