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‘Chauffeur Car of the Year’ to be revealed in September

Leading industry magazine online, the chauffeur is set to reveal its Chauffeur Car of the Year in September, it has been announced.

The prestigious line-up of chauffeur cars have been categorised into four separate sections according to price, with six different vehicles battling it out to be the best in the under £50,000 category, seven contenders in the £50,000 – £100,000 group, and just three in contention for the over £100,000 category, plus there are four cars being judged under the MPV section.

The award has been running since 2007 with Lexus, Jaguar and Bentley all triumphing in the past. The cars are put through a series of rigorous tests by a panel of expert judges as they seek to discover the best overall performer.

Each chauffeur car is taken on a 300-mile test drive so as to allow the judges the opportunity to thoroughly test each facet of the vehicle. The judges will assess the car’s performance, its comfort on long journeys, boot and luggage space, and running costs during their test drive.

More than half of the shortlisted vehicles have already undergone testing at the hands of the judging panel, with just a handful awaiting review before the winner can be revealed.

Cars being considered for The Chauffeur Car of the Year:

£50,000 and Under:

Skoda Superb – Not Yet Tested
Chrysler 300 – Not Yet Tested
Mercedes-Benz E220 Cdi – Test Completed
BMW 530d Gran Turismo – Test Completed
BMW 530d Saloon – Test Completed
Jaguar XF S – Test Completed

£50,000 to £100,000:

Mercedes-Benz S350 CDi – Not Yet Tested
Lexus LS600hL – Test Completed
BMW 730Ld – Test Completed
Volkswagen Phaeton – Pending
Jaguar XJ – Not Yet Tested
Audi A8 3.0 L – Not Yet Tested
Porsche Panamera – Test Completed

£100,000 and Above:

Rolls-Royce Ghost – Not Yet Tested
Bentley Flying Spur – Test Completed
Maybach 62 – Not Yet Tested

MPV Category:

Volkswagen Caravelle – Test Completed
Hyundai i800 – Pending
Mercedes-Benz Viano – Not Yet Tested
Chrysler Grand Voyager – Not Yet Tested

Judges:

Paul Gibson
Paul Rowlands
John Wilce
Andrew Thomson

by Susan TaylorAugust 6, 20101 comment

Rolls Royce Ghost fast becoming the most sought after wedding car in the UK

The Rolls Royce Ghost was launched last year at the Frankfurt Motor Show to great fanfare, and promised to offer a luxury vehicle featuring the latest technology and cutting edge design.

A selected number of Rolls Royce Ghost models are available for wedding car hire in the UK through leading luxury transport provider Cars for Stars. According to reports from Cars for Stars, demand for the Rolls Royce Ghost for wedding day hire far outstrips supply, which is testament to the growing popularity of the latest addition to the Rolls Royce portfolio.

For the most important day of your lives, only the very best will do. As the epitome of glamour, opulence, and luxury, the Rolls Royce Ghost more than fits the bill for wedding day transport. The extra quiet engine means passengers won’t be interrupted by the sound of the car accelerating, and the soft full grain leather upholstery makes for a sumptuous ride.

The Rolls Royce Ghost also boasts rear coach doors which open to a 38 degree angle, plus the low sill height enables passengers to step into the vehicle gracefully, which is good news for brides boarding the exquisite limo in their princess wedding gowns.

The sleek uncluttered design of the Ghost means it makes the perfect addition to any wedding snaps and will ensure brides and grooms make an impressive entrance on their special day. However with Cars for Stars reporting a huge number of enquiries for wedding car hire bookings for the Rolls Royce Ghost for dates as far in advance as 2012, you’ll need to act fast to make the Ghost yours for your wedding day.

The demand for Rolls Royce Phantom wedding cars is currently the most popular in UK but the new Rolls Royce Ghost may take over soon.

For more information on how to hire the Rolls Royce Ghost for your wedding day, please see the following link http://www.carsforstars.net/

by Andrew LloydAugust 2, 2010no comment

Mercedes Benz to launch new models to attract customers in India

German car maker Mercedes Benz is attempting to overtake other luxury car maker rivals in India by launching a number of new products including several new models.

The luxury car industry is estimated to grow by 50% in the next year and Mercedes Benz want to capitalise on this new area of growth by offering their customers in India the widest range of products. Mercedes have plans in the pipeline for a new sports utility vehicle (SUV) plus a new SLS and an AMG.

Last year BMW stole Mercedes Benz’s crown to become the biggest selling luxury car manufacturer in India. However Mercedes should be able to claw back into pole position within the next 12 months as their most popular vehicle, the E Class, was unavailable in 2009 which may have contributed to the car maker’s fall to second place. The Mercedes Benz E-Class has previously been responsible for 40% of the German car maker’s sales in India.

