Obama's Presidential Limo Will Be a 'Rolling Tank With Windows'

The inauguration of Barack Obama will not only bring about a wholesale turnover in the political leadership of the country but it will also unveil the newest in a long line of Presidential limos.

According to Presidential vehicle experts, the new limo is a beast-like General Motors truck-based Cadillac that is so tough it's like a 'rolling tank with windows.'

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.

Despite the immense secrecy, reports have leaked that the limo also comes with a 10-CD changer, which will inevitably end up playing Obama favorites like Steve Wonder and Bob Dylan. We're surprised there's no Blu-ray or Wii in there, but we're pretty sure of one thing: The limo will be a Zune-free zone, especially considering the most recent reports.

Obama's Heavily armored 2009 Cadillac limo

President-elect Barack Obama's new ride has arrived -- and it's a beast.

As first reported by FOXNews.com last November -- and Tuesday by The Detroit News -- a new model of a presidential limousine made by General Motors Corp. has been delivered to the Secret Service and will make its debut on Inauguration Day.

The vehicle, referred to by the Secret Service as "the beast," will reportedly feature heavy armor that is at least 5 inches thick and comes complete with run-flat tires, bulletproof glass and a completely sealed interior to ward off a chemical attack, among many other high-tech security features.

One news agency, noting its 8-inch-thick doors, said the limo can withstand a "direct hit from an asteroid." But GM spokeswoman Joanne K. Krell laughed off the comments.

The new limousine also includes larger windows and better visibility for the president, a spokesman for the automaker told the paper.

Cadillac has previously disclosed that the limo's interior is made of hand-stitched leather and includes a 10-disc CD player.

"The president is not riding in a medium-duty truck, nor he is riding in a sedan," a GM representative told the Detroit News, it is a "unique" vehicle.

The armored 2009 Cadillac Presidential Limousine will make its debut at Obama's Jan. 20 inauguration in Washington.

The Secret Service and GM say they'll reveal more about the custom vehicle's specifications next week after training with the new limousine at a facility near Washington.

Older-model presidential limos will remain in use for the vice president and traveling world leaders. The previous model, a modified Cadillac DTS, was introduced at President George W. Bush's second inauguration in 2005.

Obama's GM made limo

GM gets its bailout — sort of

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.

Older-model “gas hog” presidential limos will remain in use, including a modified Cadillac DTS introduced at President George W. Bush’s 2005 inauguration.

The Buzz says if GM can only sell about 1 million more presidential limos, it just might make it.

Speaking of bailouts …

If banks, mortgage companies and auto manufacturers can get a bailout, why not companies that provide adult entertainment?

At least that’s what Larry Flynt wants to know. Flynt, publisher of Hustler, and Joe Francis of “Girls Gone Wild” fame petitioned Congress this week to provide a financial bailout for the $13 billion-a-year adult-entertainment industry.

They’re seeking $5 billion in federal assistance, “just to see us through hard times,” Francis said.

The other side of the story

Former U.S. attorney general Alberto Gonzales, who resigned last year amid congressional investigations, is working on a book to tell his side of the story of the demise of the highest-ranking Hispanic in the history of the federal government.

“This is not about writing a best seller,” Gonzales said, insisting the book would be a success if read only by his sons, now 13 and 16.

“I think there is so much misinformation out there,” he explained, “not just about me but about the Bush administration and what we were about.”

Another false alarm

An investigation into a suspicious vehicle in northwest Washington shut down streets for about an hour earlier this week.

Secret Service spokesman Eric Zahren said bomb-sniffing dogs alerted officials to the vehicle, which was going through a checkpoint to access the building that houses Obama’s transition team.

Authorities determined the driver was authorized to be in the area and that the vehicle posed no security risk.

The Buzz says it was George W. Bush moving those WMDs to another “secret” location.

Compiled from the (bombproof) mainstream news media, news services, the blogosphere and other reliable sources. For more political buzz, go to KansasCity.com and click on Prime Buzz..kansascity.com