Details on President Obama's Cadillac Limousine "The Beast" Surface

Details on President Obama’s Cadillac limo are fairly brief due to security reasons but in a move that throws caution to the wind, the folks at AutoWeek have published details of The Beast from an obviously unnamed source. In the long run, while some foreign terrorist or anti-government whacko might have earned a bit of information on the huge Presidential hauler – the information that has hit the media really just shows how well protected the Commander-in-Chief is when taking a ride in his rolling fortress.

While President Obama’s Beast looks like some sort of Cadillac on steroids with a height, length and width greater than anything in General Motors’ civilian luxury lineup, this vehicle is actually a one-off body on frame construction that relies on the frame of a GM heavy duty large truck – presumably from the Kodiak lineup. The massive Cadillac body was designed specifically for use by the President of the United States and with that position making him one of the least-liked men in the world by some of the most radically insane people in the world, it should come as no surprise that The Beast is covered in military grade armor that is as thick as 8 inches in the doors…doors which are also fit with the thickest and most secure bullet proof glass possible. Next, the President’s Cadillac features an armored fuel tank and bulletproof, Kevlar coated run-flat tires to protect both the POTUSA and ensure his ability to keep moving forward in the event of an attack while a Halon fire suppression system helps keep the President and his men (or family) safe in the event of a large fire.

President Obama’s Cadillac limo features a sealed cabin with its own oxygen system to protect those inside in the event of a chemical attack while an encrypted satellite phone guarantees that the leader of the free world has a constant line of contact with anyone in the world. The Beast also features integrated night vision, a massive arsenal of weapons and an intricate medical equipment package including a collection of the President’s blood for the worst case situation. Finally, the Presidential Cadillac limo is powered by a hefty American V8 that allows this big car to get up and go in a hurry (for a car of this size) while returning roughly 3.7 miles per gallon. Based on that, I’m guessing that the President’s limo doesn’t need to conform to CAFÉ laws like the rest of the cars in the US market. All said and done, the many features of this massive 18 foot long Caddy drive the curb weight up to a whopping 15,000 pounds.

The Secret Service owns and maintains a fleet of 12 Cadillac Beast limos, each of which cost the American taxpayer $1.5 million dollars (a total purchase price of $18 million USD). Each Secret Service member authorized to drive The Beast has been specially trained to drive his 18 foot, 7 and a half ton limo like it is a sports car in the event that he has to rush President Obama to safety while under attack.

Source: Autoweek