Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Chinese patent filing shows what could be next Royal Limo from Jaguar]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/10/chinese-patent-filing-shows-what-could-be-next-royal-limo-from-j/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/10/chinese-patent-filing-shows-what-could-be-next-royal-limo-from-j/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/10/chinese-patent-filing-shows-what-could-be-next-royal-limo-from-j/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Someone filed a patent application in China for the Jaguar XJ limousine seen above, but no one's sure who filed it or what the car is for. One camp thinks it's a State limo for UK royals like the Bentley State Limousine, another camp thinks it's the work of aftermarket coachbuilders.

One thing's for sure: Assuming it ever gets made, anyone who buys it wants an XJ in name only; the modifications have removed almost all of the grace of the standard sedan. Estimated to be more than three feet longer than an XJ, the stretched rear doors are backed by an even more stretched rear section that, in losing the trademark XJ C-pillar (the D-pillar on this car), adds all sorts of ungainliness to its backside. What's more, the roof rises from front to rear, we can only assume to make room for people with large hats. Or the NBA player that the Chinese call "Sweet Melon."

Head over to AutoSohu for more photos from the application, if you're sure that's what you really want.

Chinese patent filing shows what could be next Royal Limo from Jaguar originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 10 May 2013 16:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chinajaguarjaguar xjjaguar xj limousinelimopatentpatent applicationFri, 10 May 2013 16:27:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20564550/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/10/chinese-patent-filing-shows-what-could-be-next-royal-limo-from-j/20564550/article-detail.xml 20564550 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/jaguar-royal-limo_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/jaguar-royal-limo.jpg <![CDATA[Next Mercedes S-Class stretching into this 600 Pullman limo]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/15/next-mercedes-s-class-stretching-into-this-600-pullman-limo/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/15/next-mercedes-s-class-stretching-into-this-600-pullman-limo/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/15/next-mercedes-s-class-stretching-into-this-600-pullman-limo/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



To the concern of nobody in particular, Mercedes-Benz will not be re-upping its Maybach line of ultra-luxury limousines. No, instead the German automaker will be stretching its already roomy S-Class, to make this upcoming 600 Pullman version of the decked-out beast.

The car in our new gallery of spy shots is sporting beefy B-pillars and a massive set of rear doors that should allow perfectly graceful ingress and egress from what is likely to be a palatial rear space. (In one photo we can even see a long-wheelbase S-Class in line with the new Pullman, handily exhibiting the size of the new variant.) The exterior modifications are otherwise obscured, though we can guess at revised front and rear fascia and lighting elements, based on both end being heavily taped for these test runs.

It's a good bet that the Pullman will make use of M-B's twin-turbocharged V12 engine, though sources indicate that a hybrid version might eventually be in the offing, as well.

Next Mercedes S-Class stretching into this 600 Pullman limo originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 15 Mar 2013 14:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>600 pullmanlimolimousinemaybachmercedes-benzpullmans-classspy shotsFri, 15 Mar 2013 14:16:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20505711/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/03/15/next-mercedes-s-class-stretching-into-this-600-pullman-limo/20505711/article-detail.xml 20505711 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/mercedes-benz-600-pullman-spy-shots-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/mercedes-benz-600-pullman-spy-shots-628.jpg <![CDATA[Aussies turn Bumblebee Camaro into gullwing door limo [w/videos]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/28/aussies-turn-bumblebee-camaro-into-gullwing-door-limo-w-videos/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/28/aussies-turn-bumblebee-camaro-into-gullwing-door-limo-w-videos/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/28/aussies-turn-bumblebee-camaro-into-gullwing-door-limo-w-videos/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Bumblebee Limo

It is in Perth, Australia - a place that even Aussies consider a hike - where you'll find this, a Transformers-themed Bumblebee Camaro limousine with both scissor and gullwing doors. Created by Showtime Limos, the pony car has gone draft horse with seating for eight and Lamborghini-style entry in front, DeLorean in back.

And since it wouldn't be a limo without leather and neon, you'll find plenty of that inside: light patterns laid out like circuitry, seat cushions arranged like an Autobot, enough strobes to confuse a Decepticon, and two Bumblebee helmets. You can check out the glory in the photos above and videos below, and then you can start working on a reason to have a party in Perth.

