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Going out in style – Introducing the Rolls Royce Phantom hearse

Want to travel in style and luxury even after you’ve shuffled off this mortal coil? Then coachbuilders, Biemme Special Cars, probably had you in mind when they came up with the design for the world’s most luxurious hearse.

The Rolls Royce Phantom Hearse will receive its official debut at the Tan Expo in Bologna, Italy where the 23 foot long Roller will be showcased to its full glory. The customised Rolls Royce benefits from a raised roof and elongated shape so as to allow the transportation of coffins of all sizes. It’s believed to be the longest hearse in existence at 7 metres in length, 3 metres longer than the average Phantom model.

While the Rolls Royce Phantom hearse B12 looks like an overgrown Phantom from the outside, under the bonnet it is a standard Phantom ll model with a 6.75 litre V12 engine. The customised hearse also benefits from specially created coach hung rear doors, and the trademark Rolls Royce grill complete with the iconic Spirit of Ecstasy sitting on the front of the bonnet.

However, this luxurious hearse does come with a hefty price tag, an eye-watering £418,000 to be exact. Do you think this new standard of premium hearses will catch on with undertakers across the world? Is there a demand for luxury hearses? Let us know your thoughts by dropping us a comment below.

by Susan TaylorMarch 23, 2012no comment

The (new) Rolls Royce Phantom Series ll makes debut at 2012 Geneva Motor Show

Rolls Royce has updated their luxury Phantom model. As the renowned car maker’s flagship model, the Phantom is arguable the most sought after vehicle offered by Rolls Royce, and so any changes to this popular model are likely to come under great scrutiny from Phantom fans and motoring experts alike.

The Rolls Royce Phantom Series ll made its official debut at the recent 2012 Geneva Motor Show. The new family of Phantom models will offer a raft of exciting and highly innovative improvements in order to offer a premium vehicle which is as much fun to drive as it is to be chauffeured in.

For the first time on a production car, the Phantom ll models will feature full LED headlights as standard, the new and improved Phantoms also feature a restyled front end and rear bumper. The new Phantoms also offer greater driver assistance with the introduction of all new media controller which boasts an integrated satellite navigation system with 3D topographic mapping.

All information, maps and videos are displayed on the car’s 8.8inch control centre screen display. The Phantom ll series models boast cameras to enable the driver to manoeuvre with ease as the rear view camera automatically flashes up on the screen display when reversing.

A brand new 8-speed automatic gearbox has also been unveiled on the new improved Phantom, designed specifically to complement the V12 direct injection engine which offers an improved fuel consumption of 10% compared to the previous model.

Pricing for the all new Phantom ll series are not yet available.

by Susan TaylorMarch 12, 2012no comment

Lamborghini unveil windowless and roofless supercar

Lamborghini have this week unveiled their wackiest creation to date; a state of the art supercar with no windows, windscreen or roof. Despite the lack of essential details such as roof and windows, the sleek sports car still commands a hefty financial investment with a price tag of a cool £1.75 million.

The Lamborghini Aventador J was officially unveiled at this week’s Geneva International Motor Show to an eager audience of journalists and motoring enthusiasts. The one-off vehicle is described as a piece of art, with the advantage of also being a road legal race car.

While no official figures and statistics have been released by Lamborghini on the Aventador J’s on-the-road performance, it’s estimated that the 6.5 litre V12 engine will have the ability to accelerate from 0-62mph in just 2.9 seconds and has a top speed of 200mph.

Lamborghini chief executive, Stephen Winkelmann, described the new Aventdaor J model as the “most radical” sports car to ever be produced by the luxury car manufacturer. The model is the first automobile to feature “carbonskin”, a special type of carbon fibre material which will fit to any type or shape of fabric. In addition, the exclusive sports car also has its very own shade of paint work, an intense red colour complete with chrome effect.

The bosses at Lamborghini have confirmed that this will remain the only vehicle of its kind as there are no plans to create another prototype or altered version for display purposes, so whoever gets their hands on the £1.75 million windowless Lamborghini, really will have a truly exclusive motor in their garage.

by Susan TaylorMarch 7, 2012no comment

Mercedes to introduce iPhone’s Siri to future A-Class models

Luxury car manufacturer, Mercedes Benz, has unveiled plans to introduce iPhone’s personal assistant, Siri, to its future A-Class models. With the use of a brand new app developed by Mercedes, drivers will be able to access the range of features on their iPhones on the in-car display, making is safe and convenient to request directions, compose text messages and change radio station using voice commands.

