Author

Simon Berry

Simon Berry is the Assistant Editor at Cars for Stars News and is responsible for commissioning work from freelance writers. Simon is particularly interested in stories related to classic cars as he is a keen collector and restorer of vintage vehicles.

Chauffeur firm in China expects boom in sales following drink drive clamp down

Chauffeur companies in China are anticipating a boom in sales following new government legislation brought in this May which gives the authorities the power to imprison drink drivers.

With such a tough penalty for being caught behind the wheel while over the drink drive limit, drivers have been seriously deterred from committing a drink drive offence, spelling good news for the private hire chauffeur companies.

Dial-A-Chauffeur provider, Beijing Ben Ao An Da Automobile Driving Service, who offer stand-in chauffeurs for hire throughout the city, are predicting an increase in sales of 60% as a result of the new laws which carry a prison sentence for those convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol.

The Chinese authorities announced a clamp down of drink driving after noting an upsurge in the number of road traffic accidents reported last year. In 2010, figures revealed that there was a 36% increase in the number of accidents on roads in China bringing the total number to 3.9 million accidents over the course of the 12 months. In addition, 526,000 cases of drink driving were uncovered in 2010, which is an increase of 68% when compared to the previous year.

The stand-in chauffeur service is expected to be especially popular with business people in the city who have to socialise in the evenings for work purposes but who will no longer run the risk of getting behind the wheel after a drink for fear of being imprisoned following the new introduction of the new laws.

by Simon BerryJuly 12, 2011no comment

New owners found for luxury car manufacturer Bristol Cars

New owners have been found for the luxury car maker, Bristol Cars, after the firm called in the administrators in March of this year. A spokesperson has confirmed that the buyer for Bristol Cars will be Kamkorp Autokraft which is part of the Frazer-Nash group.

Although the there were a number of parties interested in taking over the luxury car makers business, the deal with Kamkorp Autokraft was deemed to be the best package for Bristol Cars. The group have bought Bristol Cars from the administrators for an undisclosed amount.

The British car manufacturers had been making cars from its Filton plant since the 1940’s and has been renowned throughout the world for making handmade luxury sports cars which were popular with the rich and famous. As every car is handmade by highly trained craftsmen in the UK, the brand has always remained exclusive, with fewer than 9,000 Bristol cars being created in the company’s 64 year history.

It is believed the new owners of Bristol cars will use the brand and its handmade cars to showcase its technology which includes hybrid and electric power devices for vehicles and also range extending devices to improve battery life for hybrid and electric vehicles.

The new owners of Bristol Cars say they will start to unveil their plans for the company within the coming months.

by Simon BerryMay 16, 2011no comment

Reckless drivers to be hit with on-the-spot-fines

Reckless drivers and boy racers are being targeted under new government plans which will force drivers to pay a £100 on-the-spot-fine for carrying out dangerous manoeuvres behind the wheel.

Transport Secretary Phillip Hammond will outline his new plans today to give police renewed powers to punish dangerous drivers who are seen tail gating other vehicles, under taking or weaving in and out of traffic, and carrying out other reckless driving acts.

The powers will enable police officers to issue fines of a minimum of £80 and 3 points on the licence without having to go through the courts. It is hoped the new legislation will help combat persistently dangerous drivers.

Those drivers who are disqualified will be forced to retake their tests and those who continue to breach driving laws and cause danger on the roads could have their vehicles seized.

As well as targeting bad drivers, the government also want to tighten the penalties for drink and drug drivers. New plans are expected to introduce a drug driving offence, as the law currently demands that police must prove a person has taken drugs and it has affected their driving for that person to be charged.

The loophole which allows some drink drivers to dodge charges by requesting a blood test, is also under review. It’s likely that the right to a blood test under these circumstances will be repealed.

by Simon BerryMay 11, 2011no comment

Electric Rolls Royce limo to be unveiled at The Geneva Motor Show

After months of speculation, the waiting is over, as Rolls Royce has confirmed that they will debut their experimental limo at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show.

The Phantom Experimental Electric car, codenamed EXP 102, will make its first public appearance at the motor show, before being whisked off on a world tour taking in Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

During its whistle-stop tour the electric limo will be given to Rolls Royce owners as well as media representatives who will test driver the vehicle. The luxury brand hopes to receive useful feedback from the planned test drives which will help to shape the finished product.