Continue reading Aussies turn Bumblebee Camaro into gullwing door limo [w/videos]

Aussies turn Bumblebee Camaro into gullwing door limo [w/videos] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 28 Oct 2012 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bumblebeebumblebee camarocamarocamaro limousinechevroletlimolimousineperthshowtime limosvideovideosyoutubeSun, 28 Oct 2012 20:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20363047/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/10/28/aussies-turn-bumblebee-camaro-into-gullwing-door-limo-w-videos/20363047/article-detail.xml 20363047 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/10/showtimecamarolimo_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/10/showtimecamarolimo.jpg <![CDATA[Lincoln MKT Town Car to get 2.0-liter EcoBoost]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/01/lincoln-mkt-town-car-to-get-2-0-liter-ecoboost/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/01/lincoln-mkt-town-car-to-get-2-0-liter-ecoboost/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/01/lincoln-mkt-town-car-to-get-2-0-liter-ecoboost/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

2013 Lincoln MKT Town Car - front three-quarter studio view, black

Livery operators can thank Ford for shaving a few extra bucks from their fuel budgets, courtesy of a new four-cylinder engine option for the Lincoln MKT Town Car. Lincoln is offering its professional version of the MKT, the replacement for the venerable Town Car, with a 2.0-liter EcoBoost in front-drive configuration for 2013, though the powertrain won't be available to the general public.

The four-cylinder in the MKT Town Car makes 235 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque and garners an EPA rating of 20 miles per gallon city, 28 on the highway, and 23 combined. That's considerably better than the 17/24/19 rating of the other option, a 3.7-liter V6 making 300 hp and 275 lb-ft of torque. The bigger engine's inferior fuel economy isn't just a matter of its larger displacement, however, as it is only offered in all-wheel-drive guise.

We imagine livery operators in warm weather states would just as soon do without the added weight and mechanical complexity, especially if it means getting an extra four miles out of every gallon of gas. They'll be saving some dollars up front, as well, with the base price of the 2.0-liter EcoBoost MKT Town Car coming in at $49,845, some $1,100 less than the V6 model.

Lincoln MKT Town Car to get 2.0-liter EcoBoost originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Aug 2012 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2.0-liter ecoboost2013 lincoln mktecoboostlimolimousinelincolnliverymktmkt liveryWed, 01 Aug 2012 16:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20290766/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/08/01/lincoln-mkt-town-car-to-get-2-0-liter-ecoboost/20290766/article-detail.xml 20290766 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/2013-lincoln-mkt-town-car-628-1343845589_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/2013-lincoln-mkt-town-car-628-1343845589.jpg <![CDATA[Binz's 19-foot long Mercedes E-Class wagon will fill your screen]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/19/binzs-19-foot-long-mercedes-e-class-wagon-will-fill-your-screen/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/19/binzs-19-foot-long-mercedes-e-class-wagon-will-fill-your-screen/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/19/binzs-19-foot-long-mercedes-e-class-wagon-will-fill-your-screen/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Binz Xtend Mercedes-Benz E-Class Wagon

We're not exactly sure why an orange, stretched Mercedes-Benz wagon has been rippling across the automotive Internet, but hey, it's bizarre and looks like nothing more than a stylish hearse, so why not?

Besides, professional cars - that's what you call custom coachwork limos, hearses and ambulances - are among the coolest things rolling on four wheels, even if they're used for hauling ski gear, equipment cases and dogs rather than caskets.

The X-Orange is the product of Binz Limousine, a particularly flashy version of the company's XTend, a model we first saw in December 2010. The car is just what it looks like: An E-Class estate that's been given a 31.7-inch stretch to a whopping 224.4 inches, making it two inches longer than a Chevrolet Suburban, according to eMercedeBenz.com. Might we suggest pulling the styling taffy on an E63 AMG next time?

Check out all the high-res images in our gallery.

Binz's 19-foot long Mercedes E-Class wagon will fill your screen originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 Jul 2012 07:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>binze-classe-class wagonhearselimolimousineliverymercedesmercedes-benzprofessional carsThu, 19 Jul 2012 07:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20277921/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/07/19/binzs-19-foot-long-mercedes-e-class-wagon-will-fill-your-screen/20277921/article-detail.xml 20277921 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/07/binz-xtend-mercedes-benz-e-class-wagon-001-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/07/binz-xtend-mercedes-benz-e-class-wagon-001-opt.jpg <![CDATA[eBay Find of the Day: 1985 Saab Turbo Limo is the ultimate high school reunion ride]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/18/ebay-find-of-the-day-1985-saab-turbo-limo-is-the-ultimate-high/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/18/ebay-find-of-the-day-1985-saab-turbo-limo-is-the-ultimate-high/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/18/ebay-find-of-the-day-1985-saab-turbo-limo-is-the-ultimate-high/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

1985 Saab 900 Turbo Limo

Yes, we've seen this 1985 Saab 900 Turbo limo for sale before. But somehow, this time is just seems more right. And we've got more pictures this go-around.

