The Beast goes wherever the United States president travels. So whether or not Barack Obama follows protocol and hops into his Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjee’s ride to head out for the Republic Day parade, the potently-luxurious limousine will be around the corner.
Barack Obama's Cadillac Limousine car nicknamed 'The Beast'. The cars security and coded communications systems make it the most tec advanced protection vehicle in the world. The car is one of a small fleet of what is believed to be no more than 25 presidential limos GM built for Obama administration. 'The Beast' is armour-plated, eight inches thick and heavier than a cabin door on a Boeing 757 jet. A lock safety mechanism seals off the car like a bank vault in case of an emergency. There is a combination of dual hardness steel, aluminium, titanium and ceramic to break up possible projectiles. A reinforced five inch steel plate runs under the car for protection in the unlikely event of a bomb placed underneath.
The Built in
Limo One is believed to weigh between seven and eight tons, and it rides on a GM medium-duty truck chassis propelled by a diesel engine. The body is sheathed in military-grade armor as much as 8 inches thick on the doors (each of which weighs as much as the cabin door on a Boeing 747). The armor reportedly is a mix of dual-hardness steel, aluminum, titanium and ceramic. The windows are ballistic glass said to be 5 inches thick, and theres probably a woven Kevlar mat covering the floorboard to protect the car.
High-Tech Security Features
The cabin is believed to feature a sealed air recirculation system to protect its occupants from chemical attacks. It seats four passengers with a glass partition - only Obama has a switch to lower it. Windows are larger than on previous presidential cars and a panic button has been installed for Obama to summon help. Obama's seat has an executive package featuring a foldaway desktop, laptop computer with wi-fi, state-of-the-art satellite phone and a direct line to the vice president and the Pentagon.
Equipped With Weapons
It is equipped with night vision cameras and pump action shotguns and armed with tear gas cannons. Bottles of president's blood is kept on board in case he needs an emergency transfusion. Armour-plated and filled with a specially designed foam which prevents it from exploding even if it suffers a direct hit. Kevlar reinforced, shred- and puncture-resistant with steel rims underneath enabling the car to escape at speed even if tyres are blasted away. The car runs on 19.5-inch Goodyear RHS tyres (same as super tough trucks.
Windows: The windows on Obama's limo are reportedly 5 to 6 inches thick, bomb-proof, and can withstand armour-piercing bullets. Compared to previous versions of the presidential limos, this newer model has more window space providing better outward visibility. The driver’s window is the only window that opens, at only 2.75 inches, so the driver can speak with secret service agents outside the vehicle.
Doors: The doors, which were seen both in photos of the vehicle leaked prior to Inauguration Day and afterwards on the finished product, are armour-plated and 8 inches thick–three inches thicker than President Bush’s limo doors. These doors are the same weight as a Boeing 757 cabin door. An additional safety feature includes steel overlaps between the seams to protect against bullets entering in the space between the doors and body.
Interior: The interior of Obama’s limo is rumoured to be completely sealed in case of a chemical attack. Another safety feature that may possibly be included on the car is a lock-safety mechanism that, in case of emergency, seals off the entire car similar to how a bank vault can be locked during a robbery.
Driver: Obama’s driver is not just a regular chauffeur, but a CIA agent specially-trained for situations ranging from driving during challenging situations to regular types of mechanical break-downs as well as how to handle any emergency that may come up. The driver also has access to helpful equipment such as a communications system and GPS unit in his compartment.
Fuel Tank: The limo’s fuel tank is armour-plated to help repel bullets. As a second line of defense, similar to what race cars use, the fuel tank on Obama’s limo is filled with a special foam that prevents it from exploding even if it sustains a direct hit.
Defense equipment: There are several pieces of defense equipment rumored to be on board. Night-vision cameras, pump-action shotguns, and tear-gas cannons are among some of those weapons speculated to be included. If Obama is injured during an attack while in the car, there are supposedly bottles of the president’s blood in case he needs emergency transfusions. Additionally, the trunk houses an emergency oxygen supply and firefighting equipment.
Chassis: The car, commonly known as Cadillac One, but nicknamed by the Secret Service as The Beast, is thought to be based on a Cadillac DTS when it comes to style, but may be built on a truck chassis in order to support the weight of the car and all its special equipment. There is also speculated to be a reinforced, 5-inch steel plate that runs underneath the car in the event that a bomb is placed there.
Passenger section: The area in which Obama and any of his approved guests ride is a space of both security and luxury. This section generously seats four and includes a glass partition that can only be opened by President Obama as well as a panic button for summoning help. While riding in the limo, Obama can still work and stay connected safely on his fold-away desktop that includes a laptop with secure Wi-Fi capabilities and a satellite phone with a direct line to the Pentagon and the Vice President.
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