The electric Phantom is the first battery powered electric car designed for the ultra luxury market. The swanky limo can be recharged from a domestic mains electric power point, and produces zero emissions so it’s very environmentally friendly.

However all of this green power comes at a cost. While the fuel powered Phantom will set you back approximately £300,000 and achieves around 15 miles to the gallon, the experimental electric Phantom costs just 2p per mile to run, but its cost is likely to be closer to £1 million.

For the last 2 years there’s been mounting speculation that the luxury car maker was in the process of developing a secret electric limo.

Rolls Royce confirmed in a statement that the one-off electric limo will makes its debut at the Geneva Motor Show on March 1^st.

by Simon BerryFebruary 21, 2011no comment

Jaguar’s iconic E-Type celebrates its 50th anniversary

The celebrations for the 50^th anniversary of the E-Type Jaguar got into full swing in London yesterday, helped along by a couple of familiar faces.

Legendary test driver renowned for his connection to Jaguar, and the E-Type sports car in particular, 91-year-old Norman Lewis, and the only man to win the World Championships on four and two wheels, John Surtees, kicked off the celebration behind the wheel of a vintage 1961 E-Type Jaguar.

F1 Champion John Surtees described how the sleek sports car was a “must have” in the 60’s as previously, motorists had associated these superbly designed models with German and Italian manufacturers, and so the E-Type was one of the first British designed models to really set the pulses racing.

The design of the E-Type has endured 50 years and is still regarded by many experts to be the finest sports car design ever created.

A 1961 model which has been recently restored to an immaculate standard was loaned from the Classic Motor Museum in Bridgnorth especially for the event.

In a fitting tribute to the celebrated design of the E-Type Jag, the celebrations took place yesterday (February 8^th) at London’s Design Museum. Also on display at the function was one of the original press cars from the 60’s, the E-Type 77 RW, which was kindly loaned by Jaguar Heritage.

A number of these classic Jaguar sports cars will remain on display at the museum in London until the beginning of March.

by Simon BerryFebruary 9, 2011no comment

Cars for Stars launch The Prom Experience video

Take a look at the first ever Cars for Stars video advert for school proms which will be at the forefront of the leading limo hire company’s online marketing campaign for 2011.

The sleek new video ad showcases one of Cars for Stars’ most popular prom limos, the white Baby Bentley Chrysler limousine. The clip has been officially launched online, just in time to tap into the demand for limo hire ahead of the peak school prom season.

Limo hire for proms is one of the most popular occasions for chauffeur driven limousine hire in the UK. The new state of the art Cars for Stars ad will be shown exclusively online via social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter to ensure they get right under the noses of teen prom-goers.

The video is fronted by professional TV presenter, Anna Fowler, who surprises a group of young proms goers with a chauffeur driven white limo on their big night. Having been expecting a run-of-the-mill taxi to collect them for their prom, the teens were blown away by the luxurious Baby Bentley limo which transported them to the special occasion.

Cars for Stars boasts one of the largest fleets of top quality limos, chauffeur cars and party buses in the UK so there’s something to suit even the most discerning of prom goers. All limos are provided along with a suited chauffeur and also complimentary bubbly, or soft drinks for the under 18’s.

To celebrate the launch of the Cars for Stars Prom Experience ad, the leading limo hire provider is offering special discounts on bookings for school proms in 2011, check out the official website now for more information on these exclusive discounts on limo hire for school proms.

Check out the new prom car hire video ad for Cars for Stars now.

by Simon BerryJanuary 25, 2011no comment

Thrifty car hire to go smoke free

Thrifty Car Hire has announced their plans to offer vehicle rentals in the US which are completely smoke free. The policy will bring the car hire giant in line with other travel industry providers States who offer 100% some free services.

To ensure the smoke free policy is upheld by all car hire customers, Thrifty has announced that any customer who is found to have smoked inside a rental vehicle will be hit with a hefty fine. All vehicles will be issued with a large no smoking sign inside to remind customers to adhere to the new policy.

If a car is returned to Thrifty and a customer is found to have smoked inside, the vehicle will be immediately taken out of the rental fleet to be thoroughly cleaned. The car hire provider will have the vehicle expertly cleaned to ensure all traces of tobacco smell are removed. Any customer found to be in breach of Thrifty’s new non-smoking policy will be hit with a $250 fine.

