Autoblog

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

Noah Joseph — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:32:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Cadillac, Misc. Auto Shows, Specialty, Luxury

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.

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

Noah Joseph — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 17:35:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Videos, Audi, Specialty

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.

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How Kim Jong-il's final ride came to be in a Lincoln

Chris Shunk — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 11:29:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Etc., Government/Legal, Lincoln, Luxury

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.

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Spy Shots: Lincoln MKT limo does its best private jet imitation

Steven J. Ewing — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 11:27:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Crossover, Lincoln, Specialty

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

[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.

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eBay Find of the Day: Volkswagen New Beetle Limo

Zach Bowman — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 18:33:00 EST

Filed under: Auctions, Etc., Work, Volkswagen, Humor, Luxury

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.

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Online Find of the Day: 1985 Saab 900 Turbo limousine is long on charm

Jeff Glucker — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 16:56:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Sedan, Etc., Saab, Specialty

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

[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.

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Beijing 2010: First Auto Works Red Flag limo is fit for government work

Sam Abuelsamid — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 20:26:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, China, Government/Legal, Beijing Motor Show, Luxury

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

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.

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Report: President Obama denied hybrid limo by Secret Service

Zach Bowman — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 13:58:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Government/Legal, Cadillac, Military

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.

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

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 16:17:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, China, BMW, Luxury

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.

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How much is that stretched Lancia Delta HF Integrale in the window? $136k, that's how much

Noah Joseph — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 19:23:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Lancia

1991 Lancia Delta HF Integrale stretched limousine - Click above for image gallery

With the popularity of the Subaru WRX and Mitsubishi Evo, it'd be easy to dismiss the likes of the Lancia Delta HF Integrale as a relic of the past. But make no mistake about it: The roadgoing version of this Italian rally machine is as exotic and desirable as any supercar to come from the same country. All the more reason, then, to be appalled at this unfortunate conversion job.

It appears that some garage in Italy has taken an Integrale (possibly two, according to reports), chopped it up and stretched it into a limousine. If you're thinking that an all-wheel drive hot hatch is the worst possible candidate for limo-ification, we're with you. Whether the conversion job retains the all-wheel drive system remains a big question mark, however, with power coming from either the Integrale's eight-valve 2.0-liter turbo four or the Evo's 16-valve version.

Oh, and the best part? It's for sale, courtesy of Italian classifieds site Autoscout24, for the princely sum of €99,000 (or about $136,000 by current exchange rates). Have a look in the gallery below, just don't expect to see one of these popping up at the local Chrysler dealership with a Pentastar on the nose.

Gallery: 1991 Lancia Delta HF Integrale stretched limousine

[Source: Autoscout24 via CarScoop]

How much is that stretched Lancia Delta HF Integrale in the window? $136k, that's how much originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Feb 2010 19:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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For Sale: The most Grand Wagoneer ever made

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, SUV, Jeep, Specialty

Jeep Grand Wagoneer Limo - Click above for high-res image gallery

There will always be something special about the Jeep Grand Wagoneer that keeps the original Sport Utility Vehicle entrenched firmly on our list of truly iconic American automobiles. Somehow, despite the old-school design and fake wood paneling, the GW manages to look both classy and capable at once.

Though we'll take our Grand Wagoneer exactly as God and American Motors intended, we think this stretched limo-spec Woodie is rather tastefully done as well. If nothing else, it's far cooler that any stretched-to-the-hilt Hummer H2 we've ever laid eyes on. According to the seller (the original ad can be found here), this model is an '87 and features the trusty 360 cubic inch V8 engine, automatic transmission and the requisite four-wheel drive.

It looks to be in good shape inside and out, as it should with just over 43,000 miles showing on the clock. As an added bonus, this Grand Wagoneer sports an attractive black exterior, a fake forest's worth of wood paneling and a very nice tan interior. Take it home for $24,900. Just be sure to replace those awful wheels with something more appropriate... like stock steelies with chrome trim rings.

Gallery: Jeep Grand Wagoneer Limo

[Source: Hemmings Auto Blog]

For Sale: The most Grand Wagoneer ever made originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 03 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hyundai develops stretched Equus limo for home market [w/VIDEO]

Sam Abuelsamid — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 09:29:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Hyundai, Luxury, South Korea

Hyundai Equus Limousine - click above for high-res image gallery

Hyundai has just launched a new Equus limousine in its home market designed to appeal to executives that really need extra stretch-out room. The new Equus VL500 has had 12 inches of extra length inserted in between its axles. The extra length means that the already large Equus now bests other competitors like the Lexus LS460L and Mercedes S500L by almost 15 inches in rear leg room.

For those not in a hurry, the new limo uses the Lambda 3.8-liter V6 as the standard powerplant. The new 5.0-liter version of the company's Tau V8 is optional with 394 horsepower. As befits such a ride, the longer Equus incorporates features like power rear footrests and massaging seats. Korean customers can order the factory stretch now at prices ranging from the equivalent of $113,000 to $122,180, but at this time, Hyundai America has no comment about a possible U.S. variant to accompany the previously-announced standard-length model. Be sure to check out the press release and video available after the jump.

