Almost every young car enthusiast has imagined creating the ultimate car, a single car that would have the defensive capabilities of a military-grade tank and the comfort offered by a luxury automobile. This is exactly what the Cadillac One is, a car befitting the commander-in-chief.
The U.S. President’s armoured limousine, nicknamed The Beast, remains one of the most secure and technologically advanced vehicles ever built. Designed by Cadillac for the Secret Service to be a custom-built fortress on wheels, it showcases the unmistakable symbol of American power and precision engineering.
The car weighs up to ten tonnes and is built from eight-inch armour plating and has a fully sealed cabin capable of withstanding chemical or biological attacks. Its five-inch-thick bulletproof glass can stop a .44 Magnum round, while reinforced flooring protects against landmines and roadside bombs. The tyres are designed to keep rolling even when punctured. though it might not be the fastest in regards to speed, the beast takes roughly 15 seconds to reach 60 mph.
The vehicle carries an arsenal fit for a Bond film: pump-action shotguns, tear gas, night-vision gear, and even oil slick dispensers to disable pursuing vehicles. Each door handle can deliver a 120-volt electric shock to deter intruders, and there’s a blood supply matching the president’s type kept onboard alongside an oxygen system for emergencies.
At least two identical Beasts are deployed in every motorcade to confuse potential attackers, each with matching licence plates. The presidential fleet typically includes around 50 vehicles, although President Biden’s 2021 inauguration saw seven Beasts, and his Vatican visit saw a record 85-car convoy.
Earlier, in 2010, GM also received its first $35 million Secret Service contract for making the presidential limousines, after carmaker Ford pulled out of the bidding.
Reports indicate that General Motors was able to secure a contract worth about $15.8 million between 2014 and 2017 for two phases of its development, although the total cost may have been higher.
Inside, The Beast is almost completely silent to outside noise, although tiny microphones on the outside let people inside hear what’s happening around them. The car also has secure communication systems so the president can still activate a nuclear football or give national security orders in an emergency.
Each trip is carefully planned. Cars drive ahead to check the route, police clear the roads, and special SUVs can block signals or stop missiles. A medical car always follows with the president’s doctor. Despite all this, The Beast isn’t exactly the ultimate car—sometimes its tank-like status makes it so heavy that it gets stuck on ramps and has trouble turning on narrow European streets during foreign