RSSLimo Rental Tips | San Francisco Travel Blog - Part 10
Mercedes Announces Self-Driving Limousine
The next version of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class limousine will offer a most unusual feature, according to a recent press release from the luxury automaker. The new S-Class limo will reportedly have a self-driving feature that will allow the chauffeur to put the vehicle on a kind of autopilot, using a network of 26 cameras, radars and sensors to maintain speed, direction, distance from other vehicles and other controls. However, Mercedes was quick to point out that the self-driving feature will not be able to operate the vehicle safely without being monitored by an actual driver. Like the autopilots used on aircraft, the driver will still have to observe and control the safe operation of the limo, but the self-driving feature will help to reduce driver fatigue and help avoid collisions.
Mercedes says that limousines equipped with Distronic Plus, the radar-based cruise control system, will not be available until late 2013, and prices will begin around $200,000. The system works by matching the speed and movements of a lead vehicle and maintaining a predetermined distance between the limo and the lead vehicle. While the system can take control of the steering, the driver will need to keep his hands on the wheel at all times. A torque sensor located in the steering column monitors pressure on the steering wheel, and, if it is unable to detect the pressure of at least one hand on the wheel, an array of buzzers and lights on the dashboard will alert the driver and disable the steering function of the system.
Mercedes claims that the Distronic Plus system will help “relieve motorists when driving is more of a burden than a pleasure – on the monotonous daily commute, for example, or in stop-and-go traffic”. Calling the system a “gradual introduction to autonomous driving,” Mercedes says that it is merely the first stage of a long developmental process to the driverless cars seen in science fiction movies and the next generation of accident-avoidance systems.
The system includes several important safety features, including vehicle and obstacle avoidance and a pedestrian detection system that Mercedes claims can completely prevent vehicle-pedestrian collisions at speeds up to 30 mph.
There may come a day when truly driverless cars are safe, reliable and a common sight on Bay Area roadways, but there will never be a day when we offer chauffeur-less San Francisco limousines to our guests. Without a nicely dressed, polite and professional chauffeur to greet our guests warmly, open their doors, answer their questions and transport them safely, a big part of the San Francisco limo experience would be missing. We are always on the lookout for new ways to enhance our guests’ limousine experiences, but we’re certain that automation is not the way to go. So, if you’re thinking about renting a San Francisco limo, party van or other luxury vehicle for a special event, just give us a call at NLS Limo at 800-339-8936. No extra charge for the chauffeur. We promise!
Thief Hires Limousine for Getaway Vehicle
A New Hampshire man was recently indicted on charges of burglary and grand larceny after he allegedly stole cash from the motel where he was living and hired a limousine as a getaway car. The 27-year-old Concord, N.H. man was apprehended in a nearby town after allegedly taking a lockbox containing between $2,000 and $3,000 from the office of the Shore Lodge in Onley on Oct. 7. Arresting officers also found that he was in possession of a six-pack of Corona beer with one of the bottles mostly empty. The allegedly stolen cash was stuffed in the six-pack carton along with the remaining bottles of beer.
The Onley Police Department was alerted after the motel manager discovered that someone had broken into the office and taken the lockbox. The manager and motel employees told police that they thought the suspect’s room would be a good place to begin their investigation. When police entered the suspect’s motel room, they found the empty lockbox but few other clues as to where he might have fled with the money. Later that evening, police received a tip that the suspect had been seen near a local convenience store. Shortly thereafter, they received another call saying that the suspect had been seen getting into a white limousine that stopped briefly at the convenience store before heading south on U.S. Route 13.
Olney police alerted other police departments along the suspect’s likely escape route. The limo was stopped, and the suspect apprehended in a short period of time. The suspect tried to use an alias during his arrest but provided his real name during the arrest interview. Police found that the suspect has quite a criminal record, including convictions for being a habitual offender, credit card fraud, a protective order violation, reckless conduct, driving after license revocation, unauthorized use of rented property, resisting arrest, breach of bail and other charges.
