GM Debuts Its Presidential Limo for Obama

The Detroit News reports that President-elect Barack Obama's new limousine is an armored Cadillac from GM:

General Motors Corp. recently delivered to the U.S. Secret Service a brand new presidential limousine, replacing the 2006 model Cadillac DTS presidential limousine that President George W. Bush has used.

The new limousine, dubbed the 2009 Cadillac Presidential Limousine, makes its debut on Inauguration Day. It's the first presidential limousine not to carry a specific model name, said GM spokesman David Caldwell.

CNN has video of what it calls "The Beast":

The Associated Press says the Secret Service and GM will reveal more about the custom vehicle's specifications next week.

Comments

[SonyaInTx]

Tell them to please paint the darn thing.

[wakka]

That is just primer anewdayinDC. The car wil be black.

[kellygrrrl]

it's still FUG!

[jOke]

what does FUG stand for?

[anewdayinDC]

I"m not diggin the two tone, but at least he will be safe. That is all that matters.

[KathrynCard]

Being safe is not all that matters. What is most important is that you look sophistcated, stylish, and smart. If you manage that, safety comes along with it. What the dude needs is a classy long low lovely Lincoln limo. This Cadillac looks like a 1950's Soviet Russian ZIL.

[DocJerome]

Diamond in the back, a sun roof-top, diggin' the scene with a gangsta' lean, Ohh, huuu.

The only thing missing are the white walls. The TV antenna preceded WiFi.

[mypov123]

And spinners on the wheels! lol. And he should be rolling on 27 in. rims, I mean he IS the President! LOL.

[Big0725]

Uh-uh! Barack is old school. Why else a Caddy?

No, Doc Jerome has the right idea!

[cjk002]

Did anyone notice that the name of the former secret service agent being interviewed was named Joe Funk?

[DocJerome]

Joe is just givin' up the funk.

[kellygrrrl]

as long as they don't slap on the stripperflaps

[mypov123]

To compliment this post on Obama's new Cadillac, I thought it would be appropriate to share this video, it's hilarious!

It's a "remixed" version of "Reverend" James David Manning's YouTube rant about Obama being a "long-legged Mac Daddy".

Click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQwxzhN2XLg

[Big0725]

Not bad!

[mypov123]

"He's MACKIN'! " lol

[apoyo]

The Barackmobile.

[cjk002]

I like that!

[eden4barack08]

Wait.., that's NOT the final color, is it? Please say NO?

[Big0725]

No. It will still have a few more mods done to it and then get it's final paint. Actually, probably hand-rubbed lacquer.

[anthonylee]

Do the American auto Manufacturer's bid on the contract to provide the Presidential Limo?

There appears to have been both Lincoln Continental and Cadillac Limos in service for presidents Nixon through Bush #41

Has there ever been an Chrysler Imperial Prez. Limo? A stretch 300 wouldn't look too bad . . . .

[Majus]

Yes, there was a Chrysler. If I remember correctly it was during the Eisenhower administration.

[NeoLiberal]

You are correct. He had a couple of different versions of the Chrysler Crown Imperial but was more known for the off-white one. He also road in a Cadillac and a Lincoln too.

This link is to prez limo pics

http://my.net-link.net/~dcline/limopres.htm

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Would it be too much to ask for a hybrid?

[phoffman]

that thing must weigh 10+ tons, no hybrid can do that type of heavy pulling.

[bby328]

paint it green.

[Big0725]

More like 3.5 to 4 tons. I used to fit Suburbans for the State Dept. and got to see some serious crap. They came in at about 9000 lbs. and that was a lot of plain, old fashioned steel panels.

[anthonylee]

Hybrid wouldn't do any good, the "boat" never stops once it gets rolling (40mph min. [city] - I think) . . . stop lights, signs etc. are not observed in a Presidential Motorcade.

Hybrid electric power only kicks-in at idle or possibly cruising speeds. Alternative fuel or Flex Fuel cars don't yet provide the acceleration performance necessary for the "beast" weight.

[1will]

Obama won this election. Maybe he'll get a hybrid before the next election just as he did with this one. He had a Chrysler 300c before deciding a hybrid looks better for Presidental candidates.

[rock2casbah]

There werent any American hybrids sold until very recently, at which point he had one of the first. So you make some facetious ignorant comment aboput his personal car. Geez people are so freakin sarcastic.

[whatawebb]

Just the Facts mam -

Photos show doors that appear to be nearly 8 inches deep, with thick, fixed windows. Only the driver's window has a small slot that can slide open, which we assume is for paying tolls. With so much armor on board, it would be no surprise if GM needed to resort to using the bones of a truck to support the added weight.

A source at one of the world's premier security vehicle manufacturers says that armored cars of this magnitude are capable of withstanding not only armor-piercing bullets, but also attacks from IEDs. A number of electronic countermeasures are known to exist that can do things like jam enemy communications and prevent them from detonating roadside bombs remotely, but many others remain top secret and are available only to customers at the highest levels of government.

[glucoseboy]

....Only the driver's window has a small slot that can slide open, which we assume is for paying tolls....

Somehow I think someone else in the motorcade will pick up the toll for the POTUS.

[bby328]

Did you knot see . . . Blazing Saddles?

[ThePharoahsApprentice]

That's not for paying tolls - states can't tax the federal gov. That's for sticking a gun out of.

[lortosky]

Does the president's limo really have to stop and pay tolls? Doubt it. Can you imagine the whole motorcade lined up waiting dutifully to pay their tolls? Not in a million years. I do wonder what that opening is for, though.

As for the car - I couldn't care less how it looks! If they wanted to drive him around in an ACTUAL tank then I'd be fine with that.

[SpoxLogic]

Read this part: "Can you imagine the whole motorcade lined up waiting dutifully to pay their tolls?" and immediately thought about that scene from Blazing Saddles.

[MizLiz]

Ew!! Looks like it's only got primer....

[Rendon76]

Paint that damn thing please.

[LittlePurpleUSA]

Sean Hannity: "Where are the chrome rims and fuzzy dice?"

[whatawebb]

You forgot the big white wall tires and the leopard skinned Roof

[indypete]

Spinners, man, spinners!

[foomonkey]

is that the new batmobile?

[Freesia2]

I know nothing of cars. I identify them as "black car " "blue car " or "red". ("Green" has taken on a whole new meaning happily) or or "smaller than a big car" or "smaller than a small car" which led to my husband teaching me 2 new words "midsize" and "compact". I'm kidding. Sort of.

My point being that the only word in this that had any meaning to me or importance was "armored". I like the way that sounds. The more armor the better. Keep him safe. If you want to build a moat around it with gators I'd be totally fine with it. Just protect him while he's en route in this "big" "black" car. .