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.

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 Audi R8 Limo

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

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.

Tearaway Granny appeals for live-in chauffeur

A tearaway granny has made an appeal during a radio interview for a live-in chauffeur to help her get out and about after the police took away her license.

82-year-old Judith Slade lost her license last summer after she was caught speeding at 102mph. Earlier this month, she was caught out again by the police, this time for drink-driving, and driving without a valid license.

To avoid another run-in with the law, Mrs Slade has resigned herself to the fact that she may need to employ a live-in chauffeur so she can still get out and about.

Speaking during a radio interview on Melbourne’s Nova 100 Radio Station, the octogenarian said she has a “serious offer” for anyone will to be her full time chauffeur. In exchange she is offering the would-be driver free accommodation at her home, and if things work out, she’s promised to even leave her house to the potential chauffeur once she dies.

Judith Slade has been dubbed a “hoon” by the press in Australia, a term usually used to describe young male boy racers, following her spate of driving offences. Talking in the radio interview, Mrs Slade said she’d never received a single driving conviction until being caught speeding last year. It’s been reported she was on her way to meet her lover at the time, a lover she’s since lost as a result of having her licence removed.

Despite her advancing age, the young at heart granny still wants to be out and about in the company of others. However Mrs Slade claims she’s unable to do this now, because the police have “made a criminal” out of her.

So if you’re an Australia based chauffeur looking for a job and accommodation, Mrs Slade has a proposition for you…

Audi to create noise for their silent electric engine

Audi engineers are reportedly looking to sci-fi movies in order to come up with a suitable sound to attribute to their electric powered engines.

The Audi E-Tron Electric supercar is due for release in 2011, and the luxury car manufacturer is in the process of creating a noise for its quiet engine.

Generally speaking, all electric powered car engines are completely silent until they hit approximately 15mph, and even after getting up to speed, the eco-friendly engines give off very little noise. Although this may be regarded as a plus point for drivers with no interference from noisy engines, it’s a different story for pedestrians.

Organisations who work on behalf of the blind are calling for electric powered engines to make some kind of noise in order to warn pedestrians that a car is approaching. Cars which make no noise provide a serious hazard for all pedestrians, but especially so for blind or partially sighted pedestrians who rely heavily on their hearing to keep them safe while out and about.

Engineers with Audi want to create a distinctive sound for their electric powered engines so that the vehicle sounds like a car, but a noise that also reflects the futuristic concept that electric powered car represents. The Audi E-Tron is due for release next year so we won’t have too long to wait before we hear what they’ve come up with.

Audi shows off illuminated floor mats at Las Vegas Show

Audi have unveiled a brand new optional feature for their vehicle interiors at the recent Speciality Equipment Manufacturers Association (SEMA) Show is Las Vegas.

The illuminated floor mats are lit up with special LED lighting and each mat can be customized to the customer’s requirements. Audi owners will have the chance to choose the colour, graphics and materials used on the new breed of glowing floor mats.

Car manufacturers are striving to come up with new ideas to make their interiors stand out from the crowd. One of the bosses of the After Sales department at Audi say the introduction of the new illuminated floor mats is in reaction to the “high expectations” of their customers for a top specification finish on their new Audi.

The mats are illuminated with special LED lighting which doesn’t give off heat. It is hoped the after sales feature will add an extra dimension to the Audi interior as well an additional ambient lighting facility.

The illuminated mats are an after sales component which will be available through Audi dealers in North America only initially.

As well as the light-up floor mats, Audi also revealed another exciting new feature at the Las Vegas SEMA Show. Audi have created a wireless device which allows passengers to charge up mobile devices such as iPods and iPhones while on the move.

Electric Audi beats the Nissan Leaf in charge challenge

The newly developed electric Audi A2 has beaten the Nissan Leaf’s charge longevity in a recent test.

The German car maker’s new electrically powered Audi A2 succeeded in covering 372 miles during a7 hour journey with just a single charge, beating the Nissan Leaf’s record of covering 100 miles with a single charge.

Audi say the secret to their success is down to a new technology battery which the company has been developing in conjunction with inventor Mirko Hanneman. The new style battery is 97% efficient and uses DBM Energy’s KOLIBRI AlphaPolymer Technology. The batteries can be charged from any socket point, however if a high DC voltage socket point is used, the car will be fully charged in just 6 minutes.

The test saw the electric powered Audi finish its 372 mile trip with power to spare. The driver didn’t attempt to conserve energy while travelling as the Audi’s in car heaters were also in use during the trip. The electric Audi A2, known as the Lekker Mobil, travelled from Munich Southern Germany to the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin as part of the test drive.

Nissan’s version of the electric car, The Leaf, is able to cover 160km which is approximately 100 miles, in a single charge. The Nissan Leaf is due to go on sale in the US and Japan at the end of the year, with plans to expand into the European market in 2011.

Audi wins at Motorist Choice Awards

The Audi A5 and the A6 both walked away with two trophies at the recent Motorist Choice Awards. The awards poll 42,000 consumers to determine the winners and so achieving a Motorist Choice Award is quite a coup for any car manufacturer.