This thief may be a thoroughly unsavory character and a criminal, but he does have a sense of style. If you and your family and friends are planning an adventure and need a Bay Area limousine for your own limo getaway vehicle, we can definitely help, provided you’re getting away from everyday responsibilities and your sense of style does not include larceny, of course! All of our San Francisco limousines, party buses and other luxury vehicles are available at very affordable rates and can be stocked with your choice of beer and other refreshing beverages. If you’re thinking about making your own getaway with a group of friends or perhaps an intimate group of two, just give us a call at NLS Limo at 800-339-8936.
Ford Plans Fiery Makeover of Lincoln Brand
Sales of Ford Motor Company’s luxury Lincoln brand have declined 63 percent since sales peaked in 1990. The Lincoln Town Car, the brand’s flagship sedan and a staple of airport and business transportation for many years, has been crowded out by competition from Lexus, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, BMW and other luxury automakers. Tired of losing sales and market share, Lincoln’s brand managers are about to unveil a new marketing campaign that involves a most unusual angle – setting a Lincoln Town Car on fire. The new campaign is slated to begin in late December with a television commercial that opens with a Town Car being engulfed in flames and the new MKZ sedan emerging from the flames.
You don’t have to be a film director to see the symbolism at work here. Lincoln’s marketing department is looking to distance the sleek new MKZ and MKX models from the past, and they are doing so in unmistakable fashion. An earlier version of the ad involving a voiceover by Leonardo DiCaprio with him at the wheel of a MKZ was greeted enthusiastically by Ford staffers but flatly rejected by Lincoln chief Jim Farley.
“It’s not going to break through,” Farley said. “Find me something that’s going to break through. The tricky part is getting noticed. You don’t have much time because you haven’t earned the right to be in people’s minds.”
Sales demographics indicated that over one in three Lincoln owners is 65 years of age or older. Farley and his staff are clearly going after younger buyers in the highly desirable 40- to 60-year-old age group. Lincoln also plans to air their first Super Bowl ad next year, as well as other ads including an actor posing as Abraham Lincoln, footage of Dean Martin and Clark Gable leaning against the fenders of an MKZ and other commercials to increase brand awareness and attract new buyers.
From our perspective, this is great news. While we love the Lincoln Town Cars in our fleet of luxury vehicles, particularly for our San Francisco airport transportation and business clients, we are excited to see what Lincoln’s designers and brand managers have up their sleeves for the new models. Like all of our other luxury vehicles, our Lincolns are immaculately clean, roomy, comfortable and very affordable. So, the next time you need clean, comfortable San Francisco airport transportation, business transportation or any of our Bay Area limousine rentals, just give us a call at NLS Limo at 800-339-8936.
Makers of Taxi and Limousine Application Uber Sued in San Francisco
It looks like Uber’s legal troubles are continuing, this time in San Francisco. The maker of the smartphone application intended to help passengers find taxicabs and limousines in large U.S. cities is the target of a new lawsuit filed on behalf of San Francisco taxi drivers. You may recall that we have posted blogs in recent months about similar lawsuits filed against the request-a-ride service in New York City and Chicago. The suits claim that the application creates an unfair competitive environment by steering customers toward companies that don’t adhere to state and local regulations that govern taxi and limousine services.
Attorney Gary Oswald recently filed the suit in a San Francisco court and issued a press release in which he had less than flattering things to say about the smartphone app.
“Uber is brazenly violating this statutory scheme without even bothering to offer a pretext for their overtly illegal actions just as they have in New York City, Chicago and elsewhere,” Mr. Oswald said in the release. “By ignoring the law, Uber is putting at risk the livelihoods of hardworking men and women who drive safely and follow the rules.”
Mr. Oswald claims that Uber attempts to cover up its true nature in order to avoid all regulations governing limousine and taxicab companies and that these illegal acts also interfere with chauffeurs’ and taxi drivers’ relationships with their clients. He also claims that Uber uses illegal metering devices and charges unauthorized rates for its services. He closes the press release with a strong statement that suggests that Uber forces chauffeurs and taxi drivers to break the law, saying that “by written contraction between Uber and its ‘partnered’ Black Car drivers, such drivers are required to operate in violation of the San Francisco code.”
