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Luxury Ground Transportation | San Francisco Travel Blog

Rolls-Royce Reports Record Sales for Third Year in a Row

By San Francisco Limousine Specialist on February 10, 2013

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars recently announced record sales for the third year in a row. The legendary luxury automaker recorded a one percent sales gain in 2011-2012 from the previous fiscal year’s numbers with 3,575 models sold. A one percent increase in sales might not seem like a noteworthy achievement, but consider that in the previous two years, sales of Rolls-Royce automobiles increased 31 percent and a remarkable 150 percent, respectively. The automaker cites expansion into Central and South America as one of the primary reasons for their record sales, along with the slow but steady recovery of economic conditions across the globe.

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World’s Largest Custom Limousine Manufacturer Latest Victim of Economic Downturn

By San Francisco Limousine Specialist on January 7, 2013

We received some bad news recently that does not affect our San Francisco limousine service directly but affects most limousines services across the country directly or indirectly. Krystal Koach, Inc., the world’s largest manufacturer of custom limousines, will halt production and close down in the near future. In a press release, Krystal officers reported that their company “doesn’t have the cash to purchase parts to continue manufacturing vehicles.” Ed Grech, Krystal’s founder and CEO, cited the global economic downturn as the reason that his company was closing its doors and reorganizing.

The company had recently moved into the burgeoning Chinese market and had invested heavily in developing its custom stretch Lincoln MKT limousine specifically for that market and other clients in Asia. The company currently has around 51 vehicles in various stages of completion. Grech has told creditors that if they give him time to finish these projects and sell them, along with liquidating some real estate holdings, he would be able to pay them in full with funds leftover to pay other outstanding debts.

When he recently announced the closure and reorganization of his company, Grech told reporters, “Unfortunately, operators are still hurting and demand has been tepid. During the first quarter of 2012, these projects were halted due to the current economic climate both domestically as well as in Asia. We will not be idle during this time. Rest assured that Krystal is still committed to developing the most innovative and cutting-edge vehicles you can buy for luxury ground transportation, and the excellent customer service you expect from us will never waver.”

Grech founded Krystal in 1982 and grew the company from a small Southern California body shop into a company posting annual revenues of $50 million with clients all over the world.

While we don’t conduct any business with Mr. Grech, as we do all our own customization work, we were certainly sorry to hear this news. We hope that he is able to finish and sell his remaining vehicles in production and reorganize to square his debts with his creditors and begin the long process of rebuilding his company.

The economic downturn has affected us all, but NLS Limo is still here, and we plan to keep on serving the Bay Area with custom limousines, party vans and other luxury vehicles for a long time to come. We believe that a big part of our success is our customer service, attention to detail and offering a superb San Francisco limo experience at an affordable price. If you are looking for Bay Area limousine rentals for an upcoming special event, please give us a call today at 800-339-8936 to find out for yourself why our customer service helps us stand out from the hyper-competitive San Francisco limo rental market.

Pop Star Calls Limousines Embarrassing

By San Francisco Limousine Specialist on October 1, 2012

If Australian pop star Kylie Minogue heads to the Bay Area for a concert, don’t look for any San Francisco limousines to pick her up at the airport. The 44-year-old singer recently told reporters that she gets embarrassed when a limo arrives to pick her up. She claims that she prefers a simpler, low profile life these days and is quite happy to live without some of the more ostentatious trappings of being an international recording star.

“I’m like, ‘Please don’t send a limousine! I find them embarrassing!’ I love to have this glamorous life sometimes, and if I didn’t have any of that, I would probably be dressing up a bit more each day or going out on the weekend and making a real effort. But I get to live out those fantasies on stage, in videos or photo shoots. But if I can go somewhere you can wear wellingtons – and just be a total and utter bush person – I need that,” she said recently.

