A limousine (or limo) originally meant an "enclosed automobile with open driver's
seat," and was named from the French limousine (in the Occitan language) that was originally an adjective referring
to a city a region in central France.The automobile meaning evolving from a type of cloak and hood that was worn by the inhabitants
of the Limousin region that later resembled the covering of a carriage and much later used to describe an automobile body
with a permanent top that extended over the open driver's compartment.
The term now refers to a luxury sedan or
saloon car, especially one with a lengthened wheelbase or driven by a chauffeur. The chassis of a limousine may have been
extended by the manufacturer or by an independent coachbuilder. These are called "stretch" limousines and are traditionally
black or white. Limousines are usually liveried vehicles, driven by professional chauffeurs. As the most expensive form of
automobile ground transportation, limousines are culturally associated with extreme wealth or power and are commonly cited
as examples of conspicuous consumption. Among the less wealthy, limousines are often hired during special events (most commonly
weddings and funerals.
While some limousines are owned by individuals, many are owned by governments to transport senior
politicians, by large companies to transport executives, and by broadcasters to transport guests. Most stretch limousines,
however, operate as livery vehicles, providing upmarket competition to taxicabs. Builders of stretch limousines purchase stock
cars from manufacturers and modify them, and most are in the United States and Europe and cater mainly to limousine companies.
Few stretch limousines are sold new to private individuals. In addition to luxuries, security features such as armoring and
bulletproof glass are available.
History
Winton Six Limousine, 1915, with driver in a compartment separate from the passengers, a distinctive limousine feature
The
first automobile limousine, built in 1902, was designed so the driver sat outside under a covered compartment. The word limousine
is derived from the name of the French region Limousin, because this covered compartment physically resembled the raised hood
of the cloak worn by the shepherds there. An alternate etymology has the chauffeur wearing a Limousin-style cloak in the open
driver's compartment, for protection from the weather.
The first “stretch limousine” was created in
Fort Smith, Arkansas around 1928 by a coach company named Armbruster. These cars were primarily used to transport famous “big
band” leaders, such as Glenn Miller and Benny Goodman, and their bands and equipment. These early stretch limousines
were often called “big band buses”.
Limousine types
The limousine body style has a divider separating the driver from the rear passenger compartment.
This partition usually contains a sliding (often soundproof) glass window so that conversations between passengers in the
rear compartment may be kept private from the chauffeur. Communication with the driver is possible either by opening the window
in the partition or by using an intercom system. There are two alternative versions of the style. The Limousine-Landaulet
has a removable or folding roof section over the rear passenger seat. The Limousine de-ville has a solid roof over the rear
passengers but a removable or folding roof section over the driver's seat.
Traditional
Traditionally,
the limousine has been an extension of a large car. A longer frame and wheelbase allow the rear passenger compartment to contain
the usual forward-facing passenger seat but with a substantial amount of foot room — more than is actually needed. Where
a vehicle is built for the funeral trade, one or two full width, normal, forwards facing seats are often added. These may
be fixed or fold down into the floor. Otherwise two "jump seats" are mounted, facing rearward behind the driver.
These seats fold up when not in use. In this way, up to five persons can be carried in the aft compartment in comfort, and
up to two additional persons carried in the driver's compartment, for a total capacity of seven passengers in addition
to the driver. This type of seat configuration has however become less popular in recent limousines, although this design,
without the two front passenger seats, is still characteristic of London's famous Black Cabs, whose jump seats are referred
to as taxi-tip-seats. The underside of these seats usually carry gaudy, adhesive advertising stickers, visible to the passengers
when tip-seats are not in use. Modern limousines
US Presidential Cadillac DTS
Lincoln Town Car, base model used for modern limos in the United States and Canada
Such cars as
the Toyota Century, Maybach 62, Rolls Royce Phantom, Audi A8L, Volkswagen Phaeton, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Jaguar XJ, BMW 7-Series,
Lincoln Town Car Edition, Bentley Continental Flying Spur and the Cadillac DTS have no division between the driver and passengers
and do not feature jump seats and are not limousines. So far as most people are concerned stretch limousines are usually used
to transport more than three passengers, excluding the driver. In production American limousines however, the jump seats almost
always faced forward. The last production limousine, by Cadillac, with forward-facing jump seats was in 1987 (with their Fleetwood
Series 75 car), the last Packard in 1954, and the last Lincoln in 1939, though Lincoln has offered limousines through their
dealers as special order vehicles at times. Several Lincoln Premier cars were also built, one being owned by Elvis Presley.
Vehicles of this type in private use may contain expensive audio players, televisions, video players, and bars, often with
refrigerators.
It is simpler to determine the effects of altering a separate chassis than it is to determine the effects
of altering a load-bearing unitized platform body. Coach builders have built models based on SUVs with a separate load-bearing
chassis.
Traditional limousines today are Lincoln Town Car Stretch and Super Stretch Limousines. They are typically
available in several models typically referred to by limousine companies as 6 passenger limousines, 8 passenger limousines,
and 10 passenger limousines. The 6 passenger stretch limousines have two opposing seats, and seat 4 adults comfortable and
up to 6 passengers maximum. The physical Length of these Limos are stretched 80 inches from a standard vehicle. The 8 passenger
Super Stretch limousines have two opposing seats with a middle section, or a rear and back seat and a J configuration seat.