As we’ve stated before, we don’t mind competition, it inspires us to continue striving to offer the best San Francisco limousine experience for our guests for the best rates. However, we don’t care for any measures, digital or otherwise, that compel Bay Area limo services, chauffeurs, taxi drivers or anyone else to operate outside rules and regulations put in place to protect the safety of all Californians. Bay Area residents who want to reserve one of our limousines or other luxury vehicles can use their smartphones, but they don’t need to download an application to make it easier. They can simply give us a call at NLS Limo at 800-339-8936 to speak with one of our reservation specialists!
Our San Francisco Limo Vans Are the Best Option for Working and Playing
If you are a Bay Area professional who needs comfortable and affordable ground transportation that allows you to work en route to your destinations and relax after the work is done, you should definitely consider one of our San Francisco limo van rentals. Business professionals know that Skype and other software that allows us to conduct virtual meetings with colleagues and clients in other locations are very good but also quite limited. When it comes to making an impact with current and prospective clients, nothing beats face time, and the best way to get you and your team to business appointments and arrive prepared and relaxed is to rent one of our Bay Area limo vans!
Our limo vans can comfortably transport groups of two to 33 or more guests and provide superb amenities for working and relaxing, including these:
- Captain’s chairs
- Work tables
- Restrooms
- Wet bars
- Audio/video systems
- Flat-screen TVs
- iPod docking stations
- Privacy shades
- Plenty of storage
- Power outlets for charging laptops, phones and other electronic devices
- Many more depending on the model!
No other Bay Area limousine service has a better selection of limo vans:
- 8 Passenger Executive Limousine Vans
- 12 Passenger Executive Limousine Buses
- 16 Passenger Limo Minibuses
- 18 Passenger Executive Limo Vans
- 20 Passenger Limo Buses
- 24 Passenger Limo Buses
- 30 Passenger Luxury Limo Buses
- 32 Passenger Limo Buses
- 33 Passenger Executive Limo Buses
While each San Francisco limo bus in our fleet offers slightly different amenities and seating configurations, they all come with our superb customer service, attention to detail and affordable rates. If you need to take your business team on the road and you’re looking for comfortable and affordable ground transportation that lets you work hard and play hard, we have the perfect solution. Just give us a call today at NLS Limo at 800-339-8936 for information about rates, availability and answers to any questions you may have!
Rolls-Royce Announces Special Arabian Nights Ghost Models
Legendary luxury automaker Rolls-Royce recently announced that they are releasing a very limited number of special edition Ghost models. The automaker has been flexible about some very unusual customer requests over the years, but the newest special edition is among the most memorable for reasons that will either delight or dismay you. Rolls has announced that they will be customizing a handful of vehicles in what they are calling the One Thousand and One Nights Bespoke Ghost Collection.
The Rolls-Royce Bespoke Department is the division responsible for filling customers’ customization requests, and we have written about some of the more unusual requests over the years. Various Rolls models painted in canary yellow, neon purple and other eye-catching colors are fairly light lifting for the Bespoke craftspeople, but this latest Ghost customization scheme inspired them to take some creative license with color schemes. Bespoke craftspeople will take a few stock Ghost models and paint the lower body panels a deep matte brown. The gracefully sloping hood and pillars, essentially everything above the character line and the Ghost’s grille will be painted a matte caramel color.
Some light grey pinstriping will accent the matte paint job, and a number of small appliqués, including an Arabic inscription that spells out “One Thousand and One Nights,” will be strategically located on the exterior. Moving inside, Rolls customization experts have chosen light grey leather for the seating, accented by piano black trim. Passengers will enjoy the standard LCD screens in the back of the front seats, as well as all the usual luxurious Rolls appointments, including an updated, state-of-the-art sound system perhaps for enjoying all 1,001 folk tales supposedly related by Scheherazade.
Rolls has been reluctant to reveal precisely how many special Ghost editions they will make available or the expected list price, but buyers can expect to pay well over the $261,000 cost for base model Ghosts. The One Thousand and One Nights collection is expected to make its debut at the Sharjah International Auto Show in the United Arab Emirates in late November, and Rolls has announced there will be two more special Ghost models with this motif available next year.