Perhaps Ms. Minogue is a bit jaded after many years of limo transportation to and from nearly all destinations. She’s certainly entitled to her opinion, but her complaints ring a bit hollow to most people who only get to ride in limousines during special occasions. We freely admit that our opinion on this matter is anything but impartial. We still enjoy helping our guests celebrate significant events in their lives, such as these:

If you’re planning a special event and would like to add a Bay Area limo rental to the occasion, you have come to the right place! Each limousine, party van, SUV limo, classic car, limo bus and other luxury transportation option in our fleet is clean, very comfortable and more affordable than you may think! And unlike other Bay Area limousine services, we don’t nickel-and-dime our guests with a la carte charges. We prefer to include as many amenities as possible for one low price. So, the next time you need a San Francisco limo, just give us a call at NLS Limo at 800-339-8936. Who knows? Maybe you want your limo rental for an upcoming Kylie Minogue concert!

New Hyundai Limo Focuses on Security

By San Francisco Limousine Specialist on September 11, 2012

The Hyundai Equus, the new limousine from the Korean automaker expected to make its debut at the upcoming Moscow International Automobile Salon, features some rather unusual safety features. With their new limo, Hyundai’s marketing is targeting potential buyers in violent parts of the world. Hyundai developed the new limousine in cooperation with ArmorTech-Motors, a company that specializes in taking stock limousines from a wide range of different manufacturers and customizing them with armor panels, bullet-resistant glass and other security equipment.

The Equus is outfitted with several security features designed to withstand projectiles and explosives, such as these:

  • An armored shell that protects occupants from ballistic penetration from any angle
  • “Labyrinth overlaps” where the limo’s bullet-resistance glass meets body panels to protect occupants from shrapnel during bomb blasts
  • Full VR7 protection compliance and ballistic certification, which indicates that the limo resists projectiles from most assault weapons
  • Many other undisclosed security features

Weighing nearly 8,500 pounds, the Equus limousine needs a powerful motor capable of moving more than four tons of armored limo at getaway speeds. Hyundai reports that the limo will boast a 5.0-liter Tau V8 engine capable of producing 430 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 375 foot-pounds of torque at 5,000 rpm. All that horsepower is transferred to the rear wheels by a rugged 8-speed automatic transmission designed and built to provide rapid acceleration in case of emergency. Other safety and security equipment includes the following:

  • An extra battery
  • Reinforced door hinges
  • Fire suppressant system for the engine compartment
  • Hydraulic window lifters
  • Run-flat tires
  • A self-sealing fuel tank to prevent leakage and fires if penetrated

We probably won’t be adding a Hyundai Equus limo to our fleet of Bay Area limousines in the foreseeable future. We prefer to focus on rigorously screened and knowledgeable chauffeurs, properly maintained vehicles and other measures to safeguard the safety and security of our guests. If you and your friends and family need a San Francisco limo, party bus, charter bus, limo bus or other luxury ground transportation for an upcoming special event and you want to have a safe, comfortable, luxurious and very fun time, call us at NLS Limo at 800-339-8936 to reserve yours today!

Call Us First for San Francisco Hybrid Rentals!

By San Francisco Limousine Specialist on August 6, 2012

Many San Franciscans live without cars. Parking and traffic hassles combined with steep gas prices and the costs of owning a car can make it an unattractive and unnecessary expense. However, despite plenty of alternatives to get around such as cabs and mass transit, sometimes having your own wheels is the best option. For those who wish to get around but want to have a low carbon footprint, the best option of all is a hybrid vehicle. Most folks don’t know that in addition to our Bay Area limousines, party buses, SUV limos and other types of luxury ground transportation, we also offer San Francisco hybrid car rentals!

We offer two types of stylish, comfortable and very economical hybrid rentals at the moment and plan to offer more options in the future. For now, your San Francisco hybrid rental options include the following:

Our Prius rentals are sedans that seat three adults or two adults and two children very comfortably. Our Camry hybrid rentals are sedans that offer ample room for four adults. Both types of hybrids use very little fuel during city driving and are perfect for a variety of different uses including these:

With a name like Nationwide Limousine Service, you might not expect us to offer economical Bay Area hybrid rentals in our fleet of luxury vehicles, but we do! So, the next time you’re thinking about renting a car to get around and you’re looking for San Francisco Prius rentals or Camry hybrid rentals, just give us a call at NLS Limo at 800-339-8936!

