Limousine: Extra
Long Vehicle
The term limousine refers to an unusually long
luxury car that has been traditionally painted either black or
white and is most often driven by a chauffeur. Though some people
can afford to have their own personal limousines, the majority are
owned by governments to move important dignitaries as well as
senior politicians or by large corporations to convey executives or
even by broadcasting companies to transport their guests.
There are also many limousines that operate as
livery vehicle in upmarket segments and are in direct competition
with taxicabs. The term limousine owes its origins to the name of
the French region Limousin where the people living there used to
wear hoods that were like the profile of a car.
Stage,
Stretch and Traditional
There are many types of limousines and typically
it has a partition between the driver compartment and the back
passenger compartment. There is usually a sliding glass window to
ensure that private conversations amongst passengers are not
overheard by the chauffeur. The different types of limousine are
traditional, stretch, stage, as well as exotic custom limousines
and the party bus. The traditional version was really an extension
of the sedan having a longer wheelbase as well as a frame to allow
the rear passenger compartment to have the forward facing passenger
seat but with much more leg room. Behind the driver are two jump
seats facing backward.
The stretch limousine is extended in length much
more than is required for personal use and is normally used to
convey partygoers to and from dances as well as weddings. The stage
version though not considered as being a true limousine has its
design somewhere between a sedan and a bus and has multiple doors
and is derived from the Chrysler New Yorker and the Cadillac
DeVille as also the station wagons. It also sometimes has large
racks on the roof to carry passenger baggage. The modern version of
the stage limo can be evidenced in the novelty stretch Hummer or
Hummer H2 vehicles and they are also used in some funeral homes to
carry families of the deceased.
The exotic custom limousine is the ultimate in
stretch limousines that has amenities that may be impractical but
are a significant design statement. A notable design feature of
this type of vehicle is the double rear axles that support the
weight of an operational hot tub. The party bus is able to carry 16
to 35 passengers and may offer leather couch seating and plenty of
other electronics and is primarily used though not limited to
carrying passengers to proms, weddings and bachelor parties.
References
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