Chauffeur News

A Grand Year

Phew. We can’t believe it but all good things have to end at some point. 2012 was a spectacular year for iChauffeur and of course Great Britain. A Royal Diamond Jubilee and a truly spellbinding and historic sporting event focused the world’s attention on our Capital city. Engraving the year and the town firmly into the collective consciousness. Surely 2012 will be on our mind’s greatest hits collection. And of course any reminiscing of Twenty Twelve would not be complete with at least a mention of a certain Mr Bradley Wiggins and his grand victories on the continent and on the streets of London. 2012, a grand year to tell the grand children about.

A Great Year

Twenty Twelve marked the 7th year for iChauffeur and our best one to date. No, we probably will not cause any stirrings on the financial markets. Our continuing growth is more organic than that. We like to measure our success using a different metric from most businesses. The quality of our customers is what drives us. It is what helps us attract the best chauffeurs in the business. Last year we were fortunate enough to attract some great new clients, some truly outstanding chauffeurs and also some wonderful new people for our office team. This might not be the success that turns our accountant on but nevertheless our turn over and profit are both climbing nicely, thank you. It is the people we have accrued and retained, both clientele and chauffeurs that make us truly thankful and grateful for 2012.

Ten years of Excellence

Ten years ago, a new era began for one Great British motor car manufacturer. A decade that in many ways could be described as their finest. What makes this chapter even more extraordinary is that the manufacturer is Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. Rolls-Royce is known all over the world for excellence. Over a century of mastery has meant that for many of us the phrase ‘Rolls-Royce’ could be used as an adjective for anything of the finest quality.

A decade ago one fortunate customer took delivery of the very first re-imagined Rolls-Royce Phantom cars to be crafted at the companies state of the art manufacturing plant in Goodwood. Then, 400 employees helped produce one car per day. Ten years on, and with the help of an additional 1000 employees they make 20 cars daily. Henry Ford would not have lost any sleep over these figures. He would have sure have appreciated the quality and craftsmanship though.

Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive Officer of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars said, “The renaissance of the world’s most famous automotive brand and the creation and development of the Home of Rolls-Royce has been an extraordinary and successful journey. I applaud the Rolls‑Royce team at Goodwood and across the world for their passion and together we can look forward to the next ten years with great optimism.”

The future is now

We very much doubt that in 2013, iChauffeur will make it to a centrefold special-edition, pull-out feature issue of Tech Crunch nor will we be noted for our pioneering work in autonomous car development. We are pretty confident that our service will never be truly automatic. Our chauffeurs and office team are our ‘killer app’. Our chauffeurs are some of the nicest people on the planet, they are almost as nice as our customers. Our chauffeurs will never be swapped for robots, our customers would never let that happen.

Thank you

You are the reason our chauffeurs buff their paintwork and gleefully start their engines even on the coldest and darkest of mornings. We had a wonderful 2012 together and are working towards making 2013 even just a tiny bit better. We will continue refining and polishing our service to make it even more bespoke and ever more special, maybe one that could last a hundred years or more, just like our heroes.

We look forward to being of service to you in the coming year and wish you every success for 2013. May it be another Rolls-Royce of a year!

Gosh, what a year we have had! 2012 will be etched firmly in the minds of the British nation as a whole and of course Londoners in particular. Highlights include: H.M The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations and the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. As we approach the twilight of a simply fabulous year it is maybe a good time to think about planning your office party, Christmas travel and of course maybe a little Christmas shopping.

Planning great Christmas travel for your party

You might have been given the task/privilege of planning your office’s Christmas party this year. Don’t panic. There is no need to be a party pooper or a scrooge this Christmas. We can help arrange for all your guests to arrive safely and in chauffeur-driven style to your function.

Hiring a bespoke chauffeur-driven car service might bring out your accountant in a cold sweat, but show her our fixed-price quotation and then factor in; a little peace of mind, your guests well being, safety and of course our chauffeur-driven style. You might even convince her that we offer great value! You know your guests will think so. Your guests will love you.

