Protest Mob Burns Limousine After Inauguration

Nearly 100 people have been arrested in Washington, D.C., so far, hours after Donald Trump was sworn into office on Friday, according to CNN. Following the inauguration, violent protests broke out as protesters smashed windows and set trash cans and a limousine on fire.

Variety article here

Keywords

Donald Trump   limousine fires   stretch limousine   Washington DC   Washington DC operators   

 

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Bus Permits For Jan. 21 Women’s March Grows

About 450 buses have been registered for city parking permits for Inauguration Day, and about four times as many have been registered for parking the next day, the day of the Women’s March on Washington, according to city officials.

Washington Post article here

Keywords

buses   charter and tour operators   Donald Trump   motorcoaches   Washington DC   

 

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President Trump Will Temporarily Use Obama’s Limo

Instead of riding off in an all-new limousine, Trump had to use the old Cadillac-branded, GM truck-based “Beast” that’s been in service for the last several years. According to Jalopnik, “an industry source with knowledge of the situation” revealed that Trump’s new limo is “supposed to come later this year.”

Road and Track article here

Keywords

armored vehicles   Donald Trump   Presidential limousines   unique vehicles   

 

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Two New Jersey Bills Could Help Limo Industry

PRINCETON, N.J. — Gearing up for a new year of regulatory action,  the Limousine Association of New Jersey (LANJ) held its general membership meeting Jan. 16 updating members on 2017 industry-related legislation.

LANJ President Jason Sharenow (Broadway Limousine) and Pete Corelli, (Lakeview Custom Coach), both members of the LANJ legislative committee, explained two transportation bills sitting on the Governor’s desk and another fight brewing with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

The long battle with transportation network companies (TNCs) has come down to a bill sitting on Governor Chris Christie’s desk, the outcome of which is “up in the air,” Sharenow told members. The bill, which will regulate TNCs statewide, contains new rules and criminal background checks — but excludes mandatory driver fingerprinting, which LANJ and taxi associations had lobbied hard to include in the bill.

“Fingerprinting is the gold standard that’s used in New York City, why should New Jersey be exposed to anything less than that?” Sharenow asked. 

Although LANJ is pleased TNCs will finally have to obey stricter regulations, Sharenow said the group has been “aggressive in keeping the pressure up and fingerprinting does have bipartisan support in the Senate and Assembly.” He hopes the state attorney general will acknowledge fingerprinting is the true gold standard for legitimate background checks and not relent to the TNCs’ claim of bias and discrimination.

Another bill waiting to be signed into law is a repeal of the 7% state sales and use tax on limousine company services. The sales tax — which taxis and TNCs do not have to pay — was cited as unfair by LANJ, supported by the state legislature as burdensome, and is expected to be repealed by the governor.

Regarding another looming battle, Corelli told members the word is out that the port authority is kicking around a proposal to implement a pick-up fee at Newark Liberty International Airport.

Corelli said the legislative committee, which includes Jon Epstein of Royal Coachman, is monitoring any potential fee for the industry. He reiterated: If not for the financial support of LANJ members, the two bills sitting on the governor’s desk would not have come about.

“We didn’t just tag along on these bills; we created these bills working with the taxi association and lobbying the legislature, and that’s because members supported the PAC and we need you to continue supporting our legislative efforts,” he added.

Keywords

Jason Sharenow   Jon Epstein   LANJ   limo associations   Limousine Association of New Jersey   new jersey   New Jersey operators   Pete Corelli   state regulations   TNCs   

 

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Anti-Trump Protesters Block Uber Headquarters

Protesters chained themselves to the front doors of Uber’s offices in San Francisco as Donald Trump was inaugurated on Friday, San Francisco local media reported. Employees were reportedly unable to enter the building, which also houses payments company Square, through the front door.

CNBC news item here

Keywords

California operators   Donald Trump   San Francisco operators   TNCs   Travis Kalanick   Uber   

 

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Toronto Operator Emphasizes Occasions

TORONTO, Canada — Birthdays, bachelor/bachelorette parties, and nights on the town; limos aren’t just for getting to the airport or an important meeting. Some customers still crave transportation that’s classier than an Uber X Ford Fiesta for leisure runs or special events. Ash Fadil, owner of Party Bus Toronto, still sees big potential in luxury retail chauffeured transportation.

Making Memories

One of the concepts Fadil tries to embed in company culture is how the operation often works with clients on their special occasions. “Granted, some people rent limousines on a regular basis, but for many others, renting a limo or party bus is something they think of and plan for, for a very long time,” he says.

