Una limusina tal como se conoce hoy en día, es un coche de lujo alargado. La carrocería, habitualmente de color negro o blanco, puede haber sido ampliada por el fabricante o por un mecánico independiente. La primera limusina alargada fue creada utilizando un Lincoln Continental en 1954, considerándose un récord en los vehículos de transporte de lujo. Hoy en día las limusinas son conducidas normalmente por chóferes y hasta mediados de los noventa fueron asociadas frecuentemente a los millonarios. Se usan también para ocasiones especiales como bodas, fiestas o turismo. Aunque algunas limusinas son propiedad de particulares, muchas los son de gobiernos con el fin de transportar políticos importantes, de grandes compañías para llevar ejecutivos o de medios de transporte para los invitados. Muchas limusinas, sin embargo, operan como vehículos de alquiler, compitiendo con las diversas empresas de taxímetros. La palabra Limusina (Limousine) proviene de una palabra francesa para una prenda de vestir en forma de capucha que utilizan los pastores para protegerse de la lluvia y el frío.

Leer el artículo completo en Wikipedia · CC-BY-SA

A limousine (or limo) is a luxury sedan or saloon car generally driven by a chauffeur and with a partition between the driver and the passenger compartment. Limousines often have a lengthened wheelbase. Although usually associated with luxury vehicles, the word "Limousine" is also simply a generic term in some countries for a standard sedan bodystyle. It was originally an enclosed automobile with open driver's seat. It is named after a type of cloak and hood that was worn by the inhabitants of the Limousin region that later resembled the covering of a carriage and much later used to describe an automobile body with a permanent top that extended over the open driver's compartment. In modern use, a limousine is a luxury sedan or saloon car, especially one with a lengthened wheelbase or driven by a chauffeur. The chassis of a limousine may have been extended by the manufacturer or by an independent coachbuilder. These are called "stretch" limousines and are traditionally black or white. Limousines are usually liveried vehicles, driven by professional chauffeurs. As the most expensive form of automobile ground transportation, limousines are culturally associated with wealth or power and are commonly cited as examples of conspicuous consumption. Among the less wealthy, limousines are often hired during special events (most commonly weddings, proms, and bachelor parties). While some limousines are owned by individuals, many are owned by governments to transport senior politicians, by companies to transport executives and guests. Most stretch limousines, however, operate as livery vehicles, providing upmarket competition to taxicabs. Builders of stretch limousines purchase stock cars from manufacturers and modify them, and most are in the United States and Europe and cater mainly to limousine companies. Few stretch limousines are sold new to private individuals. In addition to luxuries, security features such as armoring and bulletproof glass are available.

Leer el artículo completo en Wikipedia · CC-BY-SA