You can bet when their hangovers have faded, the guests recollections of those delicious vol-au-vents you had especially flown in from Geneva or those cocktails you commissioned to match your companies’ logo or the C.E.O’s tie might not be remembered by everyone. But rest assured, if the taxi didn’t arrive or the cab driver had nuclear-class B.O. they will remember that. They will never forget. They will make your life hell for a whole year if you leave them stranded. They will also think that you can’t value them that much if you send them a vehicle that has done more miles than Voyager 1 or send them a driver that thinks it is acceptable to make a pass or express their bigoted view of the world or even worse your company to your guests!

Keep Calm and Party on!

Impress them with your professionalism, show them a great time and provide VIP class chauffeur-driven travel; they might not thank you for it, but at least you can relax and enjoy the party.

Call or contact us now to book safe luxury travel for your Christmas function.

The Honourable Charles Stewart Rolls was born on the 27th August 1877 the third son of Lord and Lady Llangattock of Monmouthshire. His early death just 32 years later meant that historically Rolls might be unjustly labelled as a mere playboy, fop or dandy. He was certainly born to a world of privilege and wealth but he was never happier than with his sleeves rolled up and covered in grease, which earned him the nickname "Dirty Rolls" or "Petrolls". However he will be remembered for far more than the car manufacturer that he formed and leant his name to.

Rolls graduated from Cambridge, where he studied mechanical and applied science and where he won a Half Blue at cycling in 1898. He started selling imported Panhard cars from his showroom in Fulham, London as C. S. Rolls. Prompted by declining sales he searched for a reliable, high-quality alternative. His quest found him a British self-taught engineer by the name of Henry Royce. On 4 May 1904, Rolls travelled to the Midland Hotel in Manchester to meet with Royce. The meeting ended with Rolls returning to London in a borrowed Royce car, waking Claude Johnson (now known as the hyphen in Rolls-Royce) at midnight and proclaiming to have “found the greatest motor engineer in the world”.

Before this historic meeting Rolls was a fearless racing driver. In his first race in France in 1899, Rolls finished fourth in his class, driving an 8hp Panhard and Levassor. In 1903 he competed in the fateful Paris to Madrid town-to-town, an event which claimed the lives of thirty-four drivers and spectators. He held the unofficial land speed record in 1903 piloting his 80hp Mors to nearly 83 mph along the course in the Duke of Portland’s Clipstone Park.

Rolls was not only a enthusiastic motorist. He was a keen balloonist and an early pioneering aviator.

In 1901, three wealthy motorists, Frank Hedges Butler, his daughter Vera and the Hon Charles Rolls took a balloon flight. Over a glass of champagne, they agreed to form the Aero Club. Uniquely, and probably as a result of Vera’s presence they club was open “equally to ladies and gentleman, subject to election”. Later in 1910 it would become the Royal Aero Club.

Following the formation of Rolls-Royce, Rolls turned his attention to the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy. After frustration in 1905, Rolls returned in 1906 winning in a Rolls-Royce Light Twenty. Upon receiving the news, staff at the Rolls-Royce plant in Derby hoisted Henry Royce aloft in triumph!

Rolls made 160 balloon ascents; won the French Aero Club medal for the longest balloon journey, 1906 (Paris to Shernborne, Norfolk) and was Captain of the London Section of the Army Motor Reserve. However after he was piloted by Wilbur Wright in August 1908 he was profoundly enthralled by heavier-than-air flight:

"The power of flight is as a fresh gift from the Creator, the greatest treasure yet given to man."

Perhaps his most celebrated acheivement was when on the 2nd June 1910 he became the first person ever to fly non-stop across the English Channel and back. Two Frenchmen, Louis Bleriot and Count DeLesseps had already crossed the channel so Rolls helped restore national pride with his 95 minute non-stop flight. He received a telegraph of congratulations from King George and Queen Mary. One newspaper hailed Rolls as ‘the greatest hero of the day’.

By then, Rolls had resigned his position as Technical Director of Rolls-Royce and became devoted exclusively to flying, quipping that he preferred it to driving because "there are no policemen in the air."

Just over a month after the success of his cross channel flight on 12 July 1910, at the age of 32, Rolls was killed in an air crash at Hengistbury Airfield near to Christchurch and Bournemouth when the tail of his Wright Flyer broke off during the Bournemouth International Aviation Meeting in celebration of the town’s centenary.

He was the first Briton to be killed in an aeronautical accident with a powered aircraft, and the eleventh internationally.