Whether you like the matte brown paint scheme or not, a new Rolls-Royce Ghost is a pleasure to behold. It is even more of a pleasure to ride in! If you’re looking for San Francisco Rolls-Royce rentals for an upcoming wedding, anniversary, sightseeing tour or other special occasion, call us today at NLS Limo at 800-339-8936 to reserve yours. We currently do not offer any new Rolls-Royce limousines, but we do have some very lovely (and very affordable) antique Ghost, Silver Cloud and Silver Wraith models for you. If you’re thinking about renting a Rolls-Royce in the Bay Area, you have come to the right place! Call us today to reserve yours.
Your San Francisco Limousine Experts Wish You a Safe and Joyous Holiday Season
The holiday season is nearly upon us once again, which is a very good time to reflect on the past year, plan for the future and thank our clients for another great year. We would also like to wish our readers a happy, safe and very joyous holiday season as they travel to gatherings of friends and family members wherever they may be. If you’re heading out of town and need Bay Area airport transportation or you’re expecting friends and family from out of town and would like to welcome them in style, why not rent one of our San Francisco limousines for the ultimate airport shuttles?
Our limo rentals are also a practical, affordable and very fun choice for the following:
- Shopping excursions
- Sightseeing tours
- Wine tours
- Concert transportation
- Sporting events
- Weddings
- Family reunions
- Family outings
- Other special occasions!
Instead of dealing with traffic and parking hassles during the upcoming holiday season, why not relax with friends and family and enjoy a glass of your favorite beverage while you glide through the Bay Area in one of our limos, party vans, luxury coaches and other luxury transportation options. Your chauffeur will know the best shortcuts for getting around our lovely area, and you can focus on being a gracious host and reconnecting with friends and family.
From our family to yours, we would again like to wish you a wonderful holiday season and remind you that our San Francisco limo rentals make excellent gifts! For more information on reserving a limousine for airport transportation, fun and enjoyable sightseeing tours and truly memorable gifts, please call us today at NLS Limo at 800-339-8936. Thank you for making us the Bay Area’s premier limousine service, and we look forward to helping you celebrate special occasions in the new year! Cheers!
First Street-Legal All-Electric Limousine Goes on the Auction Block
Some months ago, we blogged about the first street-legal all-electric limousine, a Nissan Leaf limo made for a hotel in Nashville. That custom limousine must not have delivered the expected boost in reservations, as it is now listed on eBay with a starting bid of $50,000 and a Buy It Now price of $57,000. The Nashville Embassy Suites Hotel owns the limo, which seats eight people and was built by custom luxury vehicle manufacturer Imperial Coach Builders, based in Springfield, Missouri.
According to the builder, they intentionally kept most of the Leaf’s features as intact as possible while extending the subcompact by around eight feet and adding around 400 pounds to its weight. They shifted the limo’s battery pack to the rear for better balance, stability and performance and added customary limousine amenities such as these:
- High-end audio system
- Flat-screen TVs
- Wet bar
- Plush seating
- Mood lighting
- Other luxury amenities
Regular readers of this blog know that we often write about all things weird and wonderful in the automotive world, and the first all-electric limo was no exception. While we do offer San Francisco hybrid rentals in our fleet of vehicles, we prefer to keep our Prius and Camry hybrids separate from our Bay Area limousine rentals. Each fills a very important niche for our clients, and, while an all-electric limo certainly piques our curiosity, we won’t be placing a bid on this limo any time soon. We suspect that Embassy Suites commissioned this custom limo to generate interest and perhaps enhance the hotel’s credibility with environmentally conscious guests. We also suspect that guests’ reactions to the limo were lukewarm, which lead to it being auctioned to the highest bidder.
Electric vehicles are a very responsible and practical way to run errands and provide everyday transportation to work and other destinations, but our guests do not rent our limousines, party buses and other luxury vehicles for daily transportation. They rent them for birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, concerts, sporting events and many other special events that transcend the everyday. It is our job to ensure that their experience enhances their special event and makes it more comfortable, luxurious and most important, fun! If you are looking for the Bay Area limousine service that has the best selection of luxury limousines in the San Francisco area, you have come to the right place! Browse the pages of our site to check out images of the many options in our fleet, and, for more information and to place your reservation, just give us a call at NLS Limo at 800-339-8936.