With the Saab brand now dormant and little hope for a true renaissance, save for one that comes in name only, Saab's future must lie in the celebration of great cars of its past. And what better way to celebrate the wonderful Saab 900 than to chop it in half and turn it into a freaking limousine?

Claimed to have been built by a Denver area Saab specialist, this five-speed manual 900 Turbo is listed with a Buy It Now of $8,500. It's actually surprisingly well turned-out, too, with a pretty decent interior that sticks to real Saab seats, avoiding the crushed-velvet or button-festooned lounge chair look. While this seems rather spendy for a well-used limousine, good luck finding another one like it. And besides, that's a lot less than the $12,500 asking price from back in 2010.

Just promise us one thing: If you do buy it and your drive home from Baltimore passes through the Midwest, drop us a line, because we'd love to go for a ride in the back.

eBay Find of the Day: 1985 Saab Turbo Limo is the ultimate high school reunion ride originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 Jul 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1985 saab 900 turbo lino900ebayebay find of the dayebay motorslimolimousinesaabsaab 900 turbo limosaab limoWed, 18 Jul 2012 18:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20281030/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/07/18/ebay-find-of-the-day-1985-saab-turbo-limo-is-the-ultimate-high/20281030/article-detail.xml 20281030 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/07/1985-saab-900-turbo-limo-001-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/07/1985-saab-900-turbo-limo-001-opt.jpg <![CDATA[How many limos does the U.S. government actually use?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/21/how-many-limos-does-the-u-s-government-actually-use/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/21/how-many-limos-does-the-u-s-government-actually-use/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/21/how-many-limos-does-the-u-s-government-actually-use/#commentsFiled under: ,



Limos are evil or at least the people who ride in them are.

That's the takeaway we get after learning that the United States government is getting out of having so many, or at least counting as many, according to The Huffington Post.

By 2010, the U.S. government owned 412 limos, according to the Government Services Administration, which the Center for Public Integrity reported was a 73-percent increase from 2008.

Of course, buying more of the 1 percenters' favorite mode of transportation doesn't have the political correctness that any administration wants during an election year, so the GSA was told to go back and recount.

In 2012, it appears that changing the definition of limos to "a vehicle with a lengthened wheelbase, generally driven by a dedicated driver" with possible customization, including "privacy panels" and stretching for capacity and comfort, really helped make the kind of cuts that politicians believe constituents want. What the new definition managed to accomplish was exclude less classy transportation like shuttle buses from the business of counting limousines.

With the new definition in place, the administration and its various agencies were able to shed 62 percent of its limos from 2010 down to a scant 158, though it's unclear if any vehicles were actually sold, scrapped or otherwise disposed. That issue is unimportant, only that there are now fewer limos used by government. The fact that high-powered people need limos to do work and concentrate on running the free world instead of driving is another issue all together.

Please post to Facebook to annoy your liberal or conservative friends.


How many limos does the U.S. government actually use? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 Jun 2012 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Americacountinggovernmentlimolimousinetown carU.S.Thu, 21 Jun 2012 12:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20262029/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/06/21/how-many-limos-does-the-u-s-government-actually-use/20262029/article-detail.xml 20262029 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/gyi0060432940_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/gyi0060432940.jpg <![CDATA[Stretched Dodge Challenger SRT limo is a prom date's dream ride]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/26/stretched-dodge-challenger-srt-limo-is-a-prom-dates-dream-ride/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/26/stretched-dodge-challenger-srt-limo-is-a-prom-dates-dream-ride/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/26/stretched-dodge-challenger-srt-limo-is-a-prom-dates-dream-ride/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Dodge Challenger SRT8 limo

Whether you fondly remember your prom or are doing your very best to forget it, something tells us it would have been way better had you arrived in the machine you're about to see in the video after the break. Yes, it's a limo - and what high schooler wouldn't want to get dropped off in a stretched machine - but the real draw is that it's very likely the fastest limo in the lot.

Starting life as a Dodge Challenger SRT8, this blacked-out limo was crafted by LA Custom Coach after four and a half months of bending, stretching and welding. It boasts a completely custom interior done up in a unique black and red scheme along with a 24-inch LED screen and a full bar... but not for those headed to the prom, of course.

Want to procure one for your big day? That might be tricky, as this is said to be the first of its kind. On the upside, though, its owner says it won't be the last. Check out the stretched Challenger SRT limo in the video after the break, but beware the horrid yet somehow appropriate soundtrack.