Rolls will probably be best remembered for helping to drive the fledging motor manufacturer which bore his name. His demonstrations and promotion of the Silver Ghost in particular, "the best car in the world" helped give Mr Royce the perfect platform for him to create and engineer greatness.

The Honourable Charles Stewart Rolls was a wealthy, 6 ft 5 inch tall man. His business acumen, drive and enthusiasm helped make Rolls-Royce one of the worlds most iconic brands. Even today, 102 years after his death his spirit lives on with the company he helped form. Rolls was classified by a friend shortly after his death as; "the stuff of which the best Englishmen are made". Happy Birthday to the Honourable Charles Stewart Rolls!

The patriotic spectacle of the London 2012 Rolls-Royce Phantoms wafting round the Olympic Stadium was reason enough to start waving ones flag proudly. The memory of which will no doubt recall heady feelings of nostalgia for many years to come. A wonderful reminder of what the British are best at. The engineering prowess of this nation can be under no doubt. Thanks in part to the brilliant, roll-up your sleeves attitude of some of our best innovators. We as a nation can of course be excused a little wistful time. Celebrating the heritage of brilliant engineers like Sir Henry Royce or Isambard Kingdom Brunel is wonderful enough. However to not remember the test drivers, test pilots and of course craftsmen and even the navvies that made these innovative visions a reality would be un-just, and un-British.

The Aviator

After the Honourable Charles Stewart Rolls took his first flight in a Wright Brothers machine in 1908 he said: “The power of flight is as a fresh gift from the Creator, the greatest treasure yet given to man.”

Little did he know that he would lose his life whilst flying one of the Wright Brothers creations less than a year later. However, in this year he became the first person to complete a double crossing of the English Channel on the 2 June 1910 restoring national pride after Louis Blériot became the first person to fly across the Channel in a heavier than air aircraft on the 25th July 1909. Rolls was awarded the Gold Medal of the Royal Aero Club, a club which he co-founded. Within a few weeks the 32 year old aviator would lose his life in an air display at Hengistbury Head near Bournemouth. Another motoring pioneer Lord Montagu of Beaulieu interrupted his speech at the House of Lords to relay the news to the nation. He was the first Briton to be killed in an aeronautical accident in a powered aircraft, and only the eleventh internationally. He died a hero.

It is said that Rolls tried to unsuccessfully persuade Royce to design an aero engine. Years later Royce created an aero engine which one could argue was his masterpiece. An engine so important to the future survival of a nation and empire.

The Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupé Aviator Collection

A nation of course needs its heroes as much as it’s engineers. The few are far between and this new Rolls-Royce car is testament to this. The Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupé Aviator Collection cars celebrate the victorious Schneider Trophy Rolls-Royce S6B powered aircraft with an anodised aluminium transmission tunnel complete with exposed torx fixings and swage lines that echo the oil cooling veins on the S6B fuselage.

These highlights are repeated on collection car armrests.

An aviation grade clock with striking altitude needle help keep the pilot of this beautiful machine in character.

Highly polished, jewel like cup holders provide a little razzle and dazzle.

Painted in Aviator Grey with a contrasting matt bonnet, window and grille surround while inside the reciprocity of wood and metal continue the cockpit inspired theme.

This wonderful design and craftsmanship certainly harps back to a time of magnificent men and their flying machines. But sat on a glistening runway, lavishly dripping with elegant and stylish touches you can not mistake this powerful vehicle for the shed creations of the early avionic pioneers.

However as you put your foot down we are sure you’ll be more than ready for take off. Nostalgia and pride are sewn into every stitch. Knowing that there are only 35 of these magnificent machines on the planet will make the experience even more special.

This car is more of a drivers car than a chauffeurs. But we are proud to be able to offer you the finest chauffeur-driven Rolls-Royce Phantom hire for London and the South of England.

The spectacular London 2012 Olympic Games closing ceremony was by all accounts a fitting, memorable and historic finale. Auto enthusiasts had much to applaud. The ceremony had a real driving theme. Including London Taxis, traditional British sports-cars including: Austin Healey, MG and Sunbeam cars as well as some old Rolls-Royce vehicles. From vintage mod scooters to the exploding Del Boy driven Reliant van there were many interesting and exciting vehicles on display. However three English White finished convertibles were hand built by Rolls-Royce in Goodwood especially for the ceremony and made a tremendous showstopper.

