Tony Roberts

Cadillac to release new chauffeur car next year

General Motors have revealed plans to unveil their latest Cadillac chauffeur car midway through 2012, with the Cadillac XTS sedan due to receive its debut at Detroit Motor Show next spring.

According to the luxury car makers, the new Cadillac XTS offers customers the best there is in terms of onboard equipment and the latest technology. Where previously, the Cadillac has lagged behind other brands in terms of its in-car computer systems, the latest XTS model looks set to more than rectify this issue as General Motors has pulled out all of the stops to create a car which is way ahead of the crowd.

The complete onboard computer system runs on ARM 11 3Core Processor making it three and half times more powerful than the system in current Cadillac models.

The main interface is an 8 inch LCD touch screen which features proximity sensing technology which means it senses when your hand gets closer, and reacts by displaying icons on screen. The screen will then react to your hand when you touch it as the icon you choose will pulse back against you to confirm this is the choice you have made. In addition, the new Cadillac also features voice recognition technology and the ability to read text messages aloud, amongst other helpful features.

The Lincoln Town Car is still the most popular model from General Motors, however the car manufacturer hopes to win over customers from the chauffeur and private hire sector with the updated and high tech model, the Cadillac XTS, when it finally goes on sale in 2012.

Car rental firm trials electric bike hire

Leading car hire provider, hertz, have just launched a new transport hire in service in London offering electric bicycles for hire on a trial run basis from its Marble Arch rental outlet.

Hertz have started off small with their bicycle hire scheme with just 12 of the high tech folding bikes available to hire from the city car rental centre. The ultra modern bikes can reach a top speed of 15.5mph and cost just £20 to hire per day.

The bikes are able to fold away neatly and so can be used on public transport when stowed away properly, and also feature a special sensor which detects how fast the rider is pedalling and then matches its speed with its power in put.

The bikes are supplied along with a helmet, lock and charger which allows the bike to be charged up from a domestic electric socket.

The car hire company say the electric bike hire service offers an economical and environmentally friendly travel option for those in the city. Travel by bike can often be speedier in the city as congestion on the roads often leads to lengthy queues so travelling by bike is a great way to beat the traffic.

If the pilot electric bike hire scheme proves a success, Hertz may roll out the service in other bike friendly cities such as Amsterdam amongst others.

Lamborghini unveil the world’s most expensive sports car

Lamborghini have overtaken the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport by producing the world’s most expensive sports car costing £1.77 million.

Despite its hefty price tag and cutting edge technology, there is one major drawback with this luxurious car: it can’t be driven legally on US roads.

The Lamborghini Sesto Elemento boasts a top speed of 200mph and can accelerate from 0-62mph in just 2.5 seconds, but all of this speed and power comes at a price, as Lamborghini has had to dispense with normal measures when creating the car, which means it doesn’t meet the required standards to be driven on a public highway.

So it seems the world’s most expensive car will be forever resigned to being driven on private racing tracks, so if you’re looking for a expensive toy, the Lamborghini Sesto Elemento may be just up your street.

With a 5.2 litre V10 engine and sleek carbon fibre body which weighs less than a tonne, it’s not surprising this sports car can reach impressive speeds in the blink of an eye.

The new Lamborghini model was first revealed as a concept car at the Paris Motor Show last year. Now the luxury Italian car maker has decided to go ahead with manufacturing just 20 of these state of the art cars.

Economy Car Hire reveals its expansion plans for 2011

The Economy Car Hire Company has unveiled its ambitious expansion plans for the coming year which it hopes will enable it to become a major force within the car rental industry throughout Europe.

The car rental firm is planning to recruit new car hire suppliers in major tourist destinations such as Spain, Portugal and Turkey so as to ensure they are able to offer holidaymakers flocking to these locations over the coming months the most competitive deals on car hire.

As well as developing its supplier base in these European holiday destinations, Economy Car Hire is also planning to target car hire companies in the UK in order to tap into the growing trend for “staycation” breaks in Britain which have become increasingly popular with Brits since the economic downturn took hold.

Economy Car Hire work in a unique way as the price they offer customers is inclusive of all taxes, additional driver fees, and insurance costs so the price they see when they request a quote, is the price they pay.

While the car hire firm’s quote may not appear as the cheapest when customers search for deals using a price comparison website, the car rental experts point out that Economy offers a very affordable deal when you consider that all of the extra costs are inclusive in their price, while other car hire providers may tag on surcharges after the booking which will bump up their overall price.

Posh apologises for chauffeur’s gaff

Victoria Beckham was forced to issue an official apology this week after her chauffeur parked in the last disabled parking bay left available outside of a toy shop in Harlow Essex.

The incident came to light after Cystic Fibrosis sufferer, Chantelle Hughes, was deprived of a parking space directly outside of the popular toy shop on Sunday as Victoria’s chauffeur driven Jaguar had taken up the last available spot.

Annoyed that a vehicle without a blue disabled badge had taken up one of the spaces reserved for people with disabilities, Mrs Hughes waited until the driver of the black Jaguar came back to inform them of their mistake.

However the Cystic Fibrosis sufferer was floored when the former Spice Girl turned fashion designer, Posh, strode out of the shop after buying 4 Bob the Builder Balloons for her son Cruz’s birthday.

Victoria visited the toy store in Harlow, which is 3 miles from Beckingham Palace in Sawbridgeworth, with her sister Louise to buy supplies for Cruz’s forthcoming birthday party.

The incident was subsequently reported in the press, and the 36-year-old issued an official apology via her spokesperson as a result. In the statement the incident is described as a “momentary lapse” and added that the mother of three is “hugely apologetic” for any inconvenience caused by the actions of her chauffeur.

