While some limousines are owned by wealthy individuals, many are owned by governments to transport senior politicians, by large companies to transport executives, or by broadcasters to transport guests. Most limousines, however, operate as livery vehicles, providing upmarket competition to taxicabs.
The word limousine is derived from the name of the French region Limousin, where the inhabitants wore a hood perceived to be similar to the profile of the car.
Mercedes unveiled today the S 600 Pullman Guard, a limousine integrated Highest Protection. The car was unveiled to celebrate 80 years of manufacturing vehicles with factory-integrated special protection.
The technical basis for the new Pullman limousine is provided by the S 600 Guard, the top of the Mercedes-Benz Guard range. It is powered by a superbly smooth twelve-cylinder biturbo engine with a displacement of 5513 cubic centimetres and an output of 517 hp with an impressive 830 Nm of torque. As these figures suggest, the S 600 Guard Pullman can call on effortlessly superior power delivery, allowing it to get out of a danger zone rapidly, should the need arise.
The S 600 Pullman Guard offers most of the technical innovations which make the Mercedes-Benz S-Class the number-one trailblazer in passenger car development and the world’s best-selling luxury saloon. These include important developments such as the new COMAND APS system.
Mercedes-Benz’ night view assist system reduces the risk of accidents during the hours of darkness. This system is based on infrared light, which is invisible to the human eye and will therefore not dazzle oncoming traffic. Two infrared head-lamps illuminate the road, significantly extending the driver’s range of vision when on low beam. An infrared camera mounted on the inside of the windscreen picks up the reflected image of the road ahead and displays this in the instrument cluster.
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The 2009 Landaulet was first launched as a concept version last year at the Dubai auto show, and earlier this year Maybach announced the production version. The convertiblelike four-door Landaulet will go on sale in USA starting December at a price of $1.35 million!
"The Landaulet is for a superrich individual who wants something that is extremely extraordinary and enjoys being driven in a car with acres of sky above them," Hans-Dieter Multhaupt, vice president of program management for Maybach said.
The Landaulet is designed as a chauffeur-driven limousine. The soft partial convertible top above rear-seat passengers opens from the B-pillar back so passengers in the rear seat can be seen and enjoy the sunshine.
The Maybach’s rear doors and side windows remain intact. The driver’s compartment is covered by a nonremovable hard top. Multhaupt said many of the Maybach Landaulets "will be fitted with a glass panel that separates the driver and the passenger, like the cars of the past."
At least when we are talking about a modified 360 Modena! Dan Cawley, 36, of Cheadle, Manchester is the owner of the fastest limousine in the world. Good for him, no? Well, yes, but his limo is a 360 Modena cut in half and with a 3m (9.5ft) middle section made of carbon fiber. He will face legal action for infringing the Ferrari trademark.
He has 14 days to remove all prancing horse badges, Ferrari names and “360 Modena” symbols from the 6m (20ft) car. “What kind of precedent does it set when you can’t do what you like with your own property?” asked Mr Cawley.
According to Ferrari, that modified 360 Modena is no longer a Ferrari!
It’s a stretch literally and figuratively – an F360 Modena turned into a 23 foot long limousine with gullwing doors.
Built for limousine company Style Limousine in England at a cost of about $400,000 plus the price of the car, it seats eight people in carbon fiber seats, each with a racing belt harness. Style claims that the standard 395 hp engine will yield a zero to sixty time of less than six seconds.
The limousine uses advanced construction techniques for both (...)
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The ZIL Parade is a Russian presidential limousine designed by Ilya Avakov, a graduate from Shtiglits Arts Academy in Saint Petersburg. The car was created to be used during parades on the Red Square.
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