Gallery: Hyundai Equus Limo

[Source: Hyundai]

Continue reading Hyundai develops stretched Equus limo for home market [w/VIDEO]

Hyundai develops stretched Equus limo for home market [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 Sep 2009 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Burned-out Hummer limo spotted during wildfires in California

Frank Filipponio — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 17:22:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Etc., Hummer, Specialty

Cause or effect? While driving home from Supercar Sunday at VCR, we spotted this burned out Hummer H2 limo on the side of the road near the heart of the wildfires in Southern California.

Was this behemoth the cause of, or alternatively, a victim of the fires? Perhaps neither. It may have just been a coincidence that the lengthy SUV lay smoldering on the shoulder near thousands of acres of brush near Mulholland Drive. Perhaps. But one thing's for sure - the party's over for this limo. Here's hoping that anyone that happened to be inside made it out safely.

Burned-out Hummer limo spotted during wildfires in California originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 17:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Maserati Loves Company: Quattroporte stretched limousine

Noah Joseph — Tue, 12 May 2009 19:27:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Maserati

Maserati Quattroporte limousine - Click above for an image gallery

While running around from merger to acquisition, Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne has been riding in style in a Maserati Quattroporte. And why shouldn't he? The luxurious sport-sedan is miles ahead of the Alfa Romeo 167 which Fiat executives were chauffeured around in beforehand, and better than anything Opel or Chrysler has got to show off, too. But one limousine company in Florida has what it figures is the next step up: a stretched Quattroporte with seating for ten.

Based on the previous incarnation of the Trident-emblazoned four-door - the horizontal slats in the grille are a dead giveaway over the vertical bars on the newer model - the Padilla Car Collection claims it's the only stretched Quattroporte in the world. And we certainly hope so. The company's also got stretches Hummers, Bentleys, Escalades, Mercedes S550s and a custom Chrysler 300 should you, your pals and your prom dates be looking for something a little more, um... reserved. For our part, we don't even want to know what the extra yardage has done for the QPorte's handling, with which we fell in love on the back streets of Salzburg, Austria, and we're quite sure Signore Marchionne doesn't, either.

Gallery: Maserati Quattroporte stretched limo

[Source: Padilla Car Collection via CarScoop]

Maserati Loves Company: Quattroporte stretched limousine originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 May 2009 19:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes-Benz E-Class Pullman drawings leak from European patent office

Noah Joseph — Mon, 04 May 2009 09:27:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedan, Europe, Government/Legal, Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz E-Class Pullman patent drawings - Click above for a high-res image gallery

It's no great secret that the European Union's patent office has more leaks than a Soviet submarine, but up until now it's only been small cars that have been able to trickle out (see: the facelifted Mazda MX-5 and Nissan 370Z Roadster). But the dam seems to be giving way as a whole Mercedes limousine has managed to squeeze though and into the public realm, and our European compatriots at Autoblog Spanish have got the sketches to prove it.

Like the spy shots we've seen before, these patent sketches provide further proof that Mercedes is preparing to launch a stretched Pullman version of its new E-Class. Several extension options are apparently being prepared, ranging from a modest wheelbase extension all the way up to a full extra set of doors. Expect all manner of luxury equipment to find its way into the enlarged cabin, from entertainment systems and courtesy lighting to power reclining seats and fold-down picnic tables for that ultimate Grey Poupon experience. Click the thumbnails below to view the patent drawings in high resolution.

Gallery: Mercedes-Benz Clase E Pullman (OAMI)

[Source: Autoblog Spanish]

Mercedes-Benz E-Class Pullman drawings leak from European patent office originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 04 May 2009 09:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vauxhall Insignia Limo too much of a good thing?

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 08:29:00 EST

Filed under: Tuners, Sedan, Opel, Vauxhall, UK, Specialty

Vauxhall Statesman - Click above for image gallery

Wilcox Limousine in England distributes the Vauxhall Statesman in both six-door, three-row limousine and hearse configurations. The company has already begun eying the new Insignia for dignitary and funeral duty, and the result is rendered above. It's not all that bad for a limo conversion, but we had no idea that so many people were requesting to be chauffeured to the airport and The Great Beyond in stretched Vauxhalls. On the plus side, you'll find leather trim, walnut door cappings and a full divider on the inside. "Unbeatable prices" can't hurt, either. Check out the next Statesman limo and hearse in the gallery below.

Gallery: Vauxhall Insgina Limo and Hearse

[Source: Autoblog Spanish, translation here]

Vauxhall Insignia Limo too much of a good thing? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 26 Mar 2009 08:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lead Zeppelin? Maybach exhumes long-dormant nameplate for new super-lux model

Noah Joseph — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 10:29:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Geneva Motor Show, Maybach, Specialty

Click above to view the Maybach Zeppelin in high-resolution

One of these days, the guys at Daimler headquarters in Stuttgart will realize that, to make Maybach a success, the marque is going to need to do more than revive some old names and slap 'em on an oversized version of the old Mercedes S-Class. Until then, however, it's full speed ahead on the current course, as Maybach is poised to unveil Zeppelin editions of its current models.