Limo Chauffeur tells of car-jacking attempt in New Jersey

A 55-year-old limousine chauffeur has told of his ordeal after two passengers he was transporting attempted to rob him, and steal his limo.

The chauffeur, Herminio Perez, explained how he had collected a party of three from a Chinese restaurant in New Jersey, two men of approximately 18 years of age, and a female.

The female passenger requested to be dropped off at a nearby address, after which the two men also vacated the car, and came around to the driver’s window to ask for change for a $100 bill.

At this point, the chauffeur turned away to reach into his pocket to get the change, when the two men suddenly attacked him, beating him about the face and head and attempting to unfasten his seat belt to drag him from the limo.

Luckily the middle-aged chauffeur was able to beat off the two youths and get away in the limo. Perez drove to a nearby hospital in New Jersey where he needed medical treatment for bruises and cuts he’d sustained around his head area as a result of the attack.

The hospital notified the police about the incident and the authorities are now hunting the suspects responsible for the assault and attempted car-jacking. The chauffeur has been cooperating with the police and claims he is able to take the authorities back to the address where the female passenger left the limo, which may help lead them to the attackers.

Car hire customers warned to the read the small print on insurance policies

Car hire customers are being advised to check the small print on the car insurance policies offered by their rental company after a number of holes were exposed in the type of cover which is commonly offered.

Insurance company moneymaxim.com is advising car rental customers to double check their car insurance policy if they opt for the cover offered by their hire provider after it found that many of the policies being offered, don’t always cover common problems such as damage to windscreens and tyres.

The issue could be especially problematic during the winter period when bad driving conditions and icy road surfaces often lead to a rise in claims.

The insurance specialist believes many car rental customers take out the policy offered to them by the rental provider, believing it will offer them complete cover. But the reality is, a number of the policies offered have gaps in them which don’t cover for basic damage, which could leave the customer out of pocket, should they be unlucky enough to have a mishap in their rental vehicle.

The advice being given by the British Insurance Broker Association is for car hire customers to clarify exactly what the policy covers them for, before signing on the dotted line.

Rolls Royce’s latest model helps boost car sales

It seems the economic downturn is a distant memory for luxury car manufacturer Rolls Royce as they’ve recently reported record sales figures for the 2010.

The world renowned brand saw sales soar by 171% during 2010 selling a total of 2,711 luxury cars during the course of the last 12 months.

The previous record for Rolls Royce sales set in 2008 was blown out of the water by last year’s results as the 2010 figures are almost double the previous record.

The popularity of the latest model to be launched by Rolls Royce, the Ghost, is reported to have had an extremely positive impact on the brand as a whole as it’s responsible for attracting a lot of new customers to Rolls Royce. The figures revealed that 80% of those who bought the Ghost, which was launched last year, during 2010 had never owned a Rolls Royce before.

As well as extremely strong sales for the newly launched Ghost, Rolls Royce has also reported healthy sales for their flagship car, the Phantom.

In addition to strong vehicle sales figures, the West Sussex based car maker also revealed that a high percentage of their customers take advantage of their bespoke service which allows clients the opportunity to personalise their new vehicles and add special finishing touches.

According to recent reports, Rolls Royce are said to be developing green technology meaning eco-friendly Rolls Royce limos could be on sale in the near future.

Hybrid Lexus goes on display at Harrods

Billed as the first ever hybrid luxury hatchback, the Lexus CT 200H has gone on display in the window of the world’s most luxurious department store this week.

The green luxury car boasts a hybrid engine which offers the option of powering the car by either electric or petrol. The Lexus CT 200H is aiming to offer a green choice of vehicle for the luxury car market. What better place is there to showcase the first ever hybrid Lexus than in London’s most prestigious store?!

The Lexus is on display in the window usually used to showcase super cars such as Ferrari vehicles and Aston Martins. In fact, the last vehicle to go on display in the Harrods shop window was the Aston Martin Cygnet, as reported by Cars for Stars News last month.

Thanks to its super green credentials, the hybrid Lexus is the only luxury automatic to be exempt from the London congestion charge. As well as offering reduced emissions which makes it ideal for city driving, the Lexus CT 200H offers the same level of performance and comfort as you’d expect from a vehicle from the top name car maker.

The hybrid is part of a four window Lexus display in Harrods which will run from this week, until January 15^th2011. The window display has been designed so as to allow customers the opportunity to get up and close to the luxury vehicles so they can get a real feel for the car, so what are you waiting for?! Head down to Harrods now for a chance to check out the new Hybrid Lexus CT 200H in the flesh.

Mercedes Benz owned by Michael Jordan up for sale

Legendary basketball player, Michael Jordan, has put his stunning Mercedes Benz SLR 722 up for sale after clocking up just 962 miles in the top class super car.

The basketball start turned businessman is a big fan of sports cars, and it’s rare for him to sell one of his much loved vehicles. Jordan only bought the Mercedes McLaren in 2007 paying $475,000 for sports car from new. Just three years on, the sportsman is hoping his ride will bank him $430,000.

Despite being three years old, the credentials of the Mercedes SLR 722 have not diminished one bit and it is still highly regarded as one of the fastest cars in the world. With a 5.5 litre V8 engine and the ability to hit 0-60mph in just 3.6 seconds and a top speed of 209mph, this Mercedes sports car really packs a punch. Plus, with less than 1,000 miles on the clock, there’s plenty more miles left in this superb super car.

Not surprisingly, this vehicle attracted a great deal of attention when it was put up for sale on the online auction site EBay. The Mercedes sports car is well on its way to achieving the expected price of $430,000 as bids have already hit the $400,000 mark.

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