Party Bus Toronto provides transportation on some important days of people’s lives, such as weddings and proms. “I like to think what makes us unique is we realize we do not provide an ordinary service because we are used only on days that are extraordinary!” Therefore, they must meet customer expectations when booking a ride for memorable life events.

That being the case, maximizing customer satisfaction is a must. For example, they provide a few extra features for weddings such as a red carpet the chauffeur puts out for the bride and a complimentary bottle of champagne. “It really goes back to understanding that while it may be a routine day for us, it could be the most special day of our client’s lives. When you comprehend this and come from that perspective, providing the best customer service comes naturally.”

Overcome And Move Forward

As with any business, Party Bus Toronto faced some challenges in the beginning. You must persist in overcoming such obstacles, Fadil says. “Once you rise above that initial resistance, then it’s possible to run a much smoother operation.”

One lesson he learned is hiring great people who can make your life much easier. “I wish there was a step-by-step method or magic formula to finding great staff, but unfortunately there isn’t,” he says. “You just have to have great people skills and really try to understand the other person during the interview; you have to try to figure out whether they will fit within the company culture or not.”

This also means at times someone perfectly qualified for a position may not be the right fit. Fadil suggests considering not just on a person’s skill sets, but personality type as well.

When the company hires a new chauffer, one who is more experienced will go with the chauffeur for the first run. Fadil wants to make sure everyone is comfortable and understands what they must do to provide the best service possible. To ensure this, he equips chauffeurs with written procedures on customer service, particularly for weddings.

Future Proof Fleet

Party Bus Toronto was started in 2011 when Fadil had completed some other businesses ventures and was looking for a new challenge. After examining a number of industries, he found himself attracted to luxury ground transportation.

“I see a tremendous potential for growth because society is always advancing,” he explains. “Fifty years ago, a limo ride was a once in a lifetime opportunity for someone. Today, it’s something people might do on a monthly basis or for events like birthdays; events that didn’t really make use of limousines before are now doing so.” Fadil saw this trend continuing in the future, and decided to buy a few limousines and start his operation.

When selecting vehicles, he looked at the history of chauffeured transportation trends. Limo buses haven’t been common in the last 10 years, and most weddings required stretches. This soon transitioned to larger, SUV-style limousines, then Hummer limos, and now party buses. “Limo buses are becoming more luxurious on the inside, so there is room for innovation,” he says.

Now, with a fleet of 14 vehicles, he has tried to cover the entire array of luxury vehicles. These include stretch limousines suitable for 10 passengers, as well as large party buses that can carry 40 or more. They have an array of SUV limos, like the Lincoln Navigator. “One of the unique vehicles we have is a Ford F650 dubbed the ‘Hummer Killer.’ It’s wider on the inside and provides a more relaxing and comfortable ride for our customers.”

What’s Next?

Fadil is proud of the fact his company is one of the largest limo and party bus businesses in Toronto, the largest city in Canada, and is excited for what the future will bring. He plans to add vehicles and would like to expand their limo bus selections to accommodate a wider audience and improve capacity and availability, especially during spring and summer.

For operators interested in gaining more party bus business, he advises: “Just start. It’s important to plan, but when the time is right, action is the key to success.”

Keywords

bachelor parties   Canadian Operators   Ford   Hummer   limo buses   Lincoln   Lincoln Navigator   party buses   prom   retail markets   special events   stretch limousine   SUV limousines   WebXclusive   weddings   

 

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Peer-to-Peer Groups Help Solve Financial And Business Problems

With names like Wheels in Motion and Global Partners, groups of operators gather to focus on the challenges within their markets. These so-called “20 groups” generally consist of about 20 operators gathered based on similar fleet sizes, revenues, and job positions.

Some groups consist exclusively of affiliate managers, while others are made up of owners or general managers. Other groups are organized by operators who add affiliates or friends. And a third type is organized by companies such as Driving Results, a business owned by Arthur Messina, best known for his 30-year industry career running Create-A-Card, a marketing company. 

Messina contracts with operators and former operators to facilitate the groups and spark conversations about challenges they face. Members share their perspectives on issues and offer peer-to-peer advice. The groups meet in various cities around the nation offering operators a chance to participate in onsite visits with other ground transportation companies. 

While the groups are visible on social media for their team-building events, local tours, and dinners, the meetings typically run all day and focus on learning, sharing, and critiquing each other. Each member signs a non-disclosure agreement swearing them to secrecy as no subject is off limits from accounts receivable balances to financial health of the companies, hiring and training matters, and just about anything else.

