Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

What will the next Presidential limo look like?

Gallery:
http://www.autoblog.com/photos/what-...photo-6055506/

With recent news that the Secret Service has begun soliciting proposals for a new armored limousine, we've been wondering what the next presidential limo might look like. The current machine, nicknamed "The Beast," has a design based on a car that's no longer sold: the Cadillac DTS. If General Motors gets the job again, which wouldn't be a surprise considering the government still owns a chunk of the company, the next limo's shape would likely resemble the new XTS (below, left). But Cadillac hasn't always been the go-to car company for presidential whips.

Lincoln has actually provided far more presidential limousines throughout history than Cadillac. In fact, the first car modified for Commander-in-Chief-carrying duty was a 1939 Lincoln K-Series called "Sunshine Special" used by Franklin D. Roosevelt, and the last Lincoln used by a president was a 1989 Town Car ordered for George H.W. Bush. If President Obama wanted a Lincoln today, it would likely be an amalgam of the MKS sedan and MKT crossover, as illustrated above.


And what about Chrysler? The only record we could find of a President favoring the Pentastar is Nixon, who reportedly ordered two limos from the company during his administration in the '70s, and then another one, known today as the "K-Car limo," in the '80s after he left office. Obama, however, has a personal – if modest – connection to Chryslers, having owned a 300 himself before he took office. A 300-based Beast (above, right) would certainly earn the U.S. some style points.

Of course, we can only speculate about what the next presidential limo will look like, as what's under the skin is a closely guarded secret by the Secret Service. Like The Beast's rumored underpinnings, the next limo will probably ride atop a heavy-duty truck chassis, which any of our domestic automakers could easily provide

http://www.autoblog.com/2013/07/25/p...-it-look-like/

Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

put a SRT8 Hemi in it!!

Harbinger

How about a Tesla with solar panels on the roof to provide additional charging capacity? Imagine what they could do with the number of battery packs they could fit in a stretched executive version...then they could market to the limo/taxi industry too.

SteVTEC

Err, a half truth there or highly misleading. Yes the body might be based on a DTS, but the Presidential Limo is actually built around a Chevy Kodiak commercial truck frame. A truck chassis is the only thing that would carry all of the required weight and armor. Just the body is designed to look like a car.

IS350jet

At 20,000 lbs I don't know that it would suffice.

mmarshall

With a Republican riding inside, I hope.

Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

Maybe a supercharger or a Cummins then

trexlexus

The Chrylser and Lincoln renderings look too curvy for a presidential shipping container. Maybe it is just the traditional side of me, but it seems as if Cadillac's current design language suits the purpose best.

Not sure if you guys are aware of this rendering, but this would be quite the traitorous pipedream:

Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

older non spindle, but wow, Lexus should get into the Livery business

Jewcano

iTrader: (4)

The King needs a new Limo already? Why can't he be happy with what he's got like the rest of us poor folk.

trexlexus

Ya, i think the LS's lines flow very well. Great mixture/in-between for the swoopy S class and boxy 7 series. Especially the rear pillar.

mmarshall

An LS limo, though, probably wouldn't do for an American President. Not only is it not a true American nameplate, but, unlike some Lexus products, the LS is not even built here. The actual stretching/refitting itself, though, could be done by an American firm.

Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

Right I don't think the Governement would use a non American Firm, I think the post was merely for our amusment as this is a Lexus forum + car chat sub forum

trexlexus

Ya, i posted it for both amusement and appreciation for the grandeur of an LSh limo. It's why i also said that it would be a "traitorous pipedream". Can you imagine the reaction of some of the American public if word got out that Mr. President is sitting comfortably in a Japanese limo?!

Och

iTrader: (3)

Toyota should build one for him. With tons of power and UA.