Obama’s Car
President-elect Barack Obama’s new ride has arrived — and it’s a hybrid.
A new model of a presidential limousine made by General Motors Corp. has been delivered to the Secret Service. The armored 2009 Cadillac Presidential Limousine will make its debut at Obama’s inauguration.
Among the vehicle’s main features are windows that are 5 inches thick, 19.5-inch Goodyear RHS tires (same as super tough trucks), and possibly even a lock safety mechanism that seals off the car like a bank vault in case of an emergency.
Because the Secret Service keeps details of the limo understandably private, even the most knowledgeable security experts don’t really know how much gadgety tech is being installed in the new ride. But it’s not stopping them making a few informed guesses.
In an interview with CNN, security expert Ken Lucci says rubber gaskets likely protect the car against chemical weapons and that the body will be made out of a tougher material than before. The most recent limo used by President Bush used some combination of a dual hardness steel, aluminum, titanium and even ceramics to break up possible projectiles. And there are usually steel overlaps that cover any gaps a door might leave.
Filed Under: Autos
