United States Automakers Bid on Next Presidential Limousine/Illustrations Added

[Atomic]

US Car Brands to Fight for the Right to Build New Presidential Limo



Above, A Dated Yet Forever Stately Cadillac Presidential Limousine Provided by Author

14 Mar, 2014 12:50pm Alex Yau

Bids are being invited from US car brands keen to build a new limousine for
the next President of the United States of America

(AutoExpress) Car manufacturers now have a chance to convince the American Secret Service why they should produce the next luxury presidential limousine.  The chosen limo will be heavilt armoured and fitted with state-of-the-art defense and communications equipment.

Bidding is now open and the successful manufacturer will be awarded the contract on August 29, just in time to produce the limo and transport Barack Obama's successor.

Not all manufacturers can submit proposals, however. The contract is open to American carmakers only, which is unsurprising as all previous limos have been American made cars.

One confirmed manufacturer working on a proposal is Chrysler, while General Motors – who has built the presidential Cadillac limos for the last three decades – is expected to join the race. A Lincoln-badged proposal could be produced by Ford and smaller brands like AM General or Tesla could also compete.


The new limo will replace the current seven-seat model – nicknamed 'The Beast' – that entered service in 2008. There's no proper name for it, but it's based on the previous Cadillac DTS limo and uses parts from various vehicles like the Chevrolet Kodiak's chassis, a Cadillac STS sedan's taillights and a Cadillac Escalade's headlights.

Previous presidential limousines in order of service include the Lincoln Continental, Cadillac Fleetwood, Lincoln Town Car and Cadillac Brougham.

Current president Barack Obama previously wanted a limo with a hybrid drive train. The Secret Service denied this because they thought it couldn't produce enough power to move quickly in emergencies. However, the current Cadillac Escalade Hybrid is fitted with a V8 engine and a 7,700-pound towing capacity so a Hybrid model could be on the cards.

It will amazing to see a luxury brand other than Cadillac win the bid to design and manufacture the next Presidential Limousine for the newly elected leader of the United States in 2016. Such an honor would certainly help Ford Motor Company's ailing Lincoln division gain much needed publicity. A big surprise would be for Chrysler to grab the title and provide the next president, associates and first family with a fleet of what I think would be the up-and-coming top-of-the-line Jeep Grand Wagoneer, large Dodge SUV (e.g., Durango) or 4x4 Ram graced with a heavily modified "next generation" Chrysler division 300 or newly rumored 300 Imperial luxury sedan. Cadillac has the new for 2015-MY Escalade and Lincoln, a newly modified Navigation (both with two wheelbase options) for MY15 to work from.

~ Atomic

[Atomic]

PRESENT DAY CADILLAC LIMOUSINE SERVING PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA

Ayobami Olugbemiga, Staff Writer, Politics

US Secret Service to Prep New Limousine for Next President

Published:  March 11th 2014, 2:10pm   

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama wave to people from the presidential limousine as they ride in the inaugural parade in Washington, D.C. on 21 January 2013, Below

The next President of the United States is getting a new presidential limousine. The project just needs a contractor.

The U.S. Secret Service wants to replace the current 2009 Cadillac, dubbed "The Beast" or "Cadillac One," but it can't do all of the work on its own.

"The Government intends to award a competitive commercial firm fixed priced type contract for development of a new design armored limousine in accordance with government provided specifications," reads a General Services Administration contract posting released Friday. "This solicitation will be for Phase 2, with options for Phase 3 and Phase 4 of a 4 phase development and production program."

Phase 1 is the armor development for the limousine, while Phase 2 involves the selection and integration of the final automotive components, chassis, interior, exterior and test vehicle fabrication and automotive component testing. Phase 3 will be focused on automotive validation, and the final Phase 4 will be the production of the vehicle.

The details of the new design remain classified but the current model sheds some light on what to expect in the new limo. President Obama's current limousine, armored with titanium, aluminum, ceramic and steel, is said to weigh as much as 15,000 pounds. The car rides on Goodyear run-flats reinforced with Kevlar.

The Beast is built to withstand bomb blasts and sealed against biochemical attacks. The bullet proof windows are about five inches thick and the doors are as heavy as those on a Boeing 757.

The new limousine is expected to be ready by the 2016 presidential inauguration.

Image via Wikipedia Commons

[Atomic]

PROPOSALS BASED ON CURRENT CHRYSLER, LINCOLN AND CADILLAC FLAGSHIP SEDANS




Chrysler 300C Based Presidential Limousine Illustration, Above 



Lincoln MKS Based Presidential Limousine Illustration, Above



Cadillac XTS Based Presidential Limousine Illustration, Above 





Current Cadillac* Presidential Limousine Utilized During the Barack Obama Administration, Above

*Cadillac DTS Exterior Styling, Cadillac Escalade Underpinnings (Much Concealed, Protected and Secured)

[Atomic]

A STRONG CONTENDER FOR THE NEXT UNITED STATES PRESIDENTIAL LIMO, IN MY OPINION
MIGHT BE CADILLAC'S UPCOMING RWD MERCEDES-BENZ S-CLASS COMPETITOR IN THE ULTRA LUXURY SEDAN CATEGORY (GENERAL MOTORS' WORDING, NOT MY OWN) DUE IN 2015 AS A 2016 MODEL

[mzziaz]

Perhaps Lexus will win?

[Soup DeVille]

it's just a contest to get the corporate grill and emblems on what has been basically a truck chassis armored car for years. Underneath the skin, it won't be any more of a Cadillac than a Freightliner.

[AutobahnSHO]

I was gonna say that interior looks cramped but then again, take away 10" of width due to armored windows and....

[Madman]

What's wrong with the current car?  Why do we need to spend money on a new one?

Hell, when Kennedy was shot, they just hosed out the blood and kept using the same damn car for years afterwards!

[ifcar]

it's just a contest to get the corporate grill and emblems on what has been basically a truck chassis armored car for years. Underneath the skin, it won't be any more of a Cadillac than a Freightliner.

In fairness, GM *does* build it, no?


The Lincoln rendering looks surprisingly attractive, actually.

[Morris Minor]

What's wrong with the current car?  Why do we need to spend money on a new one?

Hell, when Kennedy was shot, they just hosed out the blood and kept using the same damn car for years afterwards!

You echoed my thoughts. Is the old one worn out?

[veeman]

I bet in the last decade they've learned a lot about road side bomb protection.

[Soup DeVille]

In fairness, GM *does* build it, no?


The Lincoln rendering looks surprisingly attractive, actually.

No.

I believe they're all made by O'Gara, Hess, and Eisenhardt, or perhaps now by a military contractor like BAE.

[cawimmer430]

Why waste all this money on a new car when the WINNER is right here!? 

[Morris Minor]

They could take the opposite approach & hide the President in plain sight: something run-of-the-mill like a Malibu with 35% window tint should blend in & attract no attention.

[68_427]

Just armor this. 

[hotrodalex]

Just armor this. 

Gas hog!

[Madman]

How about using one of those spare MRAPs the Pentagon keeps flogging to podunk police departments?  Just paint it black!

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

What's wrong with the current car?  Why do we need to spend money on a new one?

Hell, when Kennedy was shot, they just hosed out the blood and kept using the same damn car for years afterwards!

The current "Car" will go to the vice president and the new president will get a new ride.......

[Mustangfan2003]

How about using one of those spare MRAPs the Pentagon keeps flogging to podunk police departments?  Just paint it black!

Yup, paint it black and throw in some Cadillac seats inside and you're done.