History of the Limo

For people who enjoy traveling and luxurious comforts - and who does not? - there is no more luxurious and comfortable way to travel than by limousine.


The word "limousine" was coined from a region in France that used to be called “Limousin.” Apparently, somebody thought that the hoods worn by people in that area looked similar to the profile of the car. So the car was called a "limousine."


Historically, the limousine is defined as a "chauffeur-driven luxury stretch car." It is, in fact, a stretched version of the big sedans. However, while sedans have two rows of front-facing seats and extra space for more passengers at the rear, limousines have much longer frames and wheelbases, and so, provide a significantly greater room between the front row where the driver is, and the second row for the passengers.


This extra space gives the second-row passengers much more leg room. In fact, there is such a wide space between the driver and the passenger rows that often, rearward-facing jump seats can be mounted behind the front row so that the second-row passengers can have face-to-face conversations. The rearward-facing seats can be folded up when they are not needed. In newer limousine models, however, these rearward-facing seats are becoming less and less common.


In order to make it easy for passengers to access the rearmost seats, limousines typically have extra side doors, as well.


Limousines characteristically have glass panels that slide between the driver's area at the front of the car and the passengers' area behind it. The purpose of this glass panel is to prevent the driver from overhearing the private conversations of his distinguished passengers. Should the passengers wish to speak with the driver, they can slide the glass panel away, or they can use an intercom system.


Though it is not so obvious now, the early limousine models were in fact based on horse-drawn stagecoaches and tried to combine the functionality of a bus with the comfort of a sedan. Despite its presently more aristocratic air, the modern limousine still retains - but improves upon - the vision of its predecessors: It promises greater comfort than the average sedan, and it is able to accommodate more people. For all its style and pageantry, it is still, at heart, a well-cushioned bus.


The Hummer limousine, for example, claims to fit at least 24 people comfortably within its 38 feet length - twenty-four people, or an indoor jacuzzi.


Really, some modern limousines have an identity crisis. Carrying everything from refrigerators, full-stocked liquor bars, and even complete home theaters, they are evolving from luxurious buses to luxurious moving vans. The keyword is "luxury."


Because limousines make traveling so comfortable, many people choose it for a wide variety of occasions. It can be used for special events, like birthdays, engagements, weddings, or funerals. It is used also for more whimsical occasions, like night clubbing, holiday partying, and city tours. Some people consider it the most stylish way - and therefore, the only way - to travel to and from the airport. There are people who even use their limousines simply to go to the shopping mall.


Who can blame them, after all. There is simply no more comfortable way to travel than by limousine. It makes you feel like you never left home - except it feels better.


Find great New Jersey limos, NYC limousines as well as New York limousine services online and you would surely have a great time traveling and hitting the road.

About the Author

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