The three Rolls-Royce Phantom Series II Drophead Coupés used were historic for other reasons too. These special motor cars sported newly-designed badges for the first time in Rolls-Royce’s 108‑year history. The new badges replaced the traditional double R-R for the first time since the company started in 1904.

Faster, Higher, Stronger

These bespoke Rolls-Royce cars are likely to become three of the most collectable (and apparently unobtainable) Rolls-Royce cars ever made. The self-righting wheel centres feature the words ‘London 2012’ surrounded by the Olympic motto, ‘Citius, Altius, Fortius’ (‘Faster, Higher, Stronger’).

The badges are complemented by unique tread plates identifying each car as ‘One of Three’.

Rolls-Royce Phantom Chauffeur Car Hire

Unfortunately iChauffeur do not have these particular Phantom Drophead Coupés available for chauffeur-driven hire but we do have the majestic Rolls-Royce Phantom vehicle available for your grand entrance.

The Lord Chamberlain’s Office is currently advertising for a new chauffeur to work under the command of the Head Chauffeur at the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace. The Royal Mews supplies all coaches and cars for State, official and unofficial occasions. The chauffeur will be expected to drive members of the Royal Family, the Royal Household and other distinguished passengers. The Royal Mews also cares for and trains Her Majesty’s carriage horses but the chosen chauffeur is more likely to be driving vehicles from the Rolls-Royce, Bentley or Range Rover stable.

The chauffeur will be required to work 48 hours per week and will expect a starting salary of £23,000. The position includes accommodation. Professional driving experience would be an advantage but ability to deploy tact and diplomacy as well as a full UK driving licence are essential.

Responsibilities include:

• driving members of the Royal Family, Household officials, guests and official visitors as directed by the Head Chauffeur
• assisting in the maintenance of the vehicles within the garage
• assisting with the daily administration and management of the Royal Mews Garage

The applicant must:

• have a full UK driving licence
• have the ability to work effectively within a small team
• have good administration skills, with experience of using email
• have clear communication skills with an ability to deploy tact and diplomacy when necessary
• be motivated and committed to maintaining high standards

The application closing date is August 31st 2012. Read the Job Description.

The Phantom Series II

Sir Henry Royce the founder of Rolls-Royce, who’s unique vision created the most prestigious cars the world, adopted this premise; “to take the best that exists and make it better”. Once again Rolls-Royce are living up to this premise and this week are unveiling the new Rolls-Royce Phantom Series II at the 82nd International Geneva Motor Show 2012. After a 5 year development phase by its new owners BMW, The Phantom Series I was launched in 2003. Although it was, and still remains, a super luxurious vehicle, there were some much needed renovations that Rolls-Royce have now taken on board.

The Phantom Saloon, Phantom Coupé and Drophead family have all had improvements and they all look better after an external makeover. Internally the improvements continue with design enhancements and cutting edge technologies. Torsten Müller-Ötvös, CEO of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars summed this up by saying. “These cars are timeless in their appeal, but technology moves rapidly and we cannot afford to stand still.” He also added; “Today I am delighted to present Phantom Series II, a family of models that feature significant improvements in design, drive-train and technology. As a consequence of these changes, we will continue to present with pride the best motor cars in the world, which re-confirm Rolls-Royce’s position at the very pinnacle of the ultra-luxury goods marketplace.”

New Specifications:

Over the past year at iChauffeur we have noticed an increase in the number of bookings for the Mercedes Viano people carrier. With the Viano’s ability to carry 7 passengers one could assume that companies are utilising the best chauffeur MPV on the market to save on transport costs. Rather than booking a few saloon cars businesses are ensuring that executives are sharing vehicles to minimise their annual fees to the chauffeur industry. The Mercedes Viano is generally priced the same as the S-class Mercedes or BMW 7 Series saloon cars, although they are considerably cheaper to purchase, which means that the Viano is now a very good consideration for todays professional chauffeur.