Reviving the old nameplate of the original Maybach's top-spec model, the new Zeppelin is little more than a pricy trim package. €406,000 (about $525k USD by today's rates) gets you a Maybach 57 Zeppelin, while the larger 62 commands a €473,200 ($612k) sum. In exchange, you get some unique 20" dark chrome rims, the requisite special badges, dark red tail lights, vertical exhaust outlets, special leather upholstery ("California beige" with "Stromboli black" stitching), piano lacquer trim, a set of silver champagne flutes and a plastic fragrance dispenser.

Maybach says they'll only make 100 Zeppelin editions, but remember: that's a maximum, and we'd be surprised if they actually sold that many. Full details in the press release after the jump and photos in the gallery below.

Gallery: Maybach Zeppelin

[Source: Daimler]

Continue reading Lead Zeppelin? Maybach exhumes long-dormant nameplate for new super-lux model

Lead Zeppelin? Maybach exhumes long-dormant nameplate for new super-lux model originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Feb 2009 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cadillac One: Details on president-elect Obama's new limo

Chris Paukert — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 11:33:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Cadillac, Specialty

One of the perks of being the Commander-in-Chief is getting to ride in the back of a presidential limousine. And while certain presidents have had hand-me-down chariots, President-Elect Barack Obama is set to get a brand-new, high-tech model.

Looking much like a standard Cadillac DTS stretched to the limits, Obama's new ride is an altogether different beast, with the highest levels of protection, technology and luxury a presidential limo has ever seen. Described as "a rolling tank with windows," word is that the limo is actually not a Cadillac, but rather something built on a medium-duty truck chassis.

Spy shooters have captured the limo testing alongside a pair of GMC Topkick pickups, and keen observers have noted that the wheels and rubber appear to be dimensionally identical to those found on the big trucks (the limo sports 19.5-inch Goodyear Regional RHS tires). Bystanders even contend that a the limo sounds like its sporting a diesel engine underhood.

The exterior is an amalgamation of various Cadillac bits, with Escalade headlights flanked by Caddy's corporate grille and a set of taillights pulled from the STS. It's doubtful that all this kit -- and the massive fender flares -- will find their way onto the model bound for the White House car port, but the ultra-thick doors should provide a presidential-sized barrier between POTUS and the outside world. The only question left is whether Obama's code name (Renegade) will carry over when he moves into Pennsylvania Ave. on the 20th, or if it the Secret Service will change it to Caddyman.

Hit the jump to view a video of Obama's new ride in action.

Continue reading Cadillac One: Details on president-elect Obama's new limo

Cadillac One: Details on president-elect Obama's new limo originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Jan 2009 11:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Escalade ESV not enough? Try the Becker/STRUT Escalade Limo

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 18:33:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Tuners, SUV, Cadillac, Specialty

Click the image above for more shots of the Becker/STRUT Cadillac ESV limo

If you're buying an Escalade, there's a good chance that even the Platinum Edition ESV won't be enough for you. That's why companies like Becker and STRUT exist, so that you can shine like one of the brightest stars in the multiverse. When these two companies get together on something... well, you'll probably need tinted goggles to behold it. So it's with a bang that they introduced a special edition Cadillac ESV limo.

How do you top platinum? With a floor-to-ceiling leather interior, where you'll enjoy a home -- or is that limo? -- theater system, broadband Internet, a wall-mounted computer screen... and the company of your statuesque personal assistant with the Eastern European accent. Check out the full press release after the jump, and the hi-res photos below. Now where did that recession go again... ?

Gallery: Becker/STRUT Cadillac ESV Limo

[Source: Becker]

Continue reading Escalade ESV not enough? Try the Becker/STRUT Escalade Limo

Escalade ESV not enough? Try the Becker/STRUT Escalade Limo originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Jul 2008 18:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ingolstadt's version of the HUMMER limo

Michael Harley — Mon, 19 May 2008 15:58:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Tuners, Etc., Audi, Toys/Games, Lifestyle, Specialty

Click on the above image for a gallery of the Q7 limousine

Proving that money and taste don't always occupy common ground, we've stumbled upon this 14-seat Audi Q7 limousine (don't worry, it's not a factory conversion). With colorful purple Disco lighting adorning both the floor and ceiling, and heated alligator/snake upholstery covering the bench seats, the faux fish tank above the simulated flames doesn't seem so out of place. While twin 17-inch flat screens are nothing to brag about, the "jet door" mounted on the side will surely get you the looks you crave. Located in New York, we should mention it comes from the same company who also offers a 14-passenger Range Rover, and a 14-passenger Infiniti QX56. And you thought HUMMERS got all the fun...

Gallery: 2008 Audi Q7 Limo

[Source: Royal Luxury]

Ingolstadt's version of the HUMMER limo originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 May 2008 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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