New Experimental Limo Could Be a Glimpse of Future Luxury Transportation

By San Francisco Limousine Specialist on December 14, 2011

A new kind of limousine recently made its debut in the Netherlands and created quite a stir for its looks, composition, low carbon footprint and luxury amenities. The new limo more closely resembles a centipede than a luxury limousine and features 16 gullwing doors that add to its unusual appearance when opened. Developed jointly by the University of Technology of Delft and the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment, the as-yet unnamed limo is the product of a design team that wanted to create an environmentally responsible but luxurious mode of transportation for large groups of people.

The new limousine features most of the amenities you would expect in luxury ground transportation, such as HD televisions, climate control, internet connectivity, premium audio system, room for up to 23 passengers and other creature comforts. Among the many remarkable features of this new limo are the facts that it is an electric vehicle with zero carbon dioxide emissions, yet it has a top speed of 155 mph. It features an ultra-light but very strong carbon fiber frame that supports its nearly 50-foot length, and the Lexan composite windows that comprise most of each gullwing door are also strong but quite light.

Prominent members of the new limo’s design team include the first Dutchman in space, Dr. Wubbo Ockels, an Italian designer with a Formula One racing background, Dr. Antonio Terzi, and a Dutch aerospace engineer named Joris Melkert. The production team has not yet announced whether or not they plan to produce more of these next-generation limousines, but they hinted that we might see more on the road, at least in Europe, in 2015.

Regular readers of our blog know that we are always on the lookout for the new and unusual in the luxury ground transportation world, and love to pass along information about these automotive oddities whenever we can. It might be a while before we offer a zero-emission limousine in our fleet of San Francisco limos, but we like to offer as much variety as possible to our guests! To get an idea of the Bay Area limousines we currently offer in our fleet, please browse the pages of our site, and call us at 1-800-339-8936 for more information. If you need a San Francisco limousine or party bus for an upcoming event, please give us a call at NLS Limo for rates and availability.

British Automaker Announces Debut of Super SUV Limo

By San Francisco Limousine Specialist on December 14, 2011

Luxury British automaker Eterniti has announced that they will debut the world’s first “super sport utility vehicle limo” at the upcoming Frankfurt Auto Show. Eterniti officials say that the vehicle is entirely hand-made and they expect production to begin sometime in spring 2012. The super SUV is called the Hemera and features a limousine-style luxury cabin with electric reclining seats, a drink chiller, iPads and many other luxury appointments intended to set the automaker apart from other limo manufacturers and grow market share.

Eterniti says the Hemera is passed on the Porsche Cayenne platform and features four-wheel drive and a performance package that offers handling and road manners that more closely resemble a European coupe than a SUV. Eterniti officials are being cagey about what is under the Hemera’s hood, but they do say that this luxury SUV limo is capable of reaching speeds of 180 mph and offers incredible braking power of 620 bhp, or braking horsepower.

We do not currently offer any Eterniti luxury vehicles in our fleet of Bay Area limousines, party buses, antique vehicles and other luxury vehicles, but we do offer a wide range of SUV limos, including these:

As you can see, there are plenty of San Francisco SUV limos for our guests for weddings, bachelor/bachelorette parties, sporting events and other special occasions. The spacious interiors and higher profile of our SUV limousines also make them a great choice for sightseeing tours! For more information about our Bay Area SUV limo rates and availability, please call us at NLS Limo today at 1-800-339-8936 to speak with one of our reservation specialists. For more information on the amenities available in each model, please visit our luxury SUV limo page!

Make Your San Francisco Limo Reservations for This Holiday Season!

By San Francisco Limousine Specialist on December 14, 2011

The holiday season is fast approaching, and some of the most popular San Francisco limousines, party buses and other luxury vehicles are being reserved for what are some of the traditionally busiest dates of the year for us. Forward-thinking guests are making their reservations now to ensure that they get their first choice of limo, party bus, luxury coach, limo bus and other luxury group transportation for the following:

While each Bay Area luxury rental is slightly different in terms of layout, color scheme, lighting and amenities, you can be sure that no matter which model you prefer, you and your friends will enjoy luxury amenities such as these:

  • Flat panel TVs
  • High-end audio systems
  • Wet bars
  • Mood lighting
  • Privacy windows
  • Plush, comfortable seating
  • Starlight ceilings
  • Other luxurious appointments to make your special occasion extra special!