Continue reading Stretched Dodge Challenger SRT limo is a prom date's dream ride

Stretched Dodge Challenger SRT limo is a prom date's dream ride originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Mar 2012 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>challengerchallenger limododgedodge challenger limola custom coachlimolimousineMon, 26 Mar 2012 20:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20201409/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/03/26/stretched-dodge-challenger-srt-limo-is-a-prom-dates-dream-ride/20201409/article-detail.xml 20201409 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/dodge-challenger-limo-1332802265_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/dodge-challenger-limo-1332802265.jpg <![CDATA[Ruf stretches Porsche Panamera to gloriously hideous effect]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/06/ruf-porsche-panamera-geneva-2012/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/06/ruf-porsche-panamera-geneva-2012/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/06/ruf-porsche-panamera-geneva-2012/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Ruf Porsche Panamera RXL

Give the people what they want. And when it comes to China, the people - or more accurately, the gilded class - want their rides long. Extra long. And Ruf is all too happy to oblige, stretching a Porsche Panamera S some 400mm; 250mm at the B-pillar and another 150mm at the rear door.

The effect inside is even more luxurious than its standard stablemate, with acres of legroom and a custom quilted upholstery fit for even the most oversized NBA retiree. From the outside, it's... awkward, as most stretches of this variety are.

But the obvious question is obvious: Why buy a Porsche when your confined to the back? Regardless, give your chauffeur a gift this spring by plunking down the $250,000+ Ruf is expected to ask for the Panamera RXL.

Ruf stretches Porsche Panamera to gloriously hideous effect originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Mar 2012 03:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>genevageneva 2012geneva motor showlimolimousinepanamerapanamera stretchporscheporsche panamera rxlruf porsche panamera rxlrxlTue, 06 Mar 2012 03:45:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20186530/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/03/06/ruf-porsche-panamera-geneva-2012/20186530/article-detail.xml 20186530 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/03-panamera-ruf-rxl-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/03-panamera-ruf-rxl-628.jpg <![CDATA[Cadillac XTS stretch limousine spotted looking prom-idential]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/05/cadillac-xts-stretch-limousine-spy-shots/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/05/cadillac-xts-stretch-limousine-spy-shots/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/05/cadillac-xts-stretch-limousine-spy-shots/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



A seriously stretched Cadillac XTS has been snapped during cold-weather testing doing what appeared to be checks of its traction-control, braking and stability systems, according to our spy photographers. With the Lincoln Town Car having left the building, Cadillac probably sees a huge opportunity not only in the livery market, but also in the celebs-and-prom-kids segment.

More than once the spy photogs mentioned the size of this car, and it looks massive even from its best angle. Another option for its use is as a new presidential limo to replace the rolling Imperial Starship that is the current Cadillac One, though while that vehicle does have the body of a Cadillac, its underpinnings come from a medium-duty Chevrolet Kodiak truck.

Cadillac XTS stretch limousine spotted looking prom-idential originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Mar 2012 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cadillaccadillac xtscadillac xts limolimolimousinespy photosspy shotsxtsMon, 05 Mar 2012 09:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20185409/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/03/05/cadillac-xts-stretch-limousine-spy-shots/20185409/article-detail.xml 20185409 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/xtslimospies_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/xtslimospies.jpg <![CDATA[China issues list of approved vehicles for government purchase, excludes imports for first time]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/28/china-issues-list-of-approved-vehicles-for-government-purchase/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/28/china-issues-list-of-approved-vehicles-for-government-purchase/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/28/china-issues-list-of-approved-vehicles-for-government-purchase/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

2012 Audi A6L

A black, Chinese-market Audi A6L is practically the poster-child for Communist Party officials who demand extra legroom rear legroom in a stretched version of standard sedan. The Chinese government reportedly spends 80 million renminbi ($12.7 million U.S.) per year on wheels for its bureaucrats, but according to a report in China Car Times the new list of approved cars available to officials is limited to Chinese models. That not only excludes the Audi - which is built in the country - but also BMW, Mercedes and the coming Infiniti M37 limo.

The list contains 412 models from makers like Great Wall, Brilliance, Roewe, Chery, Geely and SAIC, and the mix includes gas, diesel and electric powertrains for sedans, minivans, pickup trucks and SUVs. Displacements are constrained to 1.8 liters for sedans, 2.4 liters for SUVs.

Expected to be a boon to Chinese makers, the Chinese government also believes the new rules will be a boon to development: it wants the companies selected to reinvest three percent of their newfound gains into research and development. Neither Volvo nor Saab were mentioned in the report, and we wonder if BAIC's previous-generation Saab production and Geely's domestically produced Volvo models may have slipped in.

