The concept of limousine , derived from the French word limousine , refers to a large automobile that is characterized by its luxury . In ancient times the term referred to a carriage that was open on the driver's side and closed in the rear seat area where the passengers traveled.
Compared to conventional cars, limousines are longer . They are generally white or black and are usually driven by a chauffeur: that is, the owner of the limousine is not the driver .
It is rare, however, for a person to own a limousine. Its most common use is at the State level, since many governments have these vehicles to transport the country's highest authorities and special visitors. The largest companies also usually have a fleet of limousines for transporting executives.
Limousines are also offered for rent for special occasions. Thus, a man or a woman can hire a limousine to arrive at an event: a wedding, a birthday, etc.
Various equipment and amenities are installed inside a limousine. In addition to having large leather seats, it is common for these cars to have a television and a bar .
“Motor lovers” are a large group within which we find several subgroups: on the one hand there are those who love speed and sport; on the other, those who cannot resist the charm of classic cars; But there are also those who value comfort above all things, to the point that they prefer to leave the steering wheel in the hands of others. For the latter, the limousine is not a "rare" vehicle, but a necessity.
The United States presidential limousine is one of the most famous in the world . Also known as The Beast , it is manufactured by Cadillac , has capacity for seven people and is fully armored. It is estimated that the cost of this limousine is one million dollars.
The design of "The Beast" is exclusive to the top leader of North America and for this reason its specifications are not made known to the public. This secrecy guarantees the president greater security against attacks of different types. Needless to say, rumors suggest that it is one of the most complete and advanced limousines in the world.
For President Donald Trump 's model, for example, it is estimated that the economic investment to fine-tune and modernize it was around fourteen million dollars. What did they spend so much money on, since we are talking about a single car? Well, apparently, in state-of-the-art security and telecommunications systems, in armor capable of resisting attacks with biochemical weapons, grenades and bullets, and even being able to drive with flat tires. Additionally, it is believed to carry blood bags and oxygen tanks for emergency situations.
Another limousine that went down in history was The American Dream , which obtained a Guinness record in 1989 for its incredible length. We are talking about 30.48 meters, 26 wheels and a weight that was around 10 tons. Its creator was Jay Ohrberg , a manufacturer and collector.
Although its performance was far from its strong point, despite having two V8 engines, its size was complemented by luxuries such as a jacuzzi, a water bed, a helipad and a lounge. This limousine was abandoned after a few years and a North American automobile museum acquired it in 2014 with the aim of restoring it. It is estimated that its sale price could reach four and a half million dollars.