NYC efficiency is not only for cabs, the Big Apple is going to get better limousines as well. At least, that's the plan. The city's entire fleet of roughly 10,000 chauffeured cars, mostly black, would be required to meet fuel efficiency standards, currently attainable with hybrids, of 25 miles a gallon in 2009 and 30 miles a gallon in 2010. The plan aims to cut emissions in half, in part because of the hybrid powertrain benefits of switching off the car's engine at idle.

The plan includes a mandatory requirement to change black cars every six years, in order to ensure that the entire fleet will be renewed by 2013. In order to make things easier for limo operators, the plan would also include incentives like tax breaks and low-cost-financing options to make purchase of new vehicles easier. Some dealers announced special offers and a couple of banks announced good conditions on loans. The city is also asking the state to approve the waiver of sales taxes on purchases of hybrids.

[Source: NY Times via LCT (gracias a David)

TMZ has a short, blurry video of pop star Michael Jackson driving off in a Prius limo. Jacko stepped into the back seat of the regular Prius after shopping at Sharper Image in Beverly Hills Friday. In the last few days, we have written about great firsts like a city fleet that runs biodiesel and a corporation adding hybrids to its trucking fleet. Something tells me this Michael Jackson story has a better chance of getting coverage than those two real stories from the popular media and that's really too bad.

[Source: TMZ]

My, what a big luxury sedan you have.

All the better to drive you with, my dear.

Not that Lexus is a big, bad wolf in any way, but at the Chauffeur Drive '07, they might as well be the only sponsor of the event, because it'll be their show. All the luxury amenities, stylishness, gadgets to make a technophile moist, and the fact that it's a hybrid will make the LS 600h L the couture d'elegance of businessmen and money-pit well-dippers too important or self-important to drive themselves.

The show itself is intended to be the gleeful high point of the year for professional drivers in Europe. It will take place at Surrey's Dunsfold Park, the place where Top Gear likes to play with cars, videotape them and call it work. There will be presentations on all things chauffeuring, from rules and regulations to starting your own company, as well as a used limo lot, where those who attended the latter seminar can purchase their first fleet cars.

Included below is a gallery of the LS 600h L at Hybrid Fest 2007. It was notably imposing but not overstated, and I did like the blue-background Lexus logo, matching the LED headlights. Too bad it was locked with no keys in sight.

By the way, if you're a cabbie, that means you aren't a chauffeur. All it'll take, however, is a little air-freshener, some calmer and safer driving habits, a more strict personal grooming regimen, and a vehicle not swathed in an obnoxious color, and they'll welcome you with open arms at the Chauffeur Drive '08.

[Source: Chauffeur Drive '07]