It has carried dignitaries and celebrities and been one of the flagship U.S. luxury automobiles and now it is made right here.

The Lincoln Town Car officially rolled off the line for the first time yesterday at Ford’s St. Thomas assembly plant, but on the shop floor, the gleaming Lincoln was about something a lot more important than prestige.

The St. Thomas assembly plant will make about 25,000 Town Cars this year and anywhere from 115,000 to 125,000 Crown Victoria and Mercury Grand Marquis cars, depending on demand, McKellar said.

That is welcome news for the 1,500 workers at the assembly plant, which has seen more than 900 workers take buyouts, the plant reduced to one shift and media regularly speculate it is doomed for closure in 2010 when the model lineup ends.

“This is very important to us,” said Scott Smith, plant chairperson for Canadian Auto Workers Local 1520. “We make top quality vehicles here, but we have to keep pressure on Ford to make an investment in this plant and provide more work for our people.”

Mark Boldin, plant manager believes “it is too early to speculate” on the plant’s future, but the landing of the Town Car is a good sign.”It continues the tradition of quality at this plant. We are proud to have it here,” he said. The issue of new investment will be a top priority going into bargaining this year between the CAW and Ford, added Smith.

The first Town Car was delivered to John Stollery, co-owner of the St. Thomas Ford dealership.

The Green Car Journal recently announced that its 2008 Green Car of the Year is the Chevrolet Tahoe HYBRID. The Tahoe is the first GM vehicle to use the company’s all new two-mode hybrid system. The Tahoe Hybrid has a fuel efficiency improvement of up to 30% compare to other vehicles with a standard V-8 engine. EPA 21mph city fuel efficiency rating for the Tahoe is the same as that of the four-cylinder Toyota Camry sedan which is an eye opening achievement for an SUV. The Tahoe stood out amonth other Green Car of the Year entries because it was a full-size SUV, can carry up to 1,400 lbs, and tow up to 6000 lbs, making it more challenging to achieve meaningful fuel efficiency increases because of the vehicle’s size and weight. Chevrolet’s General Manager Ed Peper said the company is thrilled to receive this award. The other finalist included Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid, Mazda Tribute Hybrid, Nissan Altima Hybrid and the Saturn Aura Hybrid.

There is no better way to start your night. A bylaw in the city of Calgary in Canada prohibits the consumption of alcohol in livery vehicles, including limousines. The bylaw was passed in February but many limousine companies and clients alike did not know about it. No other city in Alberta has a rule like this one, but several cities have rules that allow the consumption of alcohol in buses and limousines if the driver has a special license. One limousine company has filed a formal complaint with the city of Calgary, saying that the bylaw DOES NOT ENCOURAGE RESPONSIBLE CHOICES AGAINST DRINKING AND DRIVING. Others in Calgary agree that this bylaw defeats the purpose of wanting to go out to celebrate, such as wedding. No champagne allowed either. The law is up for review in spring 2008 and we all hope that it will change.

You can still

Rollz Royce Limousine Service (RRLS) of Palo Alto, California was one of 35 companies in Silicon Valley recognized by the Silicon Valley’s Business Journal for its generous giving in 2007. The award was presented to local Silicon Valley companies that have a demonstrated commitment to philanthropy. Rhonda Brewster, COO of Rollz Royce, says, “Being involved in a number of different charities is one way we have decided to give back to our community.”

Since RRLS opened its doors in 2002, it has become one of the fastest-growing limousine companies in the country, with 2007 projected revenues expected to exceed $3.5 million, according to Brewster.

DETROIT — Motor Trend Magazine has named the new Cadillac CTS its 2008 car of the year, saying it is proof that Detroit can build a world-class sedan. The award is significant because it shows the world that Detroit is back in the car business after years of focusing on sport utility vehicles and trucks, said magazine Editor-in-Chief Angus MacKenzie.

The car’s appearance, fit and finish, quality of materials, and performance rival that of its German and Japanese competitors, MacKenzie said.

“There’s really not a lot of difference at all between BMW, Mercedes, and Cadillac,” he said in an interview Monday.

The CTS, made by General Motors Corp. (Charts, Fortune 500), won from a field of 18 significant vehicles, such as the Honda (Charts) Accord, and new Dodge and Chrysler minivans, Motor Trend said in a statement. To be eligible, vehicles must be new or totally redesigned and released in 12 months prior to Jan. 1, 2008.

Japan-based automakers had five cars in the field, with seven U.S. models, four from Germany and two from Sweden.

Motor Trend said the CTS was chosen from among one of the toughest fields in the award’s history.