Other new products which Mercedes Benz are planning to launch in the coming months in an attempt to become the largest luxury car manufacturer in India include a finance department for domestic sales, and also a second hand branch of car dealers.

by Andrew LloydAugust 2, 2010no comment

Audi plan to improve fuel efficiency with smaller engines

Audi is planning to achieve its goal of creating cars with outstanding performance and also great fuel efficiency by downsizing their engines, it has been revealed.

An Audi spokesperson confirmed the news after revealing that the German car maker is back in the engineering room attempting to create an engine which will meet its brief as the spokesperson explains: “Audi is pursuing an engine downsizing strategy when appropriate for the market segment.”

While some car manufacturers look to aluminium to create a lightweight bodywork for car designs which will in turn aid fuel consumption, Audi is now attempting to follow a different route with the design of a smaller engine for its vehicles.

Audi has possibility been spurred on by the success of a previous project of their own. In 2004 the luxury car maker introduced the V8 with a 4.2 L engine, at the time Audi announced it was their best achievement in a decade. However Audi followed up with the V6 which boasted 27% better fuel consumption and it also produced a better performance.

As well as looking into strategies to improve fuel consumption in their best performing cars, Audi are also developing hybrid and electric models which they plan to release into the international market.

by Andrew LloydJuly 21, 2010no comment

Audi launch microsite ahead of A7 release

Ahead of the much anticipated release of the A7 later this month, Audi have launched a mircosite in Dutch whereby they will unveil details of the forthcoming vehicle and also gauge the reaction to the soon-to-be-released A7.

The Audi A7 is based on a Sportsback Concept which will enable it to compete with the likes of the Mercedes CLS, and also the BMW 5-series.

Described by Audi as being “pure beauty” the A7 will also feature the crème de la crème of Audi’s advanced technological devices. The MMI system is likely to be incorporated in the design, as is Audi’s Google function for navigation, plus the pre-sense collision mitigation safety sensor.

The 5-door 4 seat Audi A7 will receive its debut at the Moscow Autoshow in August, although the finished article is expected to be unveiled online for the first time at the end of the month.

Details of the Audi A7 will be released via the new microsite in the run up to the official release date. It’s anticipated that the site will be translated into other languages other than Dutch within the coming weeks.

Following the Audi A7’s official release, it’s expected that Audi will start taking orders for the new vehicle at the end of the year.

by Andrew LloydJuly 16, 2010no comment

Introducing the limited edition Mansory Rolls Royce Ghost

Swiss tuner Mansory has revealed the first glimpse of its revamped version of Rolls Royce Ghost. Only three of these limited edition vehicles are due to be created so you’ll have to act quickly if you want to make one of them yours.

The luxury sports saloon has undergone a number of changes at the hands of Mansory. The mighty and imposing Rolls Royce has had a sporty spoiler added to the rear of the car and now also boasts diamond polished 22inch alloy wheels as well to add that extra touch of opulence. The limited edition Ghost was also been decorated with LED running lights on the exterior and has also had a dual sport exhaust system added.

The sumptuous feeling continues inside the top of the range luxury Rolls Royce with more LED lights which have been strategically placed in the seats, door panels and also the dashboard to help illuminate the inside in an ambient fashion.

The dark brown leather trim is set off by accompanying cream colours to create a luxurious finish. The interior also features bamboo trim in places for a truly unique look.

When it comes down to performance, the Mansory Ghost really delivers with a top speed of 180mph and the ability to go from 0-62mph in just 4.5 seconds.

However this high tech luxury motor comes at a price, which is approximately £295,000 to be precise.

by Andrew LloydJuly 15, 2010no comment

Electric urban car created by top F1 designer is revealed

A brand new design for a cutting edge electric urban car created by a former Formula 1 designer has been unveiled. Gordon Murray is one of the UK’s most renowned motor car designers and has been responsible for some of the most successful Formula 1 cars ever including the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren.

Now Mr Murray has turned his attention to creating an eco-friendly car for the 21^st century. The result is the T.25 which has been designed with city driving in mind and features a number of innovative elements.

Side mirrors have been integrated into the car so as to minimise the potential for damage, plus the fuel cap can be accessed from both side of the vehicle for added convenience. The car will have the capability to reach maximum speeds of 80mph.

The T.25 measures just 2.4 metres in length and is 1.3 metres wide meaning it’s super easy to park on city streets. Plus the small compact design enables two of these vehicles to be parked side by side in an average sized garage.

