| Sometimes I wonder how US Presidents used to get | | | | evade and escape • Counter-measures |
| around. Before the invention of the limousine, the | | | | Models openly advertised as having "presidential |
| private jet, or even the car, what exactly set the | | | | standard" security come fitted with armor around the |
| President's mode of transportation apart from the | | | | battery, radiator, engine block and systems to |
| mode of the regular citizen? | | | | automatically seal the fuel tank to prevent explosions. |
| Armored cars are now considered almost essential | | | | Another measure appearing in the top-of-the-range |
| for all high-profile figures in dangerous parts of the | | | | models is night vision systems. |
| world. A Presidential Limousine has become virtually | | | | Limousines have long been viewed as a pinnacle of |
| synonymous with the word "Armored Car," in essence | | | | success. Presidential limousines with bullet proof glass |
| it is a vehicle of hardcore protection. | | | | and numerous security features are produced by |
| The Presidential limousine may seem like a recent | | | | automotive manufacturers and presented to the sitting |
| invention, something that came about within the past | | | | president. Cadillac limousines have been a favorite |
| few Presidential terms. This, however, is a | | | | choice of U.S. Presidents throughout the years as is |
| misconception. Officially, the first President to ride in | | | | illustrated by President Bush's new Cadillac DTS |
| what has become known as the Presidential limousine | | | | Limousine. |
| was Woodrow Wilson. Taking the streets during a | | | | It doesn't really matter - the last Presidential limo was a |
| parade celebrating the US victory in World War I, he | | | | Cadillac and the next one will be too. It's standard |
| was honoring the end of the war and, unknowingly, | | | | protocol for the head of State to drive a vehicle from |
| starting the beginning of a transportation tradition. | | | | their country's most prestigious automotive |
| Protecting world leaders is a serious business and | | | | manufacturer. In Britain, that's a Jaguar, and in many |
| there are only a handful of companies around the | | | | countries it's a shared gig - Peugeot and Renault in |
| world with the specialist engineering skills. One of the | | | | France, BMW and Mercedes in in Germany, and in |
| first armored cars for a political leader is thought to | | | | Japan, Emperor Akihito is currently driven in a Nissan |
| have been a limousine built by engineering firm | | | | Prince Royal and there's a suitably up market Toyota |
| O'Gara-Hess & Eisenhardt for President Harry S. | | | | under development. |
| Truman in 1949. | | | | As we are saying in previous articles (see this related |
| Today, the technology has greatly moved on - and it | | | | Limousine article) limousine is a luxury car which is |
| has been shown to save lives in the worst case | | | | often associated with the wealthy and hardcore |
| scenarios. President George W Bush's vehicle is | | | | protection. Governments use them to transport senior |
| thought to be the most advanced ever. Vehicle | | | | politicians, by large companies to transport executives, |
| security works on three basic principles: • | | | | or by broadcasters to transport guests own many. |
| Protection at point of attack • Ability to | | | | |