China issues list of approved vehicles for government purchase, excludes imports for first time originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Feb 2012 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a6a6lchinese carschinese governmentchinese limousinelimolimousineTue, 28 Feb 2012 14:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20181383/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/02/28/china-issues-list-of-approved-vehicles-for-government-purchase/20181383/article-detail.xml 20181383 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/2012-audi-a6l_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/2012-audi-a6l.jpg <![CDATA[Cadillac to show XTS town car at Vegas LCT show [w/poll]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/31/cadillac-to-show-xts-town-car-at-vegas-lct-show-w-poll/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/31/cadillac-to-show-xts-town-car-at-vegas-lct-show-w-poll/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/31/cadillac-to-show-xts-town-car-at-vegas-lct-show-w-poll/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Cadillac XTS

Town Car may be a nameplate still associated with Lincoln, but as any New Yorker will tell you, it's also a class of car and its application: large domestic luxury sedans used as chartered taxi cabs preferred by executives and highly valued professionals to get from one meeting to the next through Manhattan's notorious traffic. It's a market Lincoln itself is keen to retain, but with the demise of the Town Car as a model, it's pitching the MKT crossover for the application. Cadillac, however, is going with the XTS.

The top-end GM marque's new flagship sedan will be presented on February 13 at the upcoming International LCT (Limousine, Charter and Tour) Show at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. There, Cadillac will showcase the XTS W20 Livery Sedan Package, paving the way for extended-wheelbase and even sedan chassis to be made available sometime later this year.

So will Cadillac finally be able to leapfrog past longtime rival Lincoln in this vital market? Will the XTS prove the ultimate successor to the Town Car? Follow the jump for the full press release and cast your vote in the poll below.

View Poll

Continue reading Cadillac to show XTS town car at Vegas LCT show [w/poll]

Cadillac to show XTS town car at Vegas LCT show [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>black carcadillaccadillac xtsinternational lctinternational lct showlctlimolimousinelimousine charter tourtown carxtsTue, 31 Jan 2012 10:32:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20160435/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/31/cadillac-to-show-xts-town-car-at-vegas-lct-show-w-poll/20160435/article-detail.xml 20160435 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/0001-2013-cadillac-xts_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/0001-2013-cadillac-xts.jpg <![CDATA[British limo company eager to show its chops with stretched Audi R8 [w/video]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/24/british-limo-company-eager-to-show-its-chops-with-stretched-audi/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/24/british-limo-company-eager-to-show-its-chops-with-stretched-audi/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/24/british-limo-company-eager-to-show-its-chops-with-stretched-audi/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Some vehicles are made to be stretched. Others, less so. A Lincoln Town Car, for example, is a good platform for a limo. A Mercedes-Benz S-Class, sure. A Rolls-Royce Phantom. We could even see the attraction behind a Cadillac Escalade limo, if we had to. But not an exotic supercar.

The folks over at Carbonyte would beg to differ, though. The British coachbuilder made its reputation, such as it is, by helping Mercedes-Benz and McLaren develop the chassis for the SLR. But after that, things took a drastic turn for the worse.

Following the SLR project, Carbonyte turned its attention to unusual stretch jobs that usually involve supercars we'd rather not see chopped up and lengthened. Among its first projects was a stretched Ferrari 360 Modena that did not please the people in Maranello. Then the firm turned a Smart ForTwo into a giant rolling Red Bull can, before setting its sights on the Bugatti Veyron and Koenigsegg CCX.

We're glad we never saw those projects come to fruition, but the company is now reportedly preparing to do the same with an Audi R8. Whereas the Ferrari job incorporated two giant gullwing doors to give access to all the rear buckets at once, the R8 project - commissioned by the same company that owns the Ferrari limo - appears to feature individual gullwing doors for each of the passenger seats.

The vehicle is reportedly tipped to be completed by this coming summer, and will retain the donor car's 5.2-liter V10 - but we'd guess not its all-wheel drive system, and none of its handling dynamics. Check out the renderings in the image gallery above and the ludicrously dramatic video after the jump.

Continue reading British limo company eager to show its chops with stretched Audi R8 [w/video]

British limo company eager to show its chops with stretched Audi R8 [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 17:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audiaudi r8audi r8 5.2 fsiaudi r8 v10carbonytelimolimo brokerlimobrokerlimousiner8stretchTue, 24 Jan 2012 17:35:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20151585/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/24/british-limo-company-eager-to-show-its-chops-with-stretched-audi/20151585/article-detail.xml 20151585 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/webr8-limo_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/webr8-limo.jpg <![CDATA[How Kim Jong-il's final ride came to be in a Lincoln]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/30/how-kim-jong-ils-final-ride-came-to-be-in-a-lincoln/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/30/how-kim-jong-ils-final-ride-came-to-be-in-a-lincoln/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/30/how-kim-jong-ils-final-ride-came-to-be-in-a-lincoln/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Kim Jong-Il funeral procession

The funeral of Kim Jong-il made for a big story internationally, but in true Autoblog fashion, we were just as interested in the classic cars that figured prominently in the procession. Of particular interest was a 1970s Lincoln limousine that carried the deceased leader's casket - but not because it was some sort of rare classic that would fetch millions at Barrett Jackson.

