Operators whose companies are set up on location-based social networking sites likes Foursquare can build brand recognition in their local markets and create incentives to generate repeat riders.
Here's how.
Read full story
Operators who have had celebrities, professional athletes, politicians, high-powered executives or other VIPs as their clients are well aware of the challenges of protecting their privacy while chauffeuring them around, especially with trigger-happy paparazzi all over the place. Well, a solution may finally have arrived.
Read full story
With nearly 95% of the legroom and MORE headroom than the Town Car Executive L, the Royale-built Hybrid L Fusion was a nice ride from O’Hare to Downtown Chicago.
Read full story
New software uses smartphone cameras to predict the timing of traffic lights and advise drivers on adjusting their speed.
Read full story
Early estimates place the upcoming Audi A8 hybrid at 37 mpg – far above the Mercedes-Benz S400 hybrid’s 19-city/25-highway mpg, BMW ActiveHybrid7i’s 17/24 and Lexus LS600h L’s 19/23.
Read full story
With its 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine, the two-wheel-drive Ford Explorer gets 28 mpg on the highway.
Read full story
A sneak peak of Tesla’s Model S prototype cruising around a test track, and a new study on electric-car GHG emissions with surprising results.
Read full story
If an accident is caused by an employee’s cell phone use, employers are liable for the resulting damages and may even be liable for workers’ comp.
Read full story
Digital Drama: A birthday celebration is marred by a computer disaster.
Read full story
Cloud computing is a major technological breakthrough because of its potential to save costs and reduce the hassle of having in-house computer servers. It would also allow companies to access and use back-office software from anywhere, as the cloud can host business documents, files, and accounts, among other things. But just how safe is your data in the cloud?
Read full story
V-6 WILL BE THE NEW V-8? Just as health and nutrition improvements can make age 60 feel like the new 40; 50 as the new 30, etc., the concept can be applied to engine power. A recent LCT test of the Lincoln MKS proved this point; we at first thought we were driving a V-8, but it was a V-6 with EcoBoost. Ford Motor Co. this month
details its new engine, transmission, and powertrain advances, which point to a future of enhanced performance via efficient and smart technologies. -- Martin Romjue, LCT editor
Tesla Motors' all-electric Model S Sedan offers “luxurious space, seating for five adults and two children, and a second cargo area under the hood,” all of which come on top of the fact that the car uses zero gas and releases zero emissions.
Read full story
NEXT-GEN S-550: The industry's premium luxury sedan will undergo key technological and stylistic changes for the
2013 MODEL YEAR. Luxury vehicles keep getting better and more efficient, so we may not be headed into a smaller vehicle world after all. -- Martin Romjue, LCT editor
Thanks to the wonderful technology of today, businesses can automate processes to become more efficient and cut costs, which is particularly vital in the current economic climate. But technology only goes so far, right? There are certain things that a computer can never do, like drive a car, right?
Read full story
With most of my friends partying to commemorate Cinco de Mayo (doing business as Cinco de Drinko) and bombing my phone with text messages about how lame I was for staying home and having an early night, I wondered how many of them were riding with a designated driver and how many planned to drive themselves home...
Read full story
Developed by former Dutch astronaut Wubbo Ockels and former BMW-Williams Formula 1 team aerodynamics expert Antonia Terzi, the Superbus is constructed with ultra-light carbon fiber material and is powered by an electric motor backed up by lithium polymer batteries. The project began in 2004 and has thus far cost around $19 million. The interior features television, internet access, and air bags fitted for each passenger.
The developers said the Superbus is likely to go into service in the United Arab Emirates if it passes government inspections. -- Michael Campos, LCT assistant editor
OCTOBER LCT:
By now, you should have your copies of the October issue of LCT Magazine and realize we've devoted pages of ink and paper to the latest technology trends, products, and services. Of course, we can get away with that since we've also featured several articles on LCTMAG.COM, with more to come later this month.
The first round of FEATURED ARTICLES include:
A TECH PRODUCT SAMPLER; why GPS IS FOR EVERYONE; the TOP 5 TECH MISTAKES that operators make; and how to SAFELY GO ZOOM.
The relevance of technology was brought home during the LCT Leadership Summit last week where I hosted a technology panel with experts from Event Ground Global, ZoomSafer, EnterpriseGPS, and the ever-present LIMOS.COM. The point being that technology has become so cheap and accessible, you can't do without it if you want to survive and get out ahead.
We've also posted a new WEB POLL QUESTION, and are expecting a last minute wave of OPERATOR OF THE YEAR submissions, due Oct. 15. And it's never to early to get ready for the global industry extravaganza of the year: the 2011 INTERNATIONAL LCT SHOW.
