Autoblog

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... ?

[Source: Becker]

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...

[Source: Royal Luxury]

Take a smart fortwo, cut it in half just behind the doors, and spend 300 man-hours over the next month adding nearly nine more feet to the vehicle's length. The result is the world's first smart fortwo "limo" that is about as long as a Mercedes-Benz S-Class! The images show a prototype model from Carbonyte, a UK limo specialty company, that was designed as a promotional vehicle (we see more than just a little resemblance to a popular energy-drink company). As expected with a custom fabrication, the customer can choose his or her own design, seating capacity, and intended use (if you have the need, Carbonyte is looking into creating a electric fortwo hearse). We know what you are thinking. Adding all this mass to a smart must slow the fortwo to a crawl. Right? Well, Carbonyte claims the original 600cc engine can still propel the contraption to a blistering 80 mph. Maybe so, but not with us in it.

Carbonyte's press release is posted below the fold.

We've seen some dogface cars around here. As a baseline, most of us consider the stock Pontiac Aztek simply indigestible. With that in mind, when this "customized" Pontiac Aztek showed up on eBay last year, a few of us fell over the porcelain fighting to hold down lunch.

Just as our stomachs have finally settled, we came across several pictures of a limousine in the Ukraine. The manufacturer of this calamity obviously didn't know when to stop (in fact, they apparently didn't know where to start either) as every styling, functional, and ergonomic rule has been tossed out the door. There is so much wrong with this disproportioned mess of machinery...

Don't question the six exhaust tips, the narrow trunk opening, or the running boards that don't exactly line up with the doors. Better yet, spend time pondering the aerodynamic hood bulges for the wiper blades, the old-school benefits of 14-inch wheels, and the envious looks you will get for the lavish ornamentation on the door handles. You know, we didn't see any seat belts inside - then again, would you want to be caught with a heartbeat in this thing?

[Source: English Russia]

You may remember a post we did a year ago about some yuk that chopped a gorgeous 360 Modena to turn the once-beautiful supercar into a 166 mph limo. Ferrari hasn't forgotten what Dan Cawley, of Cheadle, Manchester did to its black beauty, and the Italian supercar maker is suing the Brit for infringing on its trademark. According to lawyers, Ferrari feels cutting the 360 Modena in half and turning it into a limo no longer makes it a Ferrari. Under the terms of the lawsuit, Cawley has 14 days to remove the Ferrari badging or he'll have to go toe to toe with the prancing horse's legal department.

While it ticks us off that a company would have the cajones to sue someone for modifying a vehicle that the person paid a lot of money to own, Mr. Cawley almost deserves the legal headache. Ferrari may be confident that it'll win the suit, but anybody with the funding to buy a supercar, cut it in half, and add 9.5 feet of carbon fiber body panels probably has the resources to put up a pretty good fight. We reposted the video of the half-finished stretch 360 Modena after the jump.

[Source: The Times]

We always wondered if after a long day of filming "Hazzard", Bo and Luke drove that rattly Charger home every night. Surely they made enough money to buy a brand new K-Car or maybe even one of those awesome 1985 Shelby Chargers. That's sarcasm, by the way.

But then, after a long day of jumping creeks and speeding away from Boss Hogg, the Duke brothers probably wanted to drive as little as possible. Too bad this 1995 General Lee Lincoln Limo came along 10 years too late. Also too bad it's half a world away in Ireland. Yeah, a General Lee Limo in Northern Ireland.

But if you're into that sort of thing, it can be yours for a current eBay bid of £1,200. That's not a bad deal for a bright orange, 8-seat General Lee replica complete with "Dixie" horn and a Confederate flag on the roof.

The description says obvious things like, "possibly the only one in the UK," and "This limo WILL get you noticed!!" but fails to mention whether the doors open, how well it soars over washed out bridges or if it will run on pure-grain alcohol. We recommend you bid at your own risk.

Be sure to check out the gallery for even more photos from the eBay auction.

[Source: eBay via Carscoop]

The motorsport press thought it was a big deal when Ferrari made their F1 car longer than last season's by a couple of inches. Well, some nutjobs in a chop-shop somewhere have taken things a step further by hacking a perfectly good Ferrari in two and adding a few seats, turning out a gran turismo even longer than the 612 Scaglietti.

To make matters worse, this wasn't some 80's-era $30k Ferrari, either: they've chopped up a previous-generation 360 Modena, arguably among the most beautiful of modern road-going Ferraris.

Although we hate to admit it, logistically speaking, stretching out a mid-engine car with rear-wheel-drive technically makes more sense than running a long driveshaft from a front-engined limo all the way to the rear axle (as Top Gear's Richard Hammond reckoned with his stretched MGF). But that's where our sense of charity ends and our sense of outrage kicks back in. This is the automotive equivalent of painting a mustache on the Mona Lisa.

If you can bear it, there's a video after the jump.

[Source: Bilfeber]

click above image to view a pair of high-res pics of the MB S600 Guard Pullman limo

80 years after Mercedes-Benz introduced its first Pullman limousine, so named after luxuriously appointed rail-road cars, the German automaker has announced it will be introducing the newest iteration based on the S600 sedan in late 2008. The new Pullman Limousine will be based on the S600 long wheelbase Guard model, which means it will have a B6/B7 resistance level as certified by various state organizations. This means it will be able to stop anything short of a direct hit from would be terrorists trying to harm its upper crust occupants. This thing won't have sheetmetal, it'll have armor, in addition to a fully reinforced body structure, run flat tires, a self-healing fuel tank and on board fire-extinguishing system. Of course, being stretched like silly puddy and armed to the hilt adds a bit of weight, so power will be provided by 5.5L twin-turbo twelve-cylinder engine generating 517 hp and 612 ft-lbs. of torque. That should be enough for the well trained chauffeur to motor his four dignitaries out of harms way in a hurry. While Mercedes-Benz didn't divulge the new Pullman's price, we're guessing its something only a government could afford.

[Source: Mercedes-Benz]

Is that a Grey Goose flying into a Silver Cloud? Not far off, actually. In a bit of brand synergy we can really get behind, Grey Goose, the veritable Rolls Royce of vodkas, has teamed up with Rolls Royce itself on a joint marketing and public awareness campaign.

The promotion centers around two specially-made Grey Goose edition Extended Wheelbase Phantoms. The limos got a specially-mixed French racing blue finish outside and unique upholstery inside. Naturally, the flying Grey Goose icon is embroidered and discretely emblazoned on different parts of the car.

The two special Phantoms will be used to generate publicity, raise money for charity and for a public awareness campaign that will bring them to different cities promoting responsible drinking and, of course, Grey Goose. At the end of their run, so to speak, both Phantoms will be auctioned off, with the proceeds going to charitable causes.

Press release after the jump

[Source: Grey Goose]

A limousine is reserved for a special day, for when you want to arrive at the big event in style. If you're like the Autoblog gang and you want to stand out from the rest, then the Town Car or stretch HUMMER just isn't going to cut it. If your main goal in life is to combine a limo experience coupled with low coefficients of drag then this RX7 has it all. Twin-turbo rotary engine, aerospace composite materials, and a power side door all scream "I'm different and I'm proud!" So what if it doesn't have a bar, you can spend your time listening to that 1.3L rotary gem. OK, maybe the light weight racing suspension and roll bars is overdoing it, but if you want exclusive, you've got exclusive.

The vehicle has 60,000 miles on it, but the engine only has 12,000. It's nice to know too that someone was so passionate about this vehicle they felt the need to pour over $170,000 into it. Current bid price is $27,500. Happy bidding!

Thanks for the tip, Fashnootin!

[Source: eBay]