The car hire provider say the new non-smoking policy will enable them to maintain the high standards expected of them from car rentals customers in the US. Offering cars which have not been the subject of smoking passengers will enable Thrifty to offer vehicles which are maintained to the highest standard.

by Simon BerryJanuary 21, 2011no comment

Introducing the world’s biggest limousine, the Midnight Rider

The Midnight Rider has been officially named as the heaviest limousine in the world, according to the most recent edition of the Guinness Book and Records, and can be yours for just £650 an hour.

Weighing in at a whopping 22.5 tons, measuring 70 foot in length, 13 feet in height and boasting 22 wheels, the Midnight Rider is a beast of a limousine and is proving a big hit with revellers in California.

With room onboard for 40 passengers, the Midnight Rider also comes with 5 staff members who will be on hand to assist guests during their event. The limo comes fully equipped with 3 luxurious lounge areas, a bathroom, and a full size and well stocked bar. Plus there’s a pole for any wannabe dancers, and also a laser guided satellite receiver with internet capability.

The owners of the Midnight Rider wanted to create a high end luxurious feel onboard the limo which harks back to the bygone age of opulent railroad travel. The decor has been finished with impeccable detail in the style of an old fashioned train carriage.

Described by its owners as “460 square feet of pure luxury” they say the vehicle is less of a limo and more of a “travelling nightclub” due to the extensive onboard entertainment features and spacious interior.

If you’re not planning a trip across the pond to California any time soon, Cars for Stars has a stunning array of luxury limos and giant hummers available for hire across the UK. Call now to receive a low cost quote for hummer limo hire for any occasion.

by Simon BerryJanuary 13, 2011no comment

Car hire is big business in Beijing

Car hire is currently one the fastest growing industries in China’s capital city of Beijing due to the recent restrictions put in place to limit car ownership to reduce traffic congestion in the city.

Over the course of the last 5 years the number of cars on Beijing roads has almost doubled, resulting in nightmare driving conditions with gridlocked roads, and also increased pollution levels within Beijing.

In an attempt to curb car ownership, Beijing has issued a month long ban on purchasing cars, after which a car plate lottery scheme will be put in place. Just 20,000 people picked at random from the lottery will be permitted by purchase a car in the city. A ban on car number plates from outside Beijing has been put in place during peak times to help further reduce congestion on city roads.

However the upshot of these stringent car ownership rules is that car hire in the capital is booming. Beijing residents are flocking to car rental dealers due the convenience car hire services offer.

Selected car hire providers have reported that over 90% of their fleet is regularly out on rentals at any given time. Due to the surge in demand for car hire, some operators are planning to double their fleet.

The good news for car hire customers is that the competition between providers in hotting up, which means that operators are continually coming up with great offers of up to 50% off rental rates in order to outdo their competitors and secure more customers.

by Simon BerryJanuary 11, 2011no comment

Elvis Presley’s Mercedes Benz fails to make its asking price at auction

It seems no even Elvis Presley is recession proof after a Mercedes Benz limo formerly owned by The King was sold at auction for half of its estimated selling price.

We reported last month that the Mercedes Benz 600 Saloon car, which is reported to be one of just a handful of cars to have been registered in the Blue Suede Shoes singer’s name, was expected to make between £150,000 and £200,000 when it went under the hammer at Mercedes Benz World in Weybridge, Surrey at the beginning of the month.

However when the Mercedes Saloon went up for auction last Monday, it sold for £80,700, less than half of the expected top end of the estimated price for the car with the famous connection.

However the auction house which was responsible for selling the vintage ride, Bonhams, defended the seemingly low auction price, saying that the £80,700 which it achieved was fair considering that the car is realistically worth £40,000 when you take out the Elvis Presley link. Bonhams suggested that the estimated selling price of £150,000-£200,000 was unrealistic.

The Mercedes 600 was one of two owned the legendary singer. He gifted the vehicle to his friend two years after buying it. The luxury classic car then made its way over to the UK after it was bought by an unknown car enthusiast from a car dealership in Memphis in 2005.

by Simon BerryDecember 10, 2010no comment

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