SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine -- In a society where bigger is better, the latest limousine is in a category all its own. The gargantuan Hummer H2 is more than 30 feet long and can seat about 20, dwarfing classic limo models.

The massive machines are all the rage, from the Viper Room in Los Angeles to the Salt Water Grille in South Portland.

"They are the 'it' vehicle for the younger crowds," said Sara McLean of Limousine & Chauffeured Transportation magazine.

The move toward stretch SUV limos began about six years ago. The Hummer H2 raised the bar for bling when it rolled out a couple of years ago. Sales peaked last year, McLean said.

In Maine, Lilley's Limousine was first to buy one of the Hummers, which cost $115,000 -- almost twice the cost of a sedan-based limo. Lilley's is 32 feet long -- double a regular Hummer's length -- and it's wide enough to have a center aisle with seating on each side.

"It's a beast," said Dan DeCosta, one of the Lilley's owners. Gas mileage also is beastly: eight miles per gallon.

AP

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