However the stigma still sticks with the Viano, that despite it’s plush quality leather interior and external smooth looks, that it is still a van and a common question from customers is “Well there must be something else that can carry 6-7 passengers?” but the answer is that there is not anything as smart and luxurious in the people carrier market today. Many executives enjoy the inner space of the Viano to work from and also enjoy the privacy of having the chauffeur sitting quite a distance away from them, unlike the classic saloon cars, where the passenger would sit directly behind the chauffeur. The new face lift model boasts a new suspension with a much better ride and the drive system is clean and economical using BlueEFFICIENCY technology. The new look also “emphasises independent character” Mercedes-Benz say.

The Mercedes Viano Vision Pearl Concept has our blood racing here at iChauffeur as it is exactly this type of concept that will bring the MPV market firmly home for the firm. Sleek and personal design and more of a sporty look is exactly what the doctor ordered and would be welcomed by many. If you are a family with lots of luggage wanting a luxury airport transfer or you are a company that needs to do a corporate roadshow with 4-7 executives the Mercedes Viano is the MPV for the job.

Photos by Will Senior in Richmond Park London.

Chief Executive Torsten Muller-Otvos, who has been with Rolls-Royce’s owner BMW for 23 years, has been be travelling to Brazil and Chile browsing for potential new candidates for dealerships in South America. The Chief executive said ”I think now is the right time to look for some strong partners in South America and that’s what we’re doing. We’ll go in in a small way. It’s a long-term investment but we’re making a commitment now. You plant a seed and then after a couple of years start to harvest it. You can’t rush in this business.” In Brazil, Francisco Longo head of the Via Italia Group, could be the firms future dealer and Peter Aberle from Williamson Balfour Motors, a member of the Inchcape Group could be the future dealer in Chile. Mr Torsten Muller-Otvos, speaking from Sao Paulo, said “I am delighted to announce our plans for entry into the South American market. Brazil and Chile have seen impressive economic growth, with an increasing demand from discerning customers for pinnacle luxury products. Rolls-Royce is growing very successfully in a number of fast-growing emerging markets and it is therefore appropriate that we have a strong presence in Brazil and Chile.”

Torsten Muller-Otvos

Rolls-Royce are widening their luxury car market globally during their Spirit of Ecstasy centenary year and have nearly tripled their sales since the firm launched the Ghost model a few years ago. They have enlarged their factory at Goodwood in West Sussex where they now employ just under 1000 workers. The US and China are their two top markets with Britain in third place, due to a large amount of Chauffeur vehicles here. Two years ago Rolls-Royce had around 70 dealerships, with 6 here in the UK, and now globally the firm are looking at around a 100. In China there are currently 8 dealerships with a further two due by the end of the year. There is a new showroom in Paris as well as offices in Dubai, Beijing and Singapore and of course the US.

Rolls-Royce Ghost

In Germany, due to sales of the new Ghost, Rolls-Royce have sold as many cars in 7 months to July as it sold in the whole year of 2010. At £100,00 less than the prestigious Phantom model the Ghost is described by Mr Muller-Otvos as “The more subtle way to own a Rolls-Royce”. In it’s 107 year history Rolls-Royce are steaming ahead despite the world economy.

iChauffeur are delighted to offer chauffeur-driven Rolls-Royce Phantom cars and Phantom wedding car hire across London and the South East of England.

Porsche Panamera LWB for the Chauffeur Market

Porsche are currently working on a long wheelbase version of the Panamera for the chauffeur market for 2012. Their aim for the 4 door sports saloon is to satisfy customers in north America and China but it will also be available in Europe. The vehicle will be extended by around 150mm, stretching the Panamera to make it suitable for the rear sitting fast paced business person. The diesel version will be a 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 letting go of 246bhp, and with an 80- litre tank, it will offer a superb range of 745 miles with a combined fuel economy of 43.5mpg, very impressive for the chauffeur market in the UK.

With a cost of around £62,000 this puts the Panamera in line with the new cost of the Mercedes S-class and the BMW 7 series. The S-class Mercedes in comparison has a wheelbase of 3165mm and the Panamera will have approximately 3040mm. More importantly, all of the added wheelbase length will be incorporated into the rear section with a longer rear door and aperture, easier for passenger rear seat accessibility. The Panamera chauffeur car will incorporate an eight-speed Tiptronic S gearbox and will of course be rear wheel drive. The Panamera Diesel will arrive at 62mph in 6.8 seconds and boasts a top speed of 150mph.