-- Martin Romjue, LCT editor
SAY HELLO TO I-DRIVE X1: In January, I called upon technology entrepreneurs to bring a product to market to serve an industry abruptly abandoned by DriveCam. The product has arrived!
Read full story
INDUSTRY PLUG?
The New York Post couldn't have run a better "AD/PROMO" for the luxury limousine and black car industries.
Tip to the NYTLC: A good chauffeur knows how and when to safely use a Bluetooth/hands-free phone. -- M.R.
DONE DEALS? Price conscious shoppers using multiple online limo finder services can cost you big money to get the sale as you pay for the same lead to multiple brokers.
Read full story
HIGH-TECH SOLUTIONS: Technology can help a fleet stay up to date and span the generations of clients, as this
Indiana operator shows.
BAUER'S INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION of San Francisco has carved out a cutting-edge niche with its Wi-Drive WiFi equipped luxury commuter motorcoaches, which are a success among Bay Area commuters wanting to work on the way to and from work while being a bit greener. The service is featured in today's Wall Street Journal under the headline Hailing A Luxury Ride To The Office.
SERVICE ENHANCEMENT: As the chauffeured transportation industry increasingly invests in more sophisticated technologies, will
Wi-Fi service in vehicles become the next major amenity for traveling clients? Some U.S. companies have experimented with varying degrees of success, but operators find most clients either prefer talking on cell phones, don't have the time on short runs to use the Wi-Fi, and/or use individual connectivty solutions such as broadband cards in their laptops. -- M.R.
DRIVE AWAY CAM: Whether by design or via a business model that wasn’t very well thought out, DriveCam has made it clear they don’t want to do business with our industry.
Read full story
INFO MINING: There are
MANY WAYS TO MARKET when you have a solid database of customer and potential client contacts. It's all a matter of asking the right questions and tracking the answers through sophisticated software.
LEARN about one of the unsafest uses of technology behind the wheel. . .
Read full story
CHAUFFEURED FUTURE IS HERE: At least in the San Francisco Bay Area, where operator Gary Bauer's Bauer's Intelligent Transportation is wowing clients with the cutting edge combo of: 1) Greener group ground transportation; 2) Technical offerings and conveniences that make a bus ride better than a plane trip. LATEST PROFILE HERE.
PREVIEW: October is technology month at LCT Magazine, and although we are combining our October and November print issues this year, there's no reason to wait on technology information that can help you better run your business. See posted monthly features below.
Read full story
The New York Times reported this week that new technology in LED lighting is intriguing lighting designers. LED’s have long been used in limousines for twinkle ceilings and other star like effects. The new technology OLED’s create light in sheets rather then points and can even be made flexible. The new technology when integrated into limousine interiors will take designs to the next dimension. Visionaries may be even able to create rolling advertisements in light for companies within the window panes. OLED technology is currently being used in cell phones. The panels are only .07 of an inch thick and give off very little heat. Keep your eye on new designs of limousines coming out at the 2010 ILCT show for integration of this new technology. Which manufacture will be the first to bring it to life? Be there to see.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/07/technology/07bulb.html?th&emc=th
MULTI-TASKING = MANGLED RESULTS: With cell phones, IMs, Blackberrys, and laptops available to stay plugged in 24/7, who's got time to just focus on one thing at a time? Actually, the truly successful businesspeople do. The rest allow technology to make them think they can do it all while in reality coming off as hopeless half-taskers.
This online column by a veteran Southern California
businessman and entrepreneur offers some helpful advice. -- M.R.
WEB NEWS: Here's the latest on LCT's website LCTmag.com:
-Three new important industry channel pages are starting up: Finance & Insurance, Technology, and Driving Green, and more are in the works.
-eTrader will soon be added, and is a great place to purchase and market chauffeured transportation vehicles.
-Visit the website for daily news (especially on Wednesday when the weekly Driving Force e-newsletter goes out, and which has been getting really good in the past month) and regular feature article additions.
-Take the Web Poll and give LCT timely feedback on industry issues of great concern.
-Ask Dr. Limo to cure fleet maintenance and repair problems giving you a headache.
-See photos from LCT events (some cool ones from the Vegas show are up now) and links to all of these exciting upcoming destinations.
-A section on LimoCentric (which you should know something about, being here now).
-Links to important industry associations for chauffeured transportation and charter and tour operators (recently added).
Some of this you can see now, some will be taking shape soon. -- Jon LeSage