BMW May Ratchet Up Definition Of Luxury Sedan

BMW executives hinted at a new product sitting above the 7 Series luxury limousine. The rumored model has been mentioned in the past few months but different sources with the 8 and 9 Series badge names being thrown around. The flagship BMW aims to compete with the Maybach version of the S-Class offered by Mercedes-Benz.

BMW Blog article here

Keywords

BMW   BMW 7 series   concept car   Maybach   Mercedes-Benz   new vehicles   premium luxury sedans   

 

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Chauffeurs In Driverless Vehicles Could Be Holographic

REMEMBER Johnny Cab, the autonomous taxi in the original Total Recall film? Or the first time we saw Princess Leia in the original Star Wars film?

Somebody at Bentley clearly does, with this sketch hinting at the brand’s far distant driverless cars future clearly channelling some of the same thinking, only with face-to-face seating and for billionaires.

Wheelsmag.com article here

Keywords

autonomous vehicles   Bentley   chauffeur behavior   driverless cars   self-driving vehicles   VIP service   

 

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Cadillac Details 2017 CT6 Plug-In Hybrid Powertrain

The second-generation Chevrolet Volt is important not only as a high-volume plug-in hybrid, but also because components from its Voltec powertrain are designed to be used in other GM models.

Last year, General Motors unveiled the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid, with a powertrain very similar to the Volt’s. Around the same time, it also unveiled the Cadillac CT6 Plug-In Hybrid.

It’s been assumed that this plug-in version of Cadillac’s new large sedan would also borrow heavily from the Volt.

Cadillac has confirmed that it uses quite a few components from the Chevy—but with many changes dictated by its rear-wheel driveplatform and sportier bent.

Green Car Reports article here

Keywords

Cadillac   Cadillac CT6   Chevrolet   Driving Green   electric vehicles   green vehicles   hybrid vehicles   new vehicles   Plug-In Vehicles   

 

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The Gronk Bus & ETS Team Up to Bring the Party to the People

Throughout history buses have served a specific purpose. Sometimes they were used to make a social statement (Ken Kesey’s “Psychedelic Bus”), or to market pop culture (TV’s “Partridge Family” bus), or to educate our children (“The Magic School Bus”). But every now and then a bus comes along for one simple purpose…. to have FUN!

As big and in-your-face as the man who inspired it, THE GRONK BUS debuted several months ago, inviting party-goers to partake of this 25-passenger party-on-wheels. Customized inside and out by the Gronkowski Family, passengers have enjoyed such amenities as two flat screen TVs (43 & 24 inches), ceiling LED lighting depicting a football field, a lighted party wall showing a football scoreboard and the final results of the 2015 Super Bowl, Gronk memorabilia, a bar, restroom, and even a dancer pole. And now the next step in The Gronk Bus evolution has taken place.

In an ongoing effort to make The Gronk Bus as accessible as pushing an app on a phone, the Gronkowski Family has entered into a partnership with ETS International, a leading Boston-based ground transportation company. ETS International will use its advanced technology and 30 years of limousine experience to not only utilize its base of award-winning drivers, but also implement its state-of-the-art customer service technology into making The Gronk Bus’ reservation process as easy and customer friendly as possible.

In making the announcement, Dan Gronkowski said on behalf of the family, “Our goal was always to make The Gronk Bus not only accessible to as many people as possible, but also make that access just a simple app away. With ETS we found the perfect partner, a company with strong Boston roots who not only knows the ground transportation game but a company that has at its fingertips the latest technology our customers need and expect.”

With close to 100 drivers and a fleet of 50 vehicles, ETS International has won numerous industry awards. And according to ETS’ president Johnny Greene, this relationship is another feather in the company’s cap.

“Next to maybe Tom Brady, there’s no bigger personality on the New England football scene than Rob Gronkowski” says Johnny Greene. “We think allowing people to ‘party like Gronk’ is a tremendous idea and we are excited about the role we will be playing in helping to bring the party to the people.”

Adds Rob Gronkowski, “I enjoy surrounding myself with winning players, and ETS International has shown over the years that they know how to do it right!”

For more information about ETS International, and to reserve the Gronk Bus, visit www.ETSIntl.net

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NLA Backs Los Angeles Call for TNC Background Checks

MARLTON, N.J.—The National Limousine Association (NLA) today issued a statement  supporting Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti who called for fingerprint and background checks of TNC drivers following the arrest of an Uber driver for the alleged rape of a passenger in Orange County, Calif., Oct. 24, 2015.The Mayor and two council members called on the state legislator March 17 to require all TNC drivers and limousine services operating in the city to have mandatory fingerprint scans and background checks.

“The NLA applauds the initiative and supports full compliance with the proposed fingerprint-based background check regulations. Furthermore, the NLA challenges Uber and Lyft to follow suit and believes that the adoption of regulations such as these set a vital precedent for ride-hailing services and the “sharing economy” as a whole,” the NLA stated.

“In little more than three weeks(in Kalamazoo and now Anaheim), two Uber drivers have been charged with heinous and severely violent crimes, resulting in six deaths, two counts of assault with intent to commit murder, eight firearms violations and rape,” said  NLA President Gary Buffo. “The NLA supports Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, Council President Herb Wesson and Councilman Paul Krekorian’s call for fingerprint scans and background checks for drivers of all private ground transportation, both prearranged services and ride-hailing apps. Incidents such as these have proven that fingerprint-based background checks are vital to protect passengers, drivers and the public-at-large from harm. We insist that all drivers and operators assume the same level of accountability,” added Buffo.

 

Keywords

CALIFORNIA   city regulations   Gary Buffo   Los Angeles   national limousine association   NLA   Rape   TNCs   Uber   

 

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