Below are some of the critical challenges impinging on operators’ bottom lines:

1. Recruitment Challenges

The biggest challenge facing most operators isn’t the TNC issue itself, but the competition that narrows the availability of qualified chauffeurs. From New York to Los Angeles, Tucson to Charleston, simply finding chauffeurs to interview, let alone hire, has turned into an ordeal. Operators collectively blame this on shrinking profit margins limiting how much pay and benefits they can offer.

 TNCs contribute to this problem as chauffeurs have defected to Uber and Lyft to get more hours, be their own bosses, and work when they feel like it. Operators have shared their sources of recruitment including Craigslist, Ziprecruiter, LinkedIn, and even Facebook. While Craigslist is a free service, the level of quality falls below that desired by most operators. Operators have dismissed Monster.com across the board as being too expensive. 

 LinkedIn has been determined to be a place where mostly professionals visit to look for professional jobs requiring a college degree. In a recent group meeting, operators shared moderate success working with military recruiters or “family readiness” units of the military to offer employment to service personnel returning to civilian life. All agreed these recruits appear clean cut, are usually squared away, and have no problem following orders. However, once they get acclimated back to civilian life, they are likely to jump ship or use their military education benefits to return to school.

 Another possible source of potential chauffeurs is Services Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE), a non-profit group that connects retired executives with businesses seeking business advice from experts who have retired from their fields of expertise, but desire to stay active through volunteer work. Other sources include police and fire union hall bulletin boards to advertise for part-time or event work. Retaining employees is also a problem. One creative operator in the Los Angeles area has enjoyed success by providing employees with a new car. The operator shared his cost information: $250 per month for the lease of a brand new Honda. Leave the company, give up the car. While it might seem unconventional, the fact is, the cost equates to about $62 per week or less than $2 for each hour worked.  

2. Accounts Receivable Challenge

The second biggest challenge is collecting money from corporate clients after service is delivered. While most operators have shed the practice of invoicing clients since the recession of 2008, some corporate accounts still must be billed for one reason or another. Some small- to medium-size operators have reported carrying accounts receivable balances of $70,000 as an average debt, with some of that amount in the 90-120 day columns.

When profit margins are 7% or less, it is nearly impossible for small operators to enjoy the fruits of their labors as they are using their profits to pay for fuel, payroll, and insurance premiums of jobs completed long ago but not yet paid for. While cash flow can appear to be positive by constantly collecting old debt, the cost of inflation diminishes the value of the money by the time it is received. A $3 per hour net profit earned 120 days ago will buy less when it is received due to inflation.

If the operator raises his prices, TNCs look more appealing to clients, yet TNCs don’t invoice. Operators worry about taking any actions that might make their corporate clients rethink their relationships. They are literally scared to eliminate the practice of invoicing for fear a client will find someone else who will invoice them. While $3 per hour isn’t much, a corporate client who uses 50 hours of service monthly is worth $1,800 towards the annual bottom line profit.

3. The On-Demand Challenge

The Internet has changed how consumers shop. From booking hotel rooms to ride reservations, we have become a “now” society. We want to buy laundry detergent online at 3 a.m. if that’s convenient. TNCs have created a convenience by being ready at any time. For operators trying to keep up, this means having staff on-call around the clock at great expense hoping an order will come in, or developing a robust system of independent operators spread across a metro region such as New York City ready to go on a moment’s notice. For operators who established their businesses years ago on a pre-arranged basis, the challenge of adapting to on-demand has been a struggle. Combine this with the lack of qualified chauffeurs to hire, the challenge is a painful one to most operators trying to run with the pack.

4. The CDL Challenge

Hiring a chauffeur with a basic driver’s license is tough. Hiring one with a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) is even harder. Operators in focus groups have shared frustrations as they seek to differentiate themselves from TNCs by modifying their fleets to include shuttle buses, limo buses, charter buses, and other specialty vehicles TNCs lack. These vehicles require specialized licenses to operate. CDL drivers are in such demand they command salaries of $70,000 or more to start. To add more frustration, many operators report their insurance companies won’t allow them to hire CDL drivers without a minimum of two years of prior experience. This means even if an operator asked the placement coordinator of a commercial driving school, a recent graduate could not be hired. 

5. The Insurance Challenges

Insurance represents the biggest operating expense today. The costs of vehicle insurance, worker’s compensation, and liability insurance are suffocating operators everywhere. Many carriers who once provided coverage for the industry have bailed out. This has created a haven for the remaining carriers to gouge operators with limited options for shopping. The insurance companies dictate the way companies run and insist operators with party buses force people to sit down while the vehicle is moving.