Limousine Becomes Rolling Billboard
Graffiti, a vehicle wrapping and transit media company based in Johannesburg, South Africa, recently struck a deal with a local limousine service to wrap at least one of their limousines with advertising. The ad for Guess Jeans features a picture of a reclining couple in bed, which occupies the middle third of the limo on both sides. Guess logos are positioned on either side of the picture, and the company reports that this is the fourth time they have reworked the branding on this limo. Graffiti has also wrapped 15 school buses with promotional advertising for Guess Kids, which manufactures designer clothing for children.
Graffiti Managing Director John Rice had this to say about the advertising campaign: "The Guess brand and its advertising campaigns really speak for themselves. The style of the creative is distinctive and identifiable and people look out for their advertising. The Guess brand is exclusive, international and aspirational and therefore perfectly suits the glamour and prestige of a limousine. Similarly, the school bus advertising medium provides an excellent strategic opportunity with which to promote Guess Kids. As a result you have a very powerful and effective transit campaign."
We understand the need for limousine services to create revenue streams whenever possible, especially in hyper-competitive markets. The San Francisco limousine market is especially competitive, and we are always on the lookout for new sources of income. However, don’t look for us to wrap our Bay Area limos, party buses, SUV limos and other luxury vehicles with advertising now or in the future.
We believe that happy guests are the appropriate complement to the glamour and prestige of a limousine, not advertising. No matter how tastefully photographed or sexy the images may be, we believe that billboard advertising belongs on billboards, not sullying the classic looks of our limos. If you’re looking for a San Francisco limousine service that believes that providing outstanding customer service is the best way to generate revenue, give us a call at NLS Limo at 800-339-8936 the next time you need luxury transportation for a special event!
President Putin Commissions New Zil Limousine
We wrote recently about the resurgence of legendary Russian Luxury automaker Zil. The struggling company recently received a huge boost when they delivered an order to the Kremlin, a new limo for Russian President Vladimir Putin. The presidential limo will be called “Limo Number One,” and Zil reports that it took six years to manufacture. The new limo is awaiting final approval from Kremlin officials, but it is expected to pass inspections and begin transporting the president and other Russian dignitaries in the very near future.
Limo Number One features six doors, calf leather upholstery, a video screen that shows the road ahead to passengers when privacy shutters are closed, the obligatory armored plate, advanced telecommunications equipment and many other security features that will not be made available to the public. The presidential limo is powered by a huge 7.7-liter motor easily capable of accelerating the 7,000-pound vehicle to reported top speeds of 125 mph.
After many years of being transported in a Mercedes limousine, President Putin will join predecessors Nikita Krushchev, Leonid Brezhnev, Mikhail Gorbachev and many other Russian dignitaries by riding in a Zil limousine, a move viewed as very important to reviving the automaker and the Russian economy.
Mikhail Sattarov, the head of luxury models at Zil, revived a bit of Cold War brinksmanship as well, saying that the new presidential limo is demonstrably better than President Obama’s new Cadillac One limousine, unofficially named “The Beast.”
Mr. Sattarov remarked, "We saw what Obama rides in; it’s an ugly submarine with no aesthetics," he said. "It looks awful."
With all due respect, we disagree with Mr. Sattarov. Given the Zil’s history of designing limousines that more closely resemble cereal boxes on wheels, we would expect a bit more restraint on his part when critiquing the looks of other automakers’ vehicles.
If you have a special event in the near future and you’d like to reserve one of our San Francisco limos, party buses, SUV limos or other luxury vehicles, give us a call today at NLS Limo at 800-339-8936 to make reservations today. We treat each of our guests like heads of state and provide a level of customer service that keeps them coming back again and again. If you’re looking for the best Bay Area limousine rental experience at the best rates, just give us a call, and let us take care of the rest!
Call 1-800-339-8936 for your free quote
Great customer service, great prices, and always a lot of fun.
I've used Nationwide 3 or 4 times now and have not once been disappointed. Great customer service, great prices, and always a lot of fun. Staff always helps me pick the best option for my group and our budget.