Armored vehicles are now deemed necessary for all high-profile figures in dangerous parts of the world. A Limousine used by the president has become almost the same with the word "Armored Car," in core it is a vehicle of hardcore protection.
The Presidential State Car is the vehicle that carries the President of the United States, his family, his personnel and secret service agents. It is the executive state car of the President of the United States. The conventional vehicle is a limousine and is the ground version of Air Force One. It is termed Cadillac One. The current vehicle used is a 2005 Cadillac DTS (De Ville Touring Sedan) that is armored to protect the President. The first time this vehicle was used was on January 20, 2005 during the second inauguration of President George W. Bush and the secret service refers to the vehicle as 'the beast.'
The vehicle's windows do not open, it is outfitted with run flat tires, it is integral with military grade armor 5 inches thick, and five antennas mounted to the trunk. The inside has a fluorescent light arrangement because the windows are tinted and do not allow much natural light inside. The vehicle can seat seven people, including the President. There is a console mounted communications system in the front of the vehicle. The vehicle, when transported to foreign countries, is airlifted by a United States Air Force C-17 Globemaster III. When the President visits a foreign country, the Presidential flag that flies opposite the United States flag on the front of the car is replaced with the flag of the country he is visiting at the time.
There are similar limousines that are literally operated by the United States government that help to move VIP guests, visiting heads of government, and heads of state. When President Elect Barrack Obama is inaugurated on January 20, 2009, a new vehicle will be used to transport Obama and his family. It is manufactured by GM and will not have a specific model name. The vehicle will be called the '2009 Cadillac Presidential Limousine.
The Presidential State Car moves in the high security Motorcade, which consists of 35 other vehicles, when traveling in or out of town. The limousine that the President travels in is sustained by the Secret Service while the motorcade support vehicles are maintained by the White House Military Office. In the motorcade there are two Chevrolet Suburbans that the President might also travel in instead of the limousine. Each of the vehicles has the Presidential seals on the sides.