Instead, many wondered how the North Koreans managed to obtain the vehicle in the first place. After all, the U.S. and North Korea aren't exactly cozy, as evidenced by the 58-year old armistice that is still in effect. Was it a Russian ride that was converted to look like a Lincoln? Was it a genuine Lincoln smuggled into the country?

The good folks at TheDetroitBureau.com did some digging, and they think they've found the answer. TDB contacted the former head of Ford of Japan to ask how the vehicle could have ended up in North Korean possession, and the answer could stem from a rogue dealer from Japan. Their source claims that one or more Japanese Ford dealers was rumored to be shipping vehicles to North Korea, in spite of Japanese laws that forbid exports to the communist country.

There is no way of knowing if this educated guess is the definitive explanation of how Kim Jong-il's Lincoln ended up in North Korea, but it's certainly as as good as any we have heard.

How Kim Jong-il's final ride came to be in a Lincoln originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Dec 2011 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>funeralkim jong ilkim jong-ilkim jong-il funerallimolincolnnorth koreaFri, 30 Dec 2011 11:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20137738/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/12/30/how-kim-jong-ils-final-ride-came-to-be-in-a-lincoln/20137738/article-detail.xml 20137738 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/lincoln-limo-funeral_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/lincoln-limo-funeral.jpg <![CDATA[Spy Shots: Lincoln MKT limo does its best private jet imitation]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/03/11/spy-shots-lincoln-mkt-limo-does-its-best-private-jet-imitation/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/03/11/spy-shots-lincoln-mkt-limo-does-its-best-private-jet-imitation/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/03/11/spy-shots-lincoln-mkt-limo-does-its-best-private-jet-imitation/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Lincoln MKT Stretch Limo
Lincoln MKT Stretch Limo spy shots - Click above for high-res image gallery

Following the death of the Town Car, Lincoln will be prepping its MKT crossover for a variety of livery duties in the coming years. We recently spied an MKT Hearse doing its first rounds of testing, and now our men in the trees have snapped this stretch limousine version of the luxury crossover.

Ford says that its upcoming livery products will be powered by the automaker's 3.7-liter V6 - the base engine in the standard MKT - with both front- and all-wheel drive configurations available. Obviously, this stretched MKT's middle body panels are simply in place for the purpose of powertrain and chassis testing, and we have no doubts that the finalized limousine will be nothing short of ultra-luxurious.

Now, let's just hope Ford offers some sort of panoramic moonroof so glammed-up high school girls have no problem standing up and waving to their friends on prom night. See all three high-res spy photos of the MKT limo in our image gallery below.


Gallery: Lincoln MKT Stretch Limo: Spy Shots

Lincoln MKT Stretch Limo: Spy ShotsLincoln MKT Stretch Limo: Spy ShotsLincoln MKT Stretch Limo: Spy Shots

[Images: Chris Doane/Brenda Priddy & Company]

Spy Shots: Lincoln MKT limo does its best private jet imitation originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 Mar 2011 11:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>limolincolnmktspy photosspy picsspy shotsstretch limoFri, 11 Mar 2011 11:27:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19876645/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/03/11/spy-shots-lincoln-mkt-limo-does-its-best-private-jet-imitation/19876645/article-detail.xml 19876645 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/03/01-lincoln-mkt-stretch-limo630opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/03/01-lincoln-mkt-stretch-limo630opt.jpg <![CDATA[eBay Find of the Day: Volkswagen New Beetle Limo]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/26/ebay-find-of-the-day-volkswagen-new-beetle-limo/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/26/ebay-find-of-the-day-volkswagen-new-beetle-limo/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/26/ebay-find-of-the-day-volkswagen-new-beetle-limo/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

New Beetle Limousine
New Beetle Limousine - Click above for high-res image gallery

We all may be up to our eyebrows in holiday cheer at the moment, but prom season is right around the corner. Thanks to the wonder of the Internet, now you can be ready to rake in the cold, hard cash of parents desperate to please their teenage daughters. Behold, the Volkswagen New Beetle limousine. This fine piece of machinery is up for bid right now from New Jersey's Route 22 Limousines. Inside, this stretcher has everything you'd expect from an engorged Beetle, including a grey leather interior, television, minibar and trippy mood lighting.

Miraculously enough, this machine gets its power from the Beetle's stock 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine bolted to the same four-speed automatic gearbox that it used from the factory. Loaded with screaming teens, we have to imagine that this thing gets to 60 mph in about the same time frame as our grandmother. On foot.

