Cadillac introduces the new presidential limo

[Intrepidation]

President Obama will inherit a lot of things when he takes the oath of office on Tuesday. So good, some... not so good. And while his new digs on Pennsylvania Avenue are the same as his predecessors, his ride has been thoroughly refreshed for the 21st century.

With fuzzy spy photos of the new presidential limo out in the open and Obama's inauguration less than a week away, Cadillac has finally released official photos of the Command-In-Chief's new ride. As expected, the new limo inherits Cadillac's current front- and rear-end design cues, but the overused fender vents on civilian Caddies are notably -- and thankfully -- absent. The back compartment where our new CIC sits is equipped with all the communications gear needed to stay in touch, and while we're picturing a few LCD screens, lots of buttons and a big red phone that silently rises from the center console, all we can do is imagine.

As expected, Cadillac hasn't released much in the way of details about what's underneath and inside the behemoth for security reasons. But speculation says that some of the General's heavy-duty truck platforms are used to support the immense mass of armor carried by the Cadillac Presidential Limousine. Of course, GM put out a press release that covers a few of the Caddy's features and includes a brief history of the automaker's involvement with shuttling Presidents around since World War I. Check it out after the jump, along with an unauthorized illustration of what you could find inside -- assuming your Secret Service application wasn't denied.

Source: Autoblog

PRESS RELEASE

An American Tradition Continues: New Presidential Era Begins With a New Cadillac Presidential Limousine

President Obama to Christen New Car at Jan. 20 Inaugural Parade

WASHINGTON – As Americans celebrate the inauguration of a new president of the United States next week, another new Cadillac will grace Pennsylvania Avenue to lead the proceedings. President Barack Obama will ride in an all-new Cadillac Presidential Limousine, continuing a long tradition of Cadillac limousines that have served many U.S. presidents.

"Cadillac is honored to again provide a new Presidential Limousine," said Mark McNabb, North America vice president, Cadillac/Premium Channel. "This is a great American tradition that we're delighted to renew with an all-new car featuring the best of Cadillac's dramatic design and technology."

The image of an American president greeting crowds from a Cadillac limousine dates to President Woodrow Wilson and the early days of the automobile, and continues into a historic new era. The latest Cadillac Presidential Limousine is a completely new design, succeeding the DTS Presidential Limousine that debuted in 2004. The new car incorporates many of the dramatic design and technology features of new and highly acclaimed Cadillac vehicles in a purpose-built format tailored to specific and exacting specifications befitting presidential transport.

Inside and out, the Cadillac Presidential Limousine includes many of the brand's signature design elements. Assertive, modern and elegant, the front of the car includes the intricate, dual-textured grille made famous by Cadillac's most popular current models, the CTS sport sedan and Escalade. Vertical design elements, such as the car's front and rear lighting, mirror those used on production models.

For largely functional reasons, such as optimal outward visibility, the car is slightly more upright than its predecessor. However, this new Cadillac Presidential Limousine occupies roughly the same overall footprint on the road as the previous model, with a similar size and proportion.

The side and rear profiles of the new Presidential Limousine are classic, elegant forms, evocative of Cadillac's STS and DTS luxury sedans. Inside the cabin, the car includes the finest examples of Cadillac's recent renaissance in design, technology and craftsmanship. The cabin blends modern design and technology with old-world craftsmanship. Major aspects of the cabin are cut and sewn by hand, the same process used in popular Cadillac models such as the CTS sport sedan.

Naturally, many purpose-built aspects of the car are specially designed and prepared for presidential use. The rear passenger area includes an extensive executive compartment with ample seating space, outward visibility and useful mobile office features.

The car was designed, developed and tested by specialists who adhered to an extensive set of specifications. It was subjected to an extreme testing regimen to ensure performance that achieves precise functional requirements. In doing so, security provisions were undertaken at all times during development to ensure the car's functional capabilities are preserved and confidential.

An embroidered presidential seal is positioned in the center of the rear seat back panel, as well as on each rear door trim panel. Presidential seals are also affixed to the exterior rear doors. The U.S. flag is placed on the right front fender, and the presidential standard is located on the left front fender when the president travels in the vehicle. High-tech LED spotlights illuminate the flags at night.

History – Cadillac and the U.S. Presidency

Cadillac has built limousines and special vehicles for U.S. presidents, diplomats, ambassadors and foreign dignitaries since the early 20th century, an iconic aspect of the brand that continues today.

Cadillac's central role began during World War I, when many Cadillac engines and cars were transferred to military and government service because of their superior durability and power. One of the first chief executives to use a Cadillac was President Wilson, who rode through the streets of Boston during a World War I victory parade in 1919. A lavish 1928 Cadillac town car was used in the Calvin Coolidge administration.