Mercedes plan to offer access to Apple’s Siri on their full range of city cars. Currently, Siri is exclusive to the iPhone 4S. To enjoy the full range of future benefits from the Mercedes and Siri connection, drivers will need to link up their car and phone by installing the Drive Kit Plus app on their iPhone.

Once the phone and car are linked, the driver will be able to control and access the range of features on the mobile from the in-car dash display with a control centre located on the armrest for easy access. Using Apple’s Siri personal assistant, drivers will have the freedom to make and receive phone calls, compose and send text messages, change radio stations and search for directions using the voice activated controls.

In addition to the link up with Siri and Apple technology, Mercedes have revealed further plans to develop mobile platforms with the launch of new applications. Two new future apps confirmed by Mercedes include a new Parking Finder app and the MorningStar Finance app which will have access to stock prices.

by Susan TaylorFebruary 29, 2012no comment

Aston Martin is out and the Range Rover is in as filming begins for James Bond movie

If the recent photographs taken from the filming of the new James Bond movie, Skyfall, are anything to go by, it seems that even 007 isn’t recession proof as actor Daniel Craig was seen in a Range Rover jeep instead of the Aston Martin sports car usually associated with the English spy character.

Photos published in the press this week show a serious looking Craig, filming scenes for the upcoming movie Skyfall in London. The rugged actor is seen being chauffeured in a black Range Rover jeep, with a stuntman on the roof surrounded by metal apparatus, no doubt to facilitate some type of dramatic getaway.

It’s understood that the new Bond film had singled out a number of exotic filming locations including China and Bali for the shoot, however the movie producers were forced to cut back on the film budget which meant that the shooting locations had to be reined in. It’s now believed that the only foreign location used in filming will be Turkey, while London, Bognor Regis, Wales and Pinewood Studios will be used in the most part for Skyfall filming.

We’ll have to wait until November when the 23^rd Bond movie is released to find out why James Bond is being chauffeured in the back seat of a Range Rover, although we’re pretty certain 007 will get behind the wheel of an Aston Martin or similarly glamorous sports car at some point in the movie – it wouldn’t be a Bond movie otherwise!

by Andrew LloydJanuary 31, 2012no comment

The Audi R8 Limo goes global with Forbes press article

Since the news broke of Limo Broker’s secret project and plans to create the world’s first Audi R8 Limo, the news has spread around the world, with plans for the supercar even being featured in high profile American magazine, Forbes.

While the press coverage for the new Audi R8 limo has gone into overdrive, the exclusive YouTube video which showcases the plans for the finished design of the never-seen-before supercar has also been inundated with views, with the online video racking up just shy of 37,000 hits in a week.

The finished Audi R8 Limo will become the signature car for the UK’s leading limousine hire provider, Limo Broker, who are working in conjunction with Carbonyte UK, the creators of the world’s only Ferrari limo, to create this unique stretch limo. The winner of the Miss Limo beauty pageant 2012, Gemma Roberts from the Vale of Glamorgan, has been confirmed as the glamorous face of the Audi R8 limo.

Limo Broker Managing Director, Tej Randeva, said he is,

“Overwhelmed by the response to the Audi R8 Limo, we weren’t expecting news of our project to go global in the way it has, with the likes of Forbes magazine featuring our Audi R8 limo design on their pages” 30-year-old Tej added;

“the feedback we’re getting on the design has been extremely positive, and it’s certainly spurred us at Limo Broker, and the guys at Carbonyte UK, to make sure the finished limo is extra special and a supercar that will hold its own on the world stage.”

The Audi R8 limo had an initial completion date of late summer 2012, however due to the overwhelming response from the press and the public over the new design, Limo Broker and Carbonyte UK have pushed the finish forward and are now hoping to unveil the completed limousine in 3-4 months time, just in time for the peak wedding hire and school prom season.

by Andrew LloydJanuary 19, 2012no comment

YouTube video of the Audi R8 Limo receives almost 5k hits in two days

The YouTube video giving the first look at the prototype for the world’s first Audi R8 limo has received almost 5,000 hits just two days after being posted on the video sharing site.

Limo Broker first unveiled plans to create the world’s fastest limousine last weekend at the Transport Broker Awards hosted at the home of the Ryder Cup golf tournament 2012, the Celtic Manor Resort. Chris Wright from Carbonyte UK, the creator of the world’s only Ferrari Limo, introduced the rendered video of the Audi R8 limo and outlined plans for the project to an invited audience of 250 guests, including business leaders from the luxury transport industry from across the country.

