limousine (or limo) is a luxury vehicle 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 referred to as "stretch" limousines and are traditionally black or white in color. 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 an example of conspicuous consumption. While some limousines are owned by individuals, many are owned by governments to transport senior politicians, by large companies to transport executives, or by broadcasters to transport guests[citation needed]. 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 located in the United States and Europe and cater mainly to limousine companies.
The word limousine is derived from the name of the French region Limousin, because this covered compartment physically resembled the cloak hood 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.
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.
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. Usually then 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.
such as the Maybach 62, Rolls Royce Phantom, Audi A8L, Volkswagen Phaeton, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Jaguar XJ, BMW 7-Series, Lincoln Town Car Edition, and the Cadillac DTS do not feature jump seats since 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.
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 seat and a J configuration seat. The physical Length 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.
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 Cadilac models, but are not as common.
Lincoln will stop producing commercial Lincoln Towncars in 2012 for Commercial Limousine use and the market will significantly change it's look in subsequent years.
The 12-14 passenger Super Stretch SUV limousine is manufactured by Ford Excursions and Expeditions, H2 Hummers, Cadilac 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.
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 and Volkswagen. 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.
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