Depending on which limo or party bus tickles your fancy, you can also enjoy special amenities such as stripper poles, hot tubs, moon roofs, iPod docking capabilities, dance floors, laser light shows, custom aquariums and much more!

If you’re thinking about making the holiday season extra festive with a Bay Area limousine rental, please browse the pages of our site and make a list of your preferred models. Then, give us a call at NLS Limo at 1-800-339-8936, speak with one of our reservation specialists and reserve your first choices now for the best availability. Some of the most popular models and dates are filling up quickly, so don’t delay! While we’re on the subject, we would like to wish our guests and their families a very safe and happy holiday season. Thanks for helping us enjoy another year as the premier San Francisco limousine service! It’s our pleasure to serve you, and we look forward to many more years of helping you celebrate the special moments of your lives.

Bentley Announces Next Generation of Luxury Limousine Amenities

By San Francisco Limousine Specialist on December 14, 2011

Bentley’s flagship Mulsanne models will begin featuring some remarkable amenities in the very near future. The luxury automaker already sets the standard for handcrafted luxury cabins in all its models, but Mulsanne buyers have some very high-tech appointments to look forward to in the coming model years.

Alasdair Stewart from Bentley Motors said that the next generation of Bentley buyers is made up of multitaskers who need to be able to work while on the go. Stewart said, “Many customers use their time in the Mulsanne to keep on top of their business commitments or simply take a few moments to relax. This fully functioning concept highlights the Mulsanne’s potential to help busy executives to communicate effectively and quickly whilst traveling. As you would expect from Bentley, all these features work in harmony with the handcrafted cabin and can be displayed or hidden at the user’s discretion.”

Some of these comforts and productivity appointments include the following:

  • Two electric-powered, foldable wood veneer tables, each sporting an Apple iPad and Apple Bluetooth keyboard
  • Internet connectivity for the iPads and other devices via a W-LAN
  • Apple Mini Mac stored in the trunk for LAN integration and easy access to expanded data storage, Bluetooth-enabled, naturally
  • 15.6-inch High Definition LED dropdown monitor in roof console with DVD changer
  • Lighted center console with individual armrests for spacious four-seat configuration
  • Rear console equipped with iPod and iPod control panel
  • Rear Seat Entertainment (RSE) and audio system for integrated entertainment options
  • Two USB connectors provided for the Apple system and one Apple interface connector for the iPod
  • Control panel on rear console to operate picnic tables, reading lights, control HD LED screen and select video and audio options
  • Armrest containing Tibaldi fountain pen and privacy telephone handset
  • Bottle cooler in center console, complete with illuminated, double-glazed frosted glass door
  • Apple device-controlled, multi-directional reading lights for each rear passenger
  • Many other luxury appointments

That impressive list is a glimpse into the future of luxury limousine amenities, and all we can say is, “Wow!” With list prices beginning at around $300,000, it could be a while before we add a Bentley Mulsanne to our fleet of San Francisco limousines, but it won’t be long before some of these entertainment/productivity amenities are standard features in the “regular” limousine world. Indeed, many are already available in the newer Bay Area limos in our fleet. For more information on these models and their amenities, please explore the pages of our site and/or call us today at NLS Limo at 1-800-339-8936 for more information.

Wedding Season’s Almost Here! Have You Rented Your San Francisco Wedding Limo Yet?

By San Francisco Limousine Specialist on May 26, 2010

Spring has sprung in the Bay Area, and the wedding season is around the corner. Have you rented your San Francisco wedding limousine yet? If you haven’t, never fear. At NLS Limo, we have the area’s largest selection of stretch limos, SUV limos, party vans, antique cars and other types of luxury ground transportation. But weekend slots in June and July are filling up quickly. So, if you have not yet reserved your San Francisco wedding limo, call our reservation specialists today at 1-800-339-8936 for more information.

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