This diminishes the value of party buses equipped with entertainment poles, enhanced sound systems, and custom lighting. Many operators report their insurance carriers refuse to include party buses on policies rendering them useless. If they do cover them, the insurance premiums are so high the cost exceeds a tolerable hourly charter rate.

Group Participation Benefits

By participating in focus groups, operators gain more information about the issues they face and realize they are not alone. They learn new ideas and form stronger affiliate bonds by getting to know each other. Operators swap tips about fuel programs, GPS systems, software systems, and just about every aspect and nuance associated with running a ground transportation company in a competitive marketplace.

— Jim@LCTmag.com

Disclosure: Contributing editor Jim Luff, who ran a limousine company for 25 years, is a part-time group facilitator for Driving Results. Jim@lctmag.com

Keywords

20 Groups   Arthur Messina   continuing education   Driving Results   employee recruitment   How To   industry education   insurance rates   on-demand service   recruiting chauffeurs   

 

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Airbnb Attracts Illegal Hotel Operators Renting Out Multiple Units

A significant portion of Airbnb’s revenue comes from full-time renters acting as illegal hotel operators, according to a study funded by the American Hotel & Lodging Association.

Business Travel News article here

Keywords

business travel   hospitality   hotels   illegal operators   leisure travel   on-demand service   

 

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Tristar Worldwide Wins 2016 Buying Business Travel Awards

LONDON — Tristar Worldwide won the award for “Best Ground Transportation Company” at the 2016 Buying Business Travel Awards.

The Buying Business Travel Awards have been running for over 20 years, showcasing the best of the travel industry’s leaders and their corporate clients. The results were announced at a gala dinner on Jan. 18 at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House Hotel on Park Lane, hosted by comedian Hugh Dennis.

Tristar Worldwide Chauffeur Services, with North American operations based in Boston, was ranked No. 2 on the 2015 LCT 50 Largest Fleets List. The company is led by CEO Dean DeBeer in London and North Americas CEO Michael Fogarty in Boston.

The independent judging panel is made up of senior business travel buyers across various sectors, who review the applications and determine the winners of one of these highly-coveted industry awards.

The judging panel said of Tristar, “This was deemed to be a first class entry. We liked the global coverage, the Platinum service guarantee, impressive accident prevention measures using innovative technology, and some good CSR credentials, including its Sustainability Charter and initiatives.”

Anthony Withers Green, Director of Global Business at Tristar Worldwide, said: “We are delighted to have won this award. It reinforces our credibility as an industry-leading global chauffeur service provider, and it’s fantastic that our first class service has been recognised with this award. Thank you to everyone at Tristar for providing a consistently high level of service for all of our clients.”

Source: PRNewswire press release

Keywords

British limousine companies   business travel   honors and awards   operator achievements   Tristar Worldwide Chauffeur Services   United Kingdom   

 

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Does Uber Discriminate Against Wheelchair Clients?

Disability rights advocate Dustin Jones filed a complaint Tuesday with New York City’s Commission on Human Rights alleging that Uber discriminates against people with disabilities, according to a BuzzFeed News report.

Jones also included video footage of a driver rejecting him because his car wasn’t big enough to fit his wheelchair, which wasn’t foldable.

The Week article here

Keywords

ADA   lawsuits   legal issues   New York City   New York operators   TNCs   Uber   wheelchair accessible vehicles   

 

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New TEMSA TS 35E Mid-Coach Ready For Debut

Keywords

buses   CH Bus Sales   mid coaches   motorcoaches   new vehicles   TEMSA Global   vehicle debut   video   

 

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Uber Scores A Super Bowl First

Uber is reportedly plunking down as much as $500,000 to become the exclusive ride-hail service of Super Bowl 50, according to Quartz. As part of the deal, Uber will have its own pick-up and drop-off zones at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. Other app-based car services, like Lyft, will not be allowed at the Super Bowl.

The deal is a first for Uber, which has been barred from operating at previous Super Bowls because of traffic restrictions or rules imposed by the host cities. Thanks to the sponsorship deal, as well as the game’s proximity to Uber’s San Francisco headquarters, the company will have unfettered access.

TheVerge.com article here

Keywords

California operators   on-demand service   San Francisco operators   special events   Super Bowl   TNCs   Uber   

 

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Accubuilt Announces Solution To Fix Recalled Stretch Limos

LIMA, Ohio — After a deadly accident and the subsequent recall of certain limousine models, a Lima vehicle manufacturer has found a possible solution to the problem.