In 1938, two Cadillac convertibles, dubbed the "Queen Mary" and "Queen Elizabeth," were delivered to the U.S. government. Named after the great ocean liners of the time, the vehicles were 21.5 feet long, weighed 7,660 pounds and were equipped with a full ammunition arsenal, two-way radios and heavy-duty generators. Durable and reliable, the two "Queens" served Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman and Dwight D. Eisenhower.

President Eisenhower, known as a car buff, rode in one of the first Cadillac Eldorado models ever produced during his 1953 inaugural parade. The Eldorado represented a high point in automobile design history, as it had the first wraparound windshield, a feature quickly adopted on other new production models.

In 1956, the Queen Mary II and Queen Elizabeth II convertibles replaced the original series. The vehicles were slightly smaller, but like their predecessors, were fully armored and featured state-of-the art communications. Moreover, the vehicles were fitted with narrow rims inside the tire in case the tires were shot out. The Queen Mary II and Queen Elizabeth II served not only President Eisenhower, but also Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. Both vehicles were retired in 1968.

The Ronald W. Reagan administration was delivered a 1983 Cadillac Fleetwood limousine and a Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham – Presidential Series was delivered to the William J. Clinton administration in 1993. Unlike previous models that typically were Cadillac cars adapted and modified by independent limousine companies, the 1993 Presidential Brougham was designed, developed and manufactured totally within General Motors and Cadillac. This included an extensive set of security measures to maintain confidentiality, a process that continues today.

Currently, the 1983 Cadillac Fleetwood limousine resides at the Ronald W. Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley, Calif., while the 1993 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham is at the Clinton Presidential Center in Little Rock, Ark.

Cadillac has produced two presidential limousines this decade that remain in service. The first was a Deville Presidential model delivered to President George W. Bush in 2001. In 2004, President Bush debuted a new DTS Presidential model. It was the first application of a new design that launched later that year for the production DTS full-size sedan.

[David]

Thanks for Posting this, I really like this Version so much better than what Bush rolled around in. Hopefully Obama will get the next one to in 4 years.

Gotta love american built Auto!.

If the GOP had their way, they would have killed this company and then probably gone to Mercedes and asked for a armored limo. Just what we need, our President being driven around in a foreign made auto.

Awesome Job GM, Keep it up.

[Intrepidation]

Mercedes? It would probably be a Lexus.

[Drew Dowdell]

The president's laptop won't have Wi-Fi. He's not even allowed to keep his blackberry.

[Robert Hall]

Thanks for Posting this, I really like this Version so much better than what Bush rolled around in. Hopefully Obama will get the next one to in 4 years.

Gotta love american built Auto!.

If the GOP had their way, they would have killed this company and then probably gone to Mercedes and asked for a armored limo. Just what we need, our President being driven around in a foreign made auto.

Awesome Job GM, Keep it up.

I'm still surprised Bush didn't get an armoured HUMMER for his limo in '04, being the 'war president' and all...

[Robert Hall]

Thanks for Posting this, I really like this Version so much better than what Bush rolled around in. Hopefully Obama will get the next one to in 4 years.

Gotta love american built Auto!.

If the GOP had their way, they would have killed this company and then probably gone to Mercedes and asked for a armored limo. Just what we need, our President being driven around in a foreign made auto.

Awesome Job GM, Keep it up.

I'm still surprised Bush didn't get an armoured HUMMER (with 'Don't Mess With Texas' and 'Exxon' bumper stickers) for his limo in '04, being the 'war president' and all...

[gm4life]

It is nicer than the DTS Bush had in 2005. It looks pretty good aside of the tires that are too large. At least the fixed the wheel openings. Note the Goodyear Regional RHS tires, it is a GM medium duty truck underneath with a 6.6L Duramax I am willing to bet paired to a six speed Alison automatic. Still I like it alot.

Edited January 14, 2009 by gm4life

[Justin Bimmer]

This is basically a hummer limo with the truck chassis and the diesel engine. This car is way cool! :sign0200:

[Intrepidation]

I bet Sixty8 would dig it.

[Robert Hall]

I bet Sixty8 would dig it.

Doubt it..too many fixed pillars..

[Intrepidation]

Doubt it..too many fixed pillars..

3 of his 4 cars have fixed pillars. :wink: In fact, the only one that doesn't is his wife's.

[Satty]

Driver's Window:Tough enough to withstand armor-piercing bullets. The only window that opens- by just three inches- so the driver can pay a toll or talk with secret service agents running alongside

Really? The President of the United States doesn't have E Z Pass?

Edited January 15, 2009 by Satty

[FUTURE_OF_GM]

Thanks for Posting this, I really like this Version so much better than what Bush rolled around in. Hopefully Obama will get the next one to in 4 years.