“The CTS obliterates the old man image of Cadillac,” MacKenzie said. “This car will turn heads in the same way the elite European models do, but it is unmistakably American.”

The CTS, with a base price of $32,990, is a bellwether for GM’s transformation to building world-class cars to be distributed worldwide, he said. The CTS was tested and developed in the U.S., Germany and China, he said.

Last year’s winner was the Toyota (Charts) Camry. Last month, the magazine named the 2008 Mazda CX-9 as its sport utility vehicle of the year.

SOURCE: CNNMoney.com

LOS ANGELES — Retail sales of the Lincoln Town Car will continue to slide in 2008 as the model becomes primarily a fleet vehicle, a Lincoln Mercury marketing executive says.

“We’ll sell fewer Town Cars next year than this year, but we’ll fill the natural retail demand,” Mike Richards, Lincoln Mercury general marketing manager, said at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

The Town Car comes back from a seven-month production hiatus in January. Ford Motor Co. will move production of Lincoln’s stalwart full-sized rear-wheel-drive sedan to its St. Thomas, Ontario, assembly plant. The automaker shuttered the Town Car’s former assembly plant in Wixom, Mich., in May.

Lincoln executives already have told dealers that retail sales of the Town Car will be minimal when production resumes. Lincoln is offering dealers one retail trim series.

Richards said he doesn’t have a projection for total Town Car sales in 2008 because he’s not yet sure of demand from fleet buyers.

Through October, Lincoln sold 26,057 Town Cars, down 19.2 percent from the same period in 2006. As of mid-November, just 237 Town Cars remained in dealership stocks, Richards said. Lincoln will end 2007 with about 10,000 Town Cars sold to retail customers, he said.

Even though that total will shrink in 2008, Lincoln aims to lure current Town Car owners with the 2009 MKS sedan. The front-wheel-drive MKS goes on sale next summer.

Rolls Royce finally release its Coupe version of the $450,000 Phantom. Its it wild. For roughly the past 20 years, the standards by which a Rolls-Royce has been judged have been very different from the standards applied nearly a hundred years ago when the brand was new. In the beginning, a Rolls-Royce was adventuresome in its mechanical excellence. The BMW home office expects to build just 100 of them annually. Price: $412,000. We have seen these on ebay selling right now for about $700,000. There were not many bids for it but its already out there.

The convertible’s overall length has shrunk by 10 inches as well, although this car still measures more than 15 inches longer than a Mercedes Benz sedan. Visually, the Drophead is distinguished by the teak deck covering the convertible roof and the stainless-steel-finished hood and windshield surround. It’s a $17,000 option in place of a painted finish. Phantom Drophead Coupé comes with nine exterior colors in its palette.

Suicide doors on a series-production two-door convertible is standard. They are opened with chromed handles and they allow for the most gracious of entries and exits. The doors are enormously heavy, though, which means the electric closing mechanism is a very welcome detail. Even better, the Rolls-Royce’s doors actually close at the speed you’d want them to if you were doing it manually.

Its all about the bling-bling on the new Rolls Royce Phantom Drophead Coupé. There’s a switch in the glove box that lowers the Spirit of Ecstasy mascot into the grille. Inside of the center console seats are covered in the finest butter-soft leather. There are chrome highlights just about everywhere.

Polished metal hood and teak tonneau cover made it to production as options. The hood is now brushed stainless steel instead of aluminum because stainless doesn’t stain or discolor as readily as aluminum.

Slim front LED side lights sit above larger round driving lamps. A discreet camera nestles underneath the numberplate to provide an excellent split-screen view of the road ahead, via the on-board monitor, to help when parking or when pulling out of a side road.

Under that vast metallic-finished hood, the Drophead employs the Phantom sedan’s 453-hp V-12 turning a six-speed automatic. BMW, Rolls-Royce’s parent, donated its 6.0-liter V-12 as a starting point. To provide the torque required of a proper Rolls and as a nod to heritage, BMW increased the engine’s displacement to 6.75 liters to match that of Rolls-Royce’s previous long-serving V-8.

This mighty V-12 really does suit the Rolls. Car’s throttle response is relaxed but potent–0 to 60 mph is achieved in just 5.7 seconds, according to the factory, and the top speed is limited to 149 mph. With a shorter wheelbase than its sedan sibling, the Drophead turns in with a bit more agility, but this car does not by any stretch provide a sporting experience.

Rolls Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe would be a nice addition to any limousine fleet. Imagine renting this car for a wedding where the bride can show off in style in a convertible. Its not just a convertible - its a Rolls Royce Phantom Convertible. I would not mind adding this car to our fleet but hey, who know, one of these day it may show up at the doorsteps of Royal Luxury Limousine. If you would like to see the fleet of the Royal Luxury Limousine, click on a limousine fleet.