Though Accubuilt, with a plant in Lima, didn’t make the faulty vehicles, it has dealt with the litigation, recall and solution.

The recalled vehicles were made in Springfield, Missouri, by DaBryan Coach Builders, before Accubuilt purchased DaBryan in 2005 and moved it to Lima.

Lima News article here

Keywords

Accubuilt   coachbuilders   DaBryan Coach Builders   limousine fires   stretch limousine   vehicle recalls   

 

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Uber Accounts Worth More To Criminals Than Credit Cards

Cybercriminals don’t care that much about your credit card number anymore.

Uber, PayPal and even Netflix accounts have become much more valuable to criminals, as evidenced by the price these stolen identifiers now fetch on the so-called “deep Web,” according to security company Trend Micro.

CNBC article here

Keywords

criminal incidents   customer service   data security   fraud   passenger safety   TNCs   Uber   

 

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Former Disney Executive, ChangeLabs CEO To Keynote LCT Show

LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Doug Lipp and Peter Sheahan, two dynamic experts in leadership, customer service and organization motivation strategies, will be the keynote speakers at the 2016 International LCT Show Feb. 29 — March 2 at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino.

Doug Lipp has spent 25 years working from the front lines to the boardrooms of corporations around the world. He worked at Disneyland providing the well-known “Traditions” orientation program and other leadership courses. One of the many pivotal moments in Lipp’s career with Disney came in the mid-1980s when the corporate culture changed from “we’re the best, why change?” to “don’t rest on your laurels.” In addition, Lipp was part of the start-up team for Tokyo Disneyland, working in Japan for two years creating Disney’s first international theme park. Lipp has authored six books including his most recent, “Disney U,” which tells the inside story of Disney’s training and orientation programs that provides lessons for how any company can motivate and train employees to succeed in the global marketplace.

Doug Lipp will speak Wednesday, March 2 from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Info: www.lctshow.com.

Peter Sheahan, a successful entrepreneur, is CEO of ChangeLabs, a global consultancy that focuses on behavioral change projects for clients such as Apple and IBM. Throughout his career, Sheahan has worked with some of the world’s leading brands, including Google, News Corporation, Harley Davidson and GlaxoSmithKline.

As a global leader, Sheahan’s insight into business trends and the changing needs of customers and staff have made him a regular presenter on Fox Business, ABC and BBC. He is the author of six books including the international bestseller “Fl!p” and “Generation Y.” His most recent release, “Making It Happen,” unpacks his insights on the execution of ideas through focused business growth, understanding buying behavior and compelling market positioning.

Peter Sheahan will speak Monday, Feb. 29 from 3:15 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. Info: www.lctshow.com.

Keywords

ILCT 2016   industry education   keynote speakers   Las Vegas   limo tradeshows   Sales & Marketing   staying competitive   tradeshow preparation   

 

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The Continental Returns: Lincoln Revives its Flagship Model

Lincoln Motor Company unveiled its 2017 Continental on January 11 at the 2016 North American International Auto Show, which the company will begin selling in America and China this fall.

The return of the company’s flagship full-sized sedan brings with it a “thoroughly modern” new design that intends to appeal to “culturally progressive clients who define luxury on their own terms,” according to a Lincoln media release.

“The Continental name has long been associated with the ultimate in Lincoln beauty and luxury,” Kumar Galhotra, president of Lincoln, said in the media release. “With the all-new model, we are focusing on creating more human, personally tailored experiences for our clients – providing what we call quiet luxury.”

Understated elegance certainly resonates with the Continental’s brand history, and while the 2017 model is “brimming with luxury features,” according to an NAIAS press release, Lincoln has managed to marry contemporary wow-factor with low key luxury with this revival.

Elegant Design Features

A stand-out design feature of the new Continental is the “Lincoln Embrace,” which illuminates a brand-exclusive flowering sequence of LED signature lighting in the lower front fascia, rear tail lamps and headlamps when it detects a driver approaching. Mat lights also brighten the ground area around the front doors to improve ease of entry, and interior lighting aims to create a warm welcome to passengers.

“This car greets you as you approach it,” Galhotra said in the NAIAS press release. “As you get near it, this car comes to life.”

An abundance of other contemporary technological features enable a customized experience, including “Perfect Position” seats inspired by private jets and high-end office furniture, which can adjust to a passenger’s body shape and weight, provide a massage, heating, cooling, independent thigh extensions for additional support, and can be adjusted up to 30 different ways.

