Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[REPORT: Secret Service vehicles strike and kill pedestrian]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/13/report-secret-service-vehicles-strike-and-kill-pedestrian/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/13/report-secret-service-vehicles-strike-and-kill-pedestrian/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/13/report-secret-service-vehicles-strike-and-kill-pedestrian/#commentsFiled under: ,

Presidential Limousine - Click above for a high-res image gallery

Tragedy struck the streets of Maryland Wednesday when a pair of heavily armored Secret Service vehicles designed to escort the Vice President struck and killed a pedestrian at an intersection. Inside Line reports that the unfortunate accident occurred at 2:27 am Wednesday morning in rainy conditions as the armored Cadillac limo and Chevrolet Suburban were en-route from Andrews Air Force base to a secure storage location. Vice President Joe Biden was not on board when the incident took place.

The armored vehicles, which weigh over 13,000 pounds, are driven by employees who have taken a special protective operator's driving course. The Washington Post has quoted a Secret Service official as saying the vehicles' added heft makes the vehicles "trickier to handle than ordinary vehicles." The incident is currently under investigation by the U.S. Park Police.


Gallery: President Obama Inauguration Limo Ride


Gallery: 2009 Cadillac Presidential Limousine


[Source: Inside Line]

REPORT: Secret Service vehicles strike and kill pedestrian originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>armored carArmoredCarcadillac limoCadillacLimochevy suburbanChevySuburbanpresidential limoPresidentialLimosecret servicesecret service limoSecretServiceSecretServiceLimoFri, 13 Nov 2009 13:58:00 EST<![CDATA[President Obama takes inaugural ride in Presidential Limousine]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/21/president-obama-takes-inaugural-ride-in-presidential-limousine/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/21/president-obama-takes-inaugural-ride-in-presidential-limousine/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/21/president-obama-takes-inaugural-ride-in-presidential-limousine/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Click above for high-res image gallery of Obama's inaugural ride in Presidential Limousine

Inauguration Day for President Obama has come and gone, and while our freshly minted Commander in Chief was probably most interested in making his title official, we like to believe the high point of his day was taking the inaugural ride in his new Presidential Limousine. Secrete Service agents have reportedly begun calling Obama's new whip the "Beast" for reasons that are readily apparent. General Motors released images of the new Cadillac-based limo last week, but were of course not permitted to reveal the car's specifications. We're still in the dark on most everything about the new Presidential Limo, but new images from yesterday's inauguration reveal its true scale and capabilities.

First of all, notice the roof height compared to a Secret Service agent walking next to the car. Though it has the basic proportions of a very long-wheelbase sedan, this thing is nearly as tall as a Tahoe. The sidewalls of the tires are enormous, kind of like the front tires on a semi-truck, which suggests a level of puncture resistance far beyond your average run flat. The increased ground clearance and large fender flares also suggest this car can go off-roading when the need arises, like if an ICBM takes out the road ahead. Lastly, this image of an agent holding the car door open for Obama while he enters the vehicle shows the true thickness of its doors. Based on that, we imagine the new Presidential Limo would score 50 stars if crash tested by the NHTSA. Check out more pics below of the Obama family taking their first ride in the Presidential Limousine.

Gallery: President Obama Inauguration Limo Ride


[Photos: Getty Images]

President Obama takes inaugural ride in Presidential Limousine originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 21 Jan 2009 14:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>barack obamaBarackObamaobama limoObamaLimopresidential limopresidential limousinePresidentialLimoPresidentialLimousinethe beastTheBeastWed, 21 Jan 2009 14:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Dubya's DTS and other presidential conveyances]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/05/dubyas-dts-and-other-presidential-conveyances/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/05/dubyas-dts-and-other-presidential-conveyances/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/05/dubyas-dts-and-other-presidential-conveyances/#commentsFiled under: ,



In a rare behind-the-scenes look, the Cadillac & LaSalle Club's Potomac Regional Director, Vince Taliano, was granted permission to spend a day in the Secret Service motorpool garages. Fortunately, he documented the day in pictures, and shared the experience with Hemmings and therefore all of us on the interweb.

Taliano got to see the current fleet of cars, including Dubya's personal Caddy. It's based on the Cadillac DTS and was first unveiled at the 2005 Inauguration Parade. General Motors says it is hand-built with a jet-black clearcoat finish. This particular DTS is also a lot longer, wider and taller than the one you can get at your local Cadillac dealer. In the interest of national security, the limo features state-of-the-art protection and communications systems. And to make it a better rolling office, the interior has been redone to include a hidden foldaway desktop and reclining adaptive rear seats, which "senses the position of the occupant in the seat and automatically adjusts the cushion for added comfort." Pretty slick. Click the read link for more photos and personal observations on the cars and the trip. We found it a good read worth our time.

[Source: Caddie Chronicle via Hemmings]

Dubya's DTS and other presidential conveyances originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Mar 2007 19:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Presidential limoPresidentialLimoSecret ServiceSecretServiceVince TalianoVinceTalianoMon, 05 Mar 2007 19:02:00 EST