Gotta love american built Auto!.

If the GOP had their way, they would have killed this company and then probably gone to Mercedes and asked for a armored limo. Just what we need, our President being driven around in a foreign made auto.

Awesome Job GM, Keep it up.

Meh, they would just justify it with the bullsh*t yuppie speech about "None of us are actually americans, we all came from somewhere."

[Robert Hall]

Really? The President of the United States doesn't have E Z Pass?

Or maybe it's for fast food..though will this limo be able to make the turn in the McDonalds drive thru?

[Robert Hall]

3 of his 4 cars have fixed pillars. :wink: In fact, the only one that doesn't is his wife's.

hmmm...good point.

[Robert Hall]

Meh, they would just justify it with the bullsh*t yuppie speech about "None of us are actually americans, we all came from somewhere."

heh-heh....the countries my ancestors came from either don't build cars or build cars made by companies they don't own.

[62impala]

Ugh, not much of a fan; maybe it will grow on me, but right now I think the current DTS based Cadillac One is much better looking; it looks like a car, not some parts-bin half Escalade, half STS amalgam...

Also, the wheels totally suck; they couldnt use some nice 20 inch starburst type Escalade wheels?

Seriously, this thing is butt-ugly.

I'm all in favor of removing all hints of the Bush administration, but this just does not do it for me at all. Actually, now that I think about it, Joe Biden will probably get the current DTS model, so he'll have a nicer car than his boss...

Edited January 15, 2009 by 62impala

[Intrepidation]

Just realized:

For that angle it looks kinda like a 300C limo with Cadillac tail lights.

[Camino LS6]

Nowhere near as ugly as the last one.

But

Still mighty ugly.

[Intrepidation]

Can somone find and post some decent pictures of the current one to compare?

[62impala]

Can somone find and post some decent pictures of the current one to compare?

Pics of the current model are all over.. wikipedia under Cadillac One or Presidential Limo ---

I'd paste them here if i knew how ----

The current car is a bit lower to the ground, and has a true DTS front end clip and rear end treatment -- it looks like a Cadillac. This new one does not look like a traditional Cadillac vehicle (which it isn't, come to think of it).

I just think the current one looks better.

[hyperv6]

Wow! A pillars nearly as big as my HHR's!

[Intrepidation]

Pics of the current model are all over.. wikipedia under Cadillac One or Presidential Limo ---

I'd paste them here if i knew how ----

The current car is a bit lower to the ground, and has a true DTS front end clip and rear end treatment -- it looks like a Cadillac. This new one does not look like a traditional Cadillac vehicle (which it isn't, come to think of it).

I just think the current one looks better.

I know they are I just didn't feel like looking.

[Chris_Doane]

With fuzzy spy photos of the new presidential limo out in the open and Obama's inauguration less than a week away, Cadillac has finally released official photos of the Command-In-Chief's new ride.

Fuzzy? My photos are never fuzzy.

[SAmadei]

I kinda like it. It would be nice if the general public could buy one... well, without the anti-tank missile and heavy armor. Light armor would please me just fine for the drives though Newark.

OTOH, I have to ask... does this meet CAFE? Well, the president should set a proper example and it should!

[gm4life]

I kinda like it. It would be nice if the general public could buy one... well, without the anti-tank missile and heavy armor. Light armor would please me just fine for the drives though Newark.

OTOH, I have to ask... does this meet CAFE? Well, the president should set a proper example and it should!

Hell no but anything for Obama. It is the beauty of politics talk out of both sides of your mouth. Having said that democrat or republican the president should be kept safe and this kind of vehicle is needed. It is just a shame the US goverment doesn't want us to have them.

Edited January 15, 2009 by gm4life

[toesuf94]

Personally, I don't care for the cars looks...but it is the nicest car ever given to a Kenyan that I have ever seen.

[BrewSwillis]

Where are the spinners??

:rotflmao:

I keed, I keed

[carman21]

Thanks for Posting this, I really like this Version so much better than what Bush rolled around in. Hopefully Obama will get the next one to in 4 years.

Gotta love american built Auto!.

If the GOP had their way, they would have killed this company and then probably gone to Mercedes and asked for a armored limo. Just what we need, our President being driven around in a foreign made auto.

Awesome Job GM, Keep it up.

Keep your ignorant political comments to yourself, this is a automotive blog not a political blog. Besides the Democrats are just as guilty as Republicans in this cabal against or domestic industries and companies.

Please consider blogging at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ if you must have a political rant.

That being said, I don't like the new front grille, I wish it had the old grille or the CTS' grille.

[Justin Bimmer]

Keep your ignorant political comments to yourself, this is a automotive blog not a political blog. Besides the Democrats are just as guilty as Republicans in this cabal against or domestic industries and companies.