“It fits you like a fun suit,” Galhotra said in the press release.

Heated, cooled and massaging seats are also available in the rear, as are audio and climate controls and sunshades. Moreover, “the streamlined interior provides generous rear legroom,” according to the media release.

Door handles are built cleanly into the belt line and come equipped with E-latch electronic door releases, which pop open the doors with the touch of a button and use power-cinching technology to automatically close them.

Additional design features include an available panoramic sunroof that almost spans the entire roof, the front half of which slides up and over the rear; a customizable instrument panel; and three exclusive Lincoln Black Label designer interior theme options, which utilize unique woods, leathers and other luxury materials. All models feature new design details, including couture-like seat stitching and laser-cut center console door slats.

“This car greets you as you approach it,” Galhotra said in the NAIAS press release. “As you get near it, this car comes to life.”

Optimized For A Quiet Ride

A quiet and “serene” interior is an important element to the design of the 2017 Continental, according to the media release, and the model is thus equipped with several features aimed at optimizing the sonic experience of the ride.

First, 20-inch foam-lined tires are available to reduce noise from the tire cavity by as much as seven decibels. In addition, acoustic-laminated side glass helps insulate the interior cabin from exterior noise from the road and wind.

Very notable is an Active Noise Control feature that listens for undesirable noise throughout the cabin using microphones, produces opposing sound waves through the speakers to cancel them out, and at the same time enhances desired sounds.

Finally, the Revel speaker grilles are designed to produce optimized sound quality — the result of developers testing 200 different designs, according to the media release.

Performance And Safety Enhancing Technology

While Lincoln has loaded the new Continental with technologies aimed at enhancing the luxury aspects of the vehicle, a variety of technological features also aim to improve performance and safety.

The base engine will be a 3.7-liter V6 with standard front-wheel drive and optional all-wheel drive, and probably around 300 horsepower, followed by a 2.7-liter twin-turbo V6, also with front-wheel drive standard and all-wheel drive optional, according to Consumer Reports.

The top-level vehicle’s new brand-exclusive 3.0-liter V6 engine with twin turbochargers produces an estimated 400 horsepower and 400 lb.-ft. of torque, and “is designed for smooth, responsive, yet quiet power,” according to the media release, and an optional all-wheel-drive system comes with “Dynamic Torque Vectoring,” which automatically transfers torque between the rear wheels for improved stability when turning corners.

Also designed to improve handling is an adaptive steering feature called “Lincoln Drive Control,” which provides three settings – comfort, normal and sport – to tailor steering and suspension for improved steering response. “Advanced sensors in the continuously controlled damping system monitor the road 23,000 times per second and automatically adjust to provide a smooth and comfortable ride.”

To assist with parking and maneuvering in tight spots, a new 360-degree camera system seamlessly combines images from four cameras mounted in the grille, deck lid and 180-degree side mirrors for an overhead view of the vehicle. Several other technological features are useful for driving in stop-and-go traffic, including “Auto Hold,” which keeps the vehicle at a complete stop without the need for a driver to keep his foot on the brake, and adaptive cruise control, which automatically slows the vehicle in traffic, resumes higher speeds when it clears, and can even activate the brakes if the driver fails to brake in time.

In terms of safety, a feature called “Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection” scans the roadway ahead using radar and camera technology, and warns the driver if it detects a collision risk. However, if the driver does not respond in time, this feature can apply up to full braking force automatically to help prevent some frontal collisions or reduce their severity.

Similarly, a lane-keeping system is available, which alerts the driver if the vehicle is drifting from the driving lane and applies steering torque to help direct it back into the appropriate lane. Finally, SYNC 3 technology allows the driver to make calls, play music and read texts in the center display without the need to take his hands off the wheel.

An Upward Trend in Luxury For Ford

Mark Fields, CEO of Ford, said Lincoln is steadily making progress in the luxury vehicle market, with global sales up 17% last year and plans for 60 Lincoln dealerships to be operational by year’s end, according to the NAIAS press release.

“2016 will be an inflection point for Lincoln. It is the largest ever portfolio for the brand,” Fields said in the press release. “With the Continental, we are delivering the last of the four new [Lincoln] products that we promised.” The 2017 Lincoln Continental will be produced at Flat Rock Assembly Plant in Michigan, and will be available for purchase in the fall of 2016.

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 Written by Adam Leitenberger
Associate Editor & Digital Media Manager
adam@limodigest.com

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