Still, a limo as unique as the one above could be a genuine money-maker. Or at least it would be if it didn't have a $45,000 Buy It Now price. Check it out on eBay.


Gallery: New Beetle Limousine



[Sources: Carscoop, eBay Motors]

eBay Find of the Day: Volkswagen New Beetle Limo originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 26 Dec 2010 18:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beetle limolimonew beetle limonew beetle limousinepromvolkswagenvolkswagen new beetle limousinevolkwagen new beetleSun, 26 Dec 2010 18:33:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19776356/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/12/26/ebay-find-of-the-day-volkswagen-new-beetle-limo/19776356/article-detail.xml 19776356 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/12/01-beetle-1293199821_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/12/01-beetle-1293199821.jpg <![CDATA[Online Find of the Day: 1985 Saab 900 Turbo limousine is long on charm]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/10/12/online-find-of-the-day-1985-saab-900-turbo-limousine-is-long-on/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/10/12/online-find-of-the-day-1985-saab-900-turbo-limousine-is-long-on/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/10/12/online-find-of-the-day-1985-saab-900-turbo-limousine-is-long-on/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

1985 Saab 900 Turbo Limousine
1985 Saab 900 Turbo Limousine - Click above for high-res image gallery

Known as "The Classic" among brand fans, the first generation Saab 900 enjoyed a seriously long production run from 1978 to 1993. It was offered as a coupe, sedan, three and five-door hatchback and even a convertible version. One bodystyle the car car not offered in, however, was that of a stretched limousine. But that little omission apparently didn't stop one determined Saab owner with plans for his 1985 900 Turbo. The mad scientist decided to add six feet to the 184.1-inch length of the original car. The result is a five-speed manual transmission equipped Saab 900 Turbo limousine, and it can be parked in (and possibly hang out of) your driveway for $12,500.

The owner has posted his turbocharged limo on SaabNet and states he states that the vehicle is very clean and runs great. It has 145,000 miles on the odometer, which for a 900 Turbo is barely middle-age. A first generation Saab 900 is pretty cool, and a turbocharged limo with a manual gearbox is certainly unique. We only wish we could see what has been done to the interior, but alas, there are no photos and with (what else) limo-tinted windows, there's no peeking inside, either. The asking price seems a bit steep compared to what a normal 900 Turbo might command, but this might be the only limo that would be at home running the prom circuit as it would a Swedish forest rally stage, and that's gotta be worth something.

The ad can be found in the SaabNet classifieds, scroll down a bit to find it.


Gallery: 1985 Saab 900 Turbo Limousine

1985 Saab 900 Turbo Limousine front three-quarter1985 Saab 900 Turbo Limousine1985 Saab 900 Turbo Limousine rear three-quarter

[Source: SaabNet]

Online Find of the Day: 1985 Saab 900 Turbo limousine is long on charm originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Oct 2010 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1985 saab 900 turbo1985 saab 900 turbo limo900 turbofor salelimolimousineliverysaab 900saab 900 turbosaab 900 turbo limosaab limosaab limousineTue, 12 Oct 2010 16:56:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19669382/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/10/12/online-find-of-the-day-1985-saab-900-turbo-limousine-is-long-on/19669382/article-detail.xml 19669382 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/10/saab-limo--1286817720_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/10/saab-limo--1286817720.jpg <![CDATA[Beijing 2010: First Auto Works Red Flag limo is fit for government work]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/23/beijing-2010-first-auto-works-red-flag-limo-is-fit-for-governme/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/23/beijing-2010-first-auto-works-red-flag-limo-is-fit-for-governme/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/23/beijing-2010-first-auto-works-red-flag-limo-is-fit-for-governme/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

FAW Red Flag - Click above for high-res image gallery

Beijing-based First Auto Works has long been the provider of the official transportation for the hierarchy of the People's Republic of China. Back in the 1950s, FAW started off building a localized version of the standard Soviet parade car, and over the past half century, they have evolved. FAW has also built licensed stretched sedans based on Audi and Lincoln vehicles.

Here at the Beijing Motor Show, FAW is showing off a new limo that is a modern interpretation those original models from the 1950s, but with a greenhouse and door array that looks more like a contemporary Rolls-Royce Phantom. We couldn't find any press materials written in English, but we have reason to believe that this machine is powered by a V12 engine that looks suspiciously like the one from the BMW 7 Series V12 of the late-1980s.