The physical lengths of these Limos are stretched 100 inches from a standard vehicle. The 10 passenger ultra stretch limousines
have a rear seat and a long J configuration seat. They seat 8 adults comfortable and up to 10 passengers maximum. Sometimes
they also have a "fifth door" at the end of the J seat to allow wedding parties and larger groups easier access
in and out of the limo. The physical lengths of these limos are stretched 120 inches from a standard vehicle.
Some limousine
manufacturers have made some 12 passenger Super-Ultra Stretch Limousines that are for 12 passengers and stretched 140 inches.
The weight requirements of these limos do not meet some/most states Department of Motor Vehicle Rules and Regulations. Also
Limousine manufacturers are often challenged to meet safety, exhaust, weight, and other standards with longer vehicles that
hold more passengers (weight).
The above 6, 8, and 10 configurations are available in Cadillac models, but are not as
common.
Lincoln will stop producing commercial Lincoln Town Cars in 2012 for Commercial Limousine use and the market
will significantly change its look in subsequent years.
The 12-14 passenger Super Stretch SUV limousine is manufactured
by Ford Excursions and Expeditions, H2 Hummers, Cadillac ESV's. Their interiors offer much more room inside for seating,
bars, speakers, lights, and comforts to make the limousines very luxurious. They (depending on their seating configurations)
seat between 11-20 passengers and are stretched 140, 160, 180, and 200 inches.
The 18 and 28 and 38 passenger buses
are three types of limousine interior buses that are common with most limousine companies. They are equipped with every conceivable
luxury that is possible because of their size and shape. They have small stairs leading up to the bus, and also passengers
can stand up in the buses. The buses are always equipped with "Air Ride" to make the ride comfortable for the passengers.
These are regulated by the Department of Transportation and all drivers are required to have both a Passenger Endorsement
and a Commercial Drivers License to drive these limo buses.
A Lada limousine in Trinidad, Cuba
Another type of vehicle modified for multiple passenger use is
the motorized stage, applied to the same tasks as the earlier stagecoach. It is not considered a true limousine but rather
in its design and application is between a sedan and a bus. While a bus will have a central interior aisle for access to seating,
a stage has multiple doors that allow access to transverse forward-facing seats. Examples of the type were constructed not
only from sedans (e.g., Chrysler New Yorker, Cadillac DeVille, Checker Aerocar), but also from station wagons; many of the
station wagon conversions sported a large rack, running the length of the roof, for carrying the passengers' baggage.
This
type of vehicle was once rather common in some locations. An example of its use was in the transport of travelers arriving
by railroad at Merced, California to travel to Yosemite National Park in the first half of the 20th century and at other remote
parks. In Yosemite, passengers would then stay in rustic platform tent camps or more expensive lodges and hike or rent bicycles
for movement around the park. In Glacier National Park, the stages were referred to as "Jammers" in reference to
the nickname of their gear-jamming drivers.
Some funeral homes maintain six-door stages to carry the family of the deceased
between the church and the cemetery. These are usually not used for private hire.
Exotic
limousines
Sometimes a coach builder or car designer will develop the "ultimate" stretch
limo, adding amenities that are somewhat impractical but which make a significant design statement. One such design includes
tandem rear axles to support the weight of an operational hot tub.
These extensive limousine conversions have been performed
on several luxury marques and fast cars, including: Bentley, BMW, Cadillac, Chrysler, Ford, Holden, Hummer, Infiniti, Jaguar,
Lexus, Lincoln, Mercedes-Benz, Rolls-Royce, Volkswagen and Daimler. In the United States the most popular vehicles for stretch
limousines conversion are the Lincoln Town Car, Cadillac DTS, Cadillac Escalade, Chrysler 300C, Hummer H2, Ford Excursion,
and the Lincoln Navigator. There are even instances of Corvettes, Ferraris, Mini Coopers and VW Beetles being stretched to
accommodate up to 10 passengers.
Novelty limousines
A variety of vehicles have been converted into novelty limousines.[7] They may be rented for weddings for those "looking to travel in style"
An example is the East German
Trabant that was designed for a low manufacturing cost and incorporated body panels made from a rag fiber and plastic resin
material. Volkswagen Beetles, Fiat Pandas and Citroën 2CV vehicles are occasionally stretched into limousines.
Novelty
color limousines, such as purple and pink, are another way to express individuality when renting a vehicle for special occasions.
Driver Licensing
In some countries the driver may need to have a different driving license
to that of a car license.
In Europe if the vehicle is under 3500 kg gross vehicle weight and can carry eight passengers
or less than this can be driven on a category B driving license. Vehicles under 7500 kg GVW but still carries eight passengers
or less than a category C1 Large Goods Vehicle license is required. Vehicles carrying 16 passengers or more, regardless of
the GVW weight require a category D1 license.
Other uses
In the USA, Canada
and Australia limousines can be any type of car operated by a "Limousine service" or "car service". Such
companies offer cars with drivers, often for shared rides on popular routes, such as airport limousines. Limousines usually
have to be booked in advance and are not hired on the spot as taxi cabs can be.
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