ENGINE TYPE:

DOHC 48-valve V-12, aluminum block and heads, Displacement: 412 cu in
Power (SAE net): 453 bhp @ 5350 rpm
Torque (SAE net): 531 lb-ft @ 3500 rpm

Is this thing actually a crypto-hearse? Or maybe it has a hearse-style rear door because the rear body was partially sourced from a junked hearse?

This is either a ‘68 or ‘69 nose, but it’s anybody’s guess as to how many Oldsmobiles, of what years, gave their lives to make this machine.

The great thing about front-wheel-drive is that you can just keep adding chassis length and rear axles, giving you the room and load capacity to haul as many drunken revelers as the strip club can fit!

We were all in awe of its majesty, of course, and now its owner has seen fit to let us know the story behind this fine machine. Jump like the guests of a drunken bachelorette party discovering a case of free champagne in the Limowagon to read owner Curtis’ story in his own words:

I am the third owner the first was a Limousine service called Travel All that at one time worked out of the Town & Country hotel in mission valley. The second owner also a Limousine service Carey San Diego they bought the car in 1973, I bought it from them about four years ago. Unfortunately I have run out of cash to Finnish the need repairs form having been a lawn ornament for five years.
This is my fun car I love driving my car and want to keep it always.
My Toro seats fifteen counting the driver and has a large rear baggage area. The inside is rather basic with five rows or three seats, a/c, manual windows and manual door locks. I have an original am/fm radio and yes an 8-track player to install it has never had a music radio in it. I have had the wheels chromed but it’s not holding up well.
When it’s running well it lives at home in EL Cajon when it’s not It lives in Loma Portal close to my work so I can get to whoever needs to work on it.

Good work, Curtis! Send us the photos of any improvements you make. We suggest applying some 8-71 boost to that 455… and how about sacrificing some of the seating in the back and adding a second 455? It worked for the Hairy Olds, so how could it be wrong for the Toronado Limowagon?

A limousine is probably the perfect choice of transportation for a wedding. Although requesting for a limo rental service means that you’ll be paying a little more extra for transportation compared to other options, you have to remember that you’re paying for comfort and luxury, and you deserve both of these on your wedding day.

But before you go and get one for your wedding, there are some things to consider and ask when requesting for one. First of all, you need to consider how many cars you will need for the wedding.

Common practice is that before the wedding, the bride and the bridesmaids are picked up and transported to the wedding place before they get dressed for the events. The best man, on the other hand is responsible for bringing the groom to the place. Also, all other relatives and guests need to be covered for transportation as well. After the wedding, the bride and groom ride out together to the reception of the wedding. The groom’s men are responsible for transporting the bride’s maids to the reception.

After the reception, transportation is also needed to bring the couple home, or wherever they wish to spend their wedding night. Whether one car or more is required to accomplish all of this, the first thing to consider is the minimum time that service companies impose.

Preparing a limousine for service takes a few hours itself so this is quite understandable. Commonly, the minimum time for a limo service is 3 hours. 3 hours is probably long enough for the wedding itself, but then who wants to rush on a wedding day? After all, everything has to be perfect but for practicality’s sake, you should check if it costs more to extend one car or request another one after the reception. It is important to check the vehicles before hand and ask for guarantees on service. Lastly of course, you have to ask about all the charges imposed and request for a copy of the estimate.

New York limousine company ROYAL LUXURY LIMOUSINE just released a brand new Audi Q7 stretch limousine. Wow yourself after looking at this state of the art limo. This is a Brand New Audi Q7 limousine (from our research this is a first one in the world). Nobody has stretched this car yet or even attempted to do so. It is a work of art. Here are some of the great features built into this limo:

• Jet Door (opens up in the air like on a plane)
• Fishtank
• Flames under fish tank
• 2000 Watt Stereo System
• MP3 Player
• 2 Flat Screen TVs
• Disco Color changing Ceiling
• Disco Color changing Floor
• Disco Color changing Bar
• Aligator / Snake Skin designed seats and upholstry
• Heated Rear Seats
• Fits up to 16 people

This limousine is perfect for 2008 proms, weddings - brides to be, bachelorette parties and more. This is an ultimate party machine on wheels. Proms kids in 2008 will be shocked when renting this 2008 Audi Q7 stretch limousine. Wedding parties will be glad to rent such a cute car. Ladies love Audi - I got to say that.

For more details on this Audi Q7 Limo - click Here

Here are some pictures: