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