Barack Obama will drive to the White House in an updated and more stylish presidential limousine that will give him a better view of his inaugural parade than his predecessor, the automaker said Thursday.
Sneaked photos of the unfinished Cadillac, said to be tough enough to withstand a rock-propelled grenade or even an asteroid, showing a hulking behemoth befitting the nickname “the Beast.”
But Cadillac spokesman David Caldwell promises that the finished product will combine form with function.
“It's really a new design,” Caldwell told AFP.
“It's a fresh, more modern, more expressive, a little bit more vibrant if you will, but it still is faithful to that tradition of presidential vehicles … it's long and it's black.”
The interior will include some of the plush detailing offered to regular Cadillac customers and the body has been built to be more “upright” and provide better visibility, Caldwell said.
But any of the technical details are top secret, he said, adding “we're not even allowed to open the doors.”
The vehicle is thought to have bullet-proof glass, a heavily armored body, run-flat tires and a completely sealed interior to protect against a chemical attack.
The Secret Service, which is charged with protecting the president and drives the limousine said the vehicle “offers the highest level of protection.”
“We do not discuss specifics of design, dimensions, features or capability of presidential limousines,” said Secret Service spokesman Darrin Blackford, who laughed when asked if the new limo would have a jack for Obama's iPod.
Photos and some details about the new limo will be released early next week ahead of its debut at the January 20 inauguration.
“Typically new armored presidential limousines are integrated into the fleet for the inaugural parade,” Blackford said.
Outgoing President George W. Bush's limousine will continue to be put to use either as a spare in the presidential fleet, for other people designed for protect or for training purposes.
However, the presidential limos are not for sale, Caldwell said.
“What's developed for this vehicle is unique and remains very private and secretive,” he said.
“Another nation could not call us and say let's do that.”
