A new category was introduced for the 2010 Professional Driver Car of the Year Awards– Bespoke Vehicle of the Year, covering specialist chauffeuring and limousine vehicles such as stretch limousines and van conversions.
The 2010 winner was the Grand Illusion Limousine Bus, based on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. It features a customised interior, complete with neon lights, large-screen television, minibar and colourful, fun upholstery.
Limousine buses present a viable alternative to American stretch limousines – and one that meets with approval of licensing agency VOSA, as the base vehicles have full volume type approval. Mark Bursa said: “We haven’t seen a limo bus as well executed as the Grand Illusion, the first winner of our Bespoke Vehicle of the year award.”
Runner-up was the Carisma Viano V1 Corporate – a Mercedes-Benz Viano with a bespoke interior, luxury reclining seats, hand-stitched headliners and big flat-screen TVs. Sturdy fold-out tables can turn the car into a mobile boardroom. Tinted windows mean the occupants are out of sight of prying eyes and lenses.
In third was the Icon Demon stretch limousine – which shows how to make a stretch limousine for the 21st century. Tougher VOSA rules mean any new limousines with up to eight seats had to have IVA and SVA approval in order to go on sale in the UK – and the Dodge Charger-based Icon Demon complies fully with these rules. Factor in much improved fuel economy over older stretches and the car makes a lot of sense.
A total of 33 cars were entered for the Professional Driver Magazine Car of the Year Awards, which were judged by more than thirty judges from the chauffeuring and private hire sector and the motoring media.
Other category winners were: Jaguar XJL (Chauffeur car of the Year), BMW 530d Grand Turismo (Private Hire Vehicle of the Year), Skoda Superb Estate (Private Hire Vehicle of the Year), and Ford Galaxy (MPV of the Year). The Jaguar XJL won the overall Professional Driver Car of the Year Award for 2010.