Three people can be transported in T.25 although the interior can be adapted to carry less people and more stowage instead. The lightweight design aids fuel consumption meaning it’s very economical to run. In fact the whole design has been created with affordability in mind and the entire car will cost no more than £6,000 to produce, although the actual retail price is yet to be disclosed.

by Andrew LloydJuly 8, 2010no comment

Toyota announces luxury car recall starting in Japan

Toyota has announced a recall of one of its luxury cars as a result of an engine fault. The recall will start in the manufacturer’s home country of Japan. It’s estimated that 270,000 of these vehicles have been sold worldwide and a recall in all other countries is expected to follow shortly.

The Toyota Lexus and the Crown models are being recalled by the Japanese car maker. The company will attempt to rectify an engine fault which causes the vehicle to stall.

In an official statement Toyota outlined the problem affecting its new Lexus models: ‘Improperly functioning valve springs have been found in some Lexus engines and there is a small possibility that abnormal engine noise or unstable idling may occur.

‘In very rare instances, there is a chance that the engine may stop.’

In total Toyota is recalling seven different models of the top of the range Lexus. Despite the engine malfunction, no accidents have been reported due to this fault, according to Toyota, although they have confirmed that they have received over 200 complaints.

Toyota has been plagued with problems over the years with 8 million vehicles having been recalled for a variety of reasons ranging from malfunctioning electric windows, to the more serious problem of faulty accelerator pedals and software issues.

Some 138,000 of the faulty luxury cars have been sold to customers in the States. The US Government has issued Toyota with a fine for $16.4 million as they believe the firm has been too slow to respond to the current problem.

by Andrew LloydJuly 6, 2010no comment

Review of the all new Jaguar XJ (LWB) chauffeur driven saloon

There can be few cars that share the same pedigree, prestige and sheer presence than that offered by the all new, flag ship model of the Jaguar XJ, long wheel based saloon and if any car deserves to be chauffeur driven, then it just has to be the Jaguar XJ. Operated by UK based, award winning, Cars for Stars, the long wheel based version of the all new Jaguar is a favourite amongst business and private clients like, who demand style, presence and above all comfort from their chauffeur driven car.

The all new Jaguar XJ has stunning looks and is arguably, one of the most practical and prestigious chauffeur driven cars available in the UK. Rear seat passengers enjoy plenty of leg room provided by the extended wheel base (LWB) and can relax in the sumptuous leather seats surrounded by a stylish combination of wood, polished metal and leather. Cars for Stars operates the diesel version of the Jaguar XJ (LWB), but the rear seat passengers wouldn’t know it, the car is so quiet and powerful, it truly belies its size.

As would be expected with an executive chauffeur driven car, the Jaguar XJ (LWB) comes complete with air conditioning and leather seats, providing comfort and style. With an experienced, fully licensed chauffeur, Cars for Stars guests can also enjoy the benefit of being able to relax, in comfort reading the latest newspaper and, if they choose, sip from the complimentary chilled mineral water provided. Because of the size of the rear doors and the amount of room available to rear seat passengers in the long wheel based version, the Jaguar XJ is increasing being requested as the lead wedding car for the bride to be, demonstrating what an all round winner this chauffeur driven car truly is.

Cars for Stars is a UK based company operating chauffeur driven cars and limousine. Based in London, it offers national service through an extensive, branch network of franchised offices. All Cars for Stars franchises are fully licensed by their respective local authority, or in the case of London, by the Public Carriage Office (PCO), which means that the chauffeurs will have been subjected to a medical and criminal records bureau check and the chauffeur cars and limousines will be subjected to regular and vigorous tests.

by Andrew LloydJanuary 30, 2010

Sales of Rolls Royce cars on the rise in Asia

According to Rolls Royce, sales of their luxury cars are on the rise in Asia suggesting that the effects of the global financial crisis are finally starting to recede.

China and India are the two countries singled out by Rolls Royce as leading the way out of the global recession with Japan following closely behind, and also Australia.

The comments were made by Rolls Royce Asia Pacific Regional Chief Colin Kelly at the unveiling of the latest Ghost model in New Delhi recently. Kelly said Rolls Royce had suffered as a result of the economic slump during 2009, after enjoying a bumper year of sales in 2008.

Making predictions for the coming year, in Asia, China will contribute half of the unit sales in 2010 while India, which is becoming an increasingly key market for Rolls Royce, will account for 10 to 12 per cent, Mr Kelly revealed.

Despite forecasting earlier in the year that sales in Asia would be down by 35% Rolls Royce now has a more positive outlook and is predicting a much better year that previously expected.

The newly released Rolls Royce Ghost is expected to help boost sales in Asia significantly as the manufacturer claims there has been a great deal of interest in the new model in the run-up to its release.

by Andrew LloydNovember 23, 2009no comment

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