The Audi A5 was handed the Best Sexy Styling gong which is something the premium car maker will be especially pleased about as pop star Justin Timberlake was drafted in to sex up the image of the A5, and so it seems that endorsement has more than paid off. The sleek coupe hit all the right notes with the drivers with its highly stylised interior, 8 speed Tiptronic transmission and great performance on the road.

The Audi A6, seen as the more relaxed older brother of the A5, was another of the big winners of the night taking away the Best Country Club Vehicle of 2010. The A6 was praised for its comfortable interior teamed with its powerful engine and top driving performance.

The fifth annual awards added extra criteria to determine its winners this time round. Consumers were asked to consider fuel economy, resale value, and driving experience and a number of other factors while making their judgments in order to give a more rounded and more accurate reflection of the highest achieving car makers of 2010.

£1 million bill for chauffeur driven limos for Scottish Government

It’s been revealed that the Scottish Government spent £1 million on chauffeur driven limos for ministerial officials over the last 12 months.

Breaking down the figure, £929,899 was the total amount spent on chauffeur cars in the last year, with a further £65,759 being spent on private hire vehicles.

A fleet of 25 official cars are used to chauffeur around Scottish government ministers while on official business. However the cost of maintaining this fleet of chauffeur cars has risen dramatically in the last few years which may be contributing to the large bill. In the last 12 months the running costs and staff bill needed to maintain the fleet has risen by £21,000.

A Labour MP has called the figure “astonishing” and is asking why during a time of severe cut backs to government spending, Scottish officials are not forsaking the luxury of chauffeur driven car to help save money.

However the Scottish Government have released a statement to defend the £1 million bill for chauffeur cars saying the amount spent on ministerial travel has actually decreased by a £1 million with the figure coming down from £5.9 million to £4.9 million between 2009-2010.  It was also added that spending on private hire vehicles, which is only used as “last resort” has also been significantly reduced.

‘Chauffeur Car of the Year’ to be revealed in September

Leading industry magazine online, the chauffeur is set to reveal its Chauffeur Car of the Year in September, it has been announced.

The prestigious line-up of chauffeur cars have been categorised into four separate sections according to price, with six different vehicles battling it out to be the best in the under £50,000 category, seven contenders in the £50,000 – £100,000 group, and just three in contention for the over £100,000 category, plus there are four cars being judged under the MPV section.

The award has been running since 2007 with Lexus, Jaguar and Bentley all triumphing in the past. The cars are put through a series of rigorous tests by a panel of expert judges as they seek to discover the best overall performer.

Each chauffeur car is taken on a 300-mile test drive so as to allow the judges the opportunity to thoroughly test each facet of the vehicle. The judges will assess the car’s performance, its comfort on long journeys, boot and luggage space, and running costs during their test drive.

More than half of the shortlisted vehicles have already undergone testing at the hands of the judging panel, with just a handful awaiting review before the winner can be revealed.

Cars being considered for The Chauffeur Car of the Year:

£50,000 and Under:

  • Skoda Superb – Not Yet Tested
  • Chrysler 300 – Not Yet Tested
  • Mercedes-Benz E220 Cdi – Test Completed
  • BMW 530d Gran Turismo – Test Completed
  • BMW 530d Saloon – Test Completed
  • Jaguar XF S – Test Completed

£50,000 to £100,000:

  • Mercedes-Benz S350 CDi – Not Yet Tested
  • Lexus LS600hL – Test Completed
  • BMW 730Ld – Test Completed
  • Volkswagen Phaeton – Pending
  • Jaguar XJ – Not Yet Tested
  • Audi A8 3.0 L – Not Yet Tested
  • Porsche Panamera – Test Completed

£100,000 and Above:

  • Rolls-Royce Ghost – Not Yet Tested
  • Bentley Flying Spur – Test Completed
  • Maybach 62 – Not Yet Tested

MPV Category:

  • Volkswagen Caravelle – Test Completed
  • Hyundai i800 – Pending
  • Mercedes-Benz Viano – Not Yet Tested
  • Chrysler Grand Voyager – Not Yet Tested

Judges:

  • Paul Gibson
  • Paul Rowlands
  • John Wilce
  • Andrew Thomson

Audi plan to improve fuel efficiency with smaller engines

Audi is planning to achieve its goal of creating cars with outstanding performance and also great fuel efficiency by downsizing their engines, it has been revealed.

An Audi spokesperson confirmed the news after revealing that the German car maker is back in the engineering room attempting to create an engine which will meet its brief as the spokesperson explains: “Audi is pursuing an engine downsizing strategy when appropriate for the market segment.”

While some car manufacturers look to aluminium to create a lightweight bodywork for car designs which will in turn aid fuel consumption, Audi is now attempting to follow a different route with the design of a smaller engine for its vehicles.

Audi has possibility been spurred on by the success of a previous project of their own. In 2004 the luxury car maker introduced the V8 with a 4.2 L engine, at the time Audi announced it was their best achievement in a decade. However Audi followed up with the V6 which boasted 27% better fuel consumption and it also produced a better performance.

As well as looking into strategies to improve fuel consumption in their best performing cars, Audi are also developing hybrid and electric models which they plan to release into the international market.