Gallery: Beijing 2010: FAW Red Flag limo


Photos by Sam Abuelsamid / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

Beijing 2010: First Auto Works Red Flag limo is fit for government work originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Apr 2010 20:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Beijingbeijing 2010beijing motor showBeijing2010BeijingAutoShowBeijingMotorShowFAWfaw red flagFawRedFlagfirst auto worksFirst Automobile Worksfirst automotive wor...First Automotive Works GroupFirstAutomobileWorksFirstAutomotiveWor...FirstAutomotiveWorksGroupFirstAutoWorkslimolimousineparadeparade carParadeCarpresidential limoPresidentialLimored flagred flag limoRedFlagRedFlagLimosoviet parade carSovietParadeCarFri, 23 Apr 2010 20:26:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19452609/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/04/23/beijing-2010-first-auto-works-red-flag-limo-is-fit-for-governme/19452609/article-detail.xml 19452609 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/red-flag-1280-04-copy_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/red-flag-1280-04-copy.jpg <![CDATA[Report: President Obama denied hybrid limo by Secret Service]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/07/report-president-obama-denied-hybrid-limo-by-secret-service/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/07/report-president-obama-denied-hybrid-limo-by-secret-service/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/07/report-president-obama-denied-hybrid-limo-by-secret-service/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Cadillac Presidential Limousine - Click above for high-res image gallery

You can't always get what you want. President Barack Obama said today that he originally wanted his presidential limo to boast a hybrid drivetrain. So what keeps the ruler of the free world from getting what he asks for? In this case, it was the Secret Service. Obama's body guards said that a hybrid engine couldn't produce the kind of power necessary to scoot the massive Cadillac down the road in an emergency situation. That's saying something, considering the Cadillac Escalade Hybrid boasts a V8 with enough power to have a 7,700-pound towing capacity. Part of us thinks it might also be a security concern to have a vehicle that may be more susceptible to electronic interference from nefarious sources, but that's just a guess.

No one's exactly sure what the Commander-in-Chief's car has under the hood, but it's a good bet that it has eight cylinders and enough torque to move a mountain of armor plating. We hear it's a diesel and we're guessing it probably nets fuel economy on par with most RVs.

Obama's pining for a hybrid limo came to light during a speech about the government's recent purchase of 5,000 of hybrid cars and trucks for federal use. No word on whether or not the executive branch got the General Motors employee discount.


Gallery: 2009 Presidential Limousine


[Source: ABC News]

Report: President Obama denied hybrid limo by Secret Service originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Apr 2010 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Barack ObamaBarackObamacaddycadillacHybridHybrid LimoHybridLimolimolimousinePresident Barack Obamapresident limoPresidentBarackObamaPresidential limopresidential limousinePresidentialLimoPresidentialLimousinePresidentLimoWed, 07 Apr 2010 13:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19430172/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/04/07/report-president-obama-denied-hybrid-limo-by-secret-service/19430172/article-detail.xml 19430172 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/x09svca005-630d_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/x09svca005-630d.jpg <![CDATA[Big Stretch: BMW reveals long-wheelbase 5 Series for China [w/video]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/31/big-stretch-bmw-reveals-long-wheelbase-5-series-for-china-w-vi/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/31/big-stretch-bmw-reveals-long-wheelbase-5-series-for-china-w-vi/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/31/big-stretch-bmw-reveals-long-wheelbase-5-series-for-china-w-vi/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Chinese-market long-wheelbase BMW 5 Series - Click above for high-res image gallery. Videos after the jump

If there's one thing a Mandarin enjoys, it's being chauffeured. And because China has no small number of the world's Mandarins, BMW has created a long-wheelbase 5 Series exclusively built in and provided for that market. The model is produced in BMW's Shenyang plant, where it's given an extra 5.5 inches for the rear passengers who travel in "luxurious grand touring comfort" due to the rear axle tailored to each model. These CDM specials even get a bespoke rear seat.

Three engines are to be offered in outputs starting at 204 horsepower and going up to 306 hp. You can check out all the info in the presser and videos after the jump, and get good looks at 7 Series-sized 5 Series in our high-res gallery below.


Gallery: BMW 5 Series Long Wheelbase for China


[Source: BMW]

Continue reading Big Stretch: BMW reveals long-wheelbase 5 Series for China [w/video]

Big Stretch: BMW reveals long-wheelbase 5 Series for China [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 31 Mar 2010 16:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 bmw2010 bmw 5 series2010Bmw2010Bmw5Series5 Series5 series long wheelbase528li530li535Li5Series5SeriesLongWheelbasebmw 5 seriesBmw5SerieslimolimousineWed, 31 Mar 2010 16:17:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19421132/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/03/31/big-stretch-bmw-reveals-long-wheelbase-5-series-for-china-w-vi/19421132/article-detail.xml 19421132 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/bmw5-longwhlchi_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/bmw5-longwhlchi.jpg -1 2