This year’s Transport Broker Awards also hosted the final of the Miss Limo beauty pageant for the very first time. The winner, Gemma Roberts, was crowned Miss Limo 2012 by the reigning Miss Universe Great Britain, Chloe-Beth Morgan. As part of Gemma’s prize for winning the title of Miss Limo 2012, she will become the face of the brand new stretch Audi R8 Limo once it’s complete.

Limo Broker Audi R8 Superlimo

Plans for the Audi R8 Limo had been kept tightly under wraps until the big announcement last weekend. Once complete, the stretch Audi R8 limousine will be the only vehicle of its kind in existence, and also the fastest limo in the world.

The YouTube video gives a 3D impression of how the finished limousine will look and is proving a big hit online having already received 4,856 hits less than 48 hours after being posted on the internet. If you’ve not checked out the video of the exclusive ne supercar yet, take a look at it right now and prepare to be blown away.

Due to high demand, a new facebook page for the Audi R8 Limo has been launched.

by Susan TaylorJanuary 13, 2012no comment

The new look Porsche Boxster is given a sneak preview

The new look Porsche Boxster was given a sneak preview this week ahead of the sports car’s official unveiling at the Geneva Motor Show in March. After its debut at the motor show, Porsche say their new addition will go on sale in the UK on April 28^th with the base model Boxster possessing a starting price of £37,589 and the Boxster S offered for sale with a base price of £45,384.

Porsche believe that their new and improved version of the mid engine roadster is more efficient, more agile and faster than its predecessor, although the biggest change in the new Boxster is in its styling. The design team headed up by Michael Mauer are credited with creating the new design of the Boxster with its longer wheelbase and wider tracks which makes for a more spacious interior.

The aluminium chassis on the new Boxster means the sports car is lighter than previous models which will enable the car to offer better fuel consumption and also increased power and speed on the road.

In terms of its performance on the road, the new Porsche Boxster boasts a 0-62mph speed of 5.7 seconds while the Boxster S improves on that with a 0-62mph rate of just 5.0 seconds.

Both the Porsche Boxster and the Boxster S will hit UK showrooms from the end of April.

by Simon BerryJanuary 12, 2012no comment

Chauffeur driven Mercedes vans the transportation of choice for New York’s super rich

A new trend is emerging amongst the super wealthy in New York for chauffeur driven customised Mercedes Sprinter Vans. From the outside, the sleek long base vans look unassuming enough, but take a look inside and you’ll find a spacious interior decked out with wall-to-wall state of the art luxury features.

It seems the humble chauffeur driven limousine may have a serious competitor in the new customised Mercedes vans being offered for sale to transport busy executives. These luxury vans are proving popular among business types in the Big Apple, with many kitting their new Mercedes Sprinters out as mobile offices, while others see them more as a party bus, or somewhere to go and get some peace and quiet.

As all of the Mercedes Vans can be customised to suit the requirements of the specific client, there’s no end to the amazing onboard features some of these wealthy owners bestow on their new toys. Many have been decked out with leather sofas and Persian rugs, while others have reclining massage chairs and couches that turn into beds, while most have onboard bars and several plasma screens, Wi-Fi, gold plated buttons and even children’s entertainment areas.

Mercedes decided to start offering customised vans after they noted an increase in the number of clients employing designers to kit out their van interiors. Now by offering the service in-house, Mercedes are attracting a number of new customers with 8,000 of their $41,315 vans being sold in the first year or being offered, and 13,000 so far this year.

by Andrew LloydNovember 23, 2011no comment

Brits vote for their favourite movie car of all time

British film and car lovers have voted and the decision is official, the 1963 Aston Martin DB5 as seen in the James Bond movie, Goldfinger, is officially the best movie car of all time.

The online poll was carried out by Auto Express with thousands of fans logging on to have their say on their favourite movie car. There was plenty of choice as well with 50 vehicles shortlisted for the prize and open to voters including the Lexus as driven by Tom Cruise in Minority Report and even the flying Anglia which Ron Weasley is seen driving in the Harry Potter films.

However coming out head and shoulders above the rest had to be one of the coolest sports cars in the world; the stunning Aston Martin DB5 was driven by Sean Connery who was starring as the international spy 007 in the classic James Bond movie, Goldfinger. The speedy sports car, which boasts 282bhp, retains its wow factor as it was sold for a massive £2.6 million at auction last year – no wonder it’s been voted the best movie car of all time.

Coming in second place was the 1981 Delorean as seen in the Back to the Future movies, one of the three surviving models of which is expected to fetch in excess of $1 million when it goes under the hammer next month. The third placed car is the iconic Mini Cooper featured in the Michael Caine movie, the Italian Job.

by Andrew LloydNovember 17, 2011no comment

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