Please consider blogging at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ if you must have a political rant.

That being said, I don't like the new front grille, I wish it had the old grille or the CTS' grille.

I hate to hijack this thread, but there is another comment that I think is a bit political as well that you conveniently left out about the car being given to a "Kenyan". If you are going to object to political comments, object to all of them.

[Croc]

I'm so glad somebody else asked about the spinners. I'm just shocked at the lack of bling. C'mon, here was a real opportunity!!

[Satty]

DONK IT!

[toesuf94]

I hate to hijack this thread, but there is another comment that I think is a bit political as well that you conveniently left out about the car being given to a "Kenyan". If you are going to object to political comments, object to all of them.

Prove that he is NOT a Kenyan and I will gladly retract the statement. He has NEVER proven his provenance, which begs the question of WHY he refuses to prove he was born in the USA or a U.S. held territory or military base or to two U.S. Citizens. why?

Still, getting back to the car (which is the topic of this thread); not an elegant design from any angle. Guess it has to be that way to stop bombs and bullets. Glad we care enough to keep whomever is the President safe.

"DONK IT!""- LOL! :rotflmao:

[Satty]

His birth certificate has been passed around. Several media outlets (including some of those crazy fringe-right ones) have verified that its legit and he was born in Hawaii.

[carman21]

I hate to hijack this thread, but there is another comment that I think is a bit political as well that you conveniently left out about the car being given to a "Kenyan". If you are going to object to political comments, object to all of them.

Very true I didn't see that one, now that the election is over we need to get back to talking about cars.

Edited January 16, 2009 by carman21

[Drew Dowdell]

Hell no but anything for Obama. It is the beauty of politics talk out of both sides of your mouth.

It's a Duramax, it could probably run biodiesel.

[Drew Dowdell]

Prove that he is NOT a Kenyan and I will gladly retract the statement. He has NEVER proven his provenance, which begs the question of WHY he refuses to prove he was born in the USA or a U.S. held territory or military base or to two U.S. Citizens. why?

You can't prove a negative, thus your logic is flawed.

Prove that Saddam didn't have WMDs at the time of the invasion. You can't do it. You could only prove that he did.

When Barack Obama Jr. was born on Aug. 4,1961, in Honolulu, Kenya was a British colony, still part of the United Kingdom's dwindling empire. As a Kenyan native, Barack Obama Sr. was a British subject whose citizenship status was governed by The British Nationality Act of 1948. That same act governed the status of Obama Sr.'s children:

British Nationality Act of 1948 (Part II, Section 5): Subject to the provisions of this section, a person born after the commencement of this Act shall be a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies by descent if his father is a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies at the time of the birth.

In other words, at the time of his birth, Barack Obama Jr. was both a U.S. citizen (by virtue of being born in Hawaii) and a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies (or the UKC) by virtue of being born to a father who was a citizen of the UKC.

As a citizen of the UKC who was born in Kenya, Obama's father automatically received Kenyan citizenship via subsection (1). So given that Obama qualified for citizen of the UKC status at birth and given that Obama's father became a Kenyan citizen via subsection (1), it follows that Obama did in fact have Kenyan citizenship after 1963. So The Rocky Mountain News was at least partially correct.

Kenya recognizes dual citizenship for children, but Kenya's Constitution specifies that at age 21, Kenyan citizens who possesses citizenship in more than one country automatically lose their Kenyan citizenship unless they formally renounce any non-Kenyan citizenship and swear an oath of allegiance to Kenya.

Since Sen. Obama has neither renounced his U.S. citizenship nor sworn an oath of allegiance to Kenya, his Kenyan citizenship automatically expired on Aug. 4,1982.

[Intrepidation]

Facts are so overrated.

[gm4life]

It's a Duramax, it could probably run biodiesel.

Very true, another reason I love HD Chevy Trucks. Either way Obama gets a sweet ride. Lucky guy.

[Chris_Doane]

It's a Duramax, it could probably run biodiesel.

Actually it's not. Apparently..

[Satty]

My sources tell me its powered by Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive.

[toesuf94]

You can't prove a negative, thus your logic is flawed.

Prove that Saddam didn't have WMDs at the time of the invasion. You can't do it. You could only prove that he did.

Not to get into a pissing match with anyone, but how about the following facts?

http://skylla2012.wordpress.com/2009/01/07...-hussein-obama/

[Satty]

An op-ed piece with no sources hardly qualifies as "facts."

However, the U.S. Supreme Court denying a last minute appeal by a guy who said Obama was a British subject is fact.

The L.A. Times has his birth certificate.

Good god the right is rediculous. He was elected, he'll be sworn in in less than 23 hours and he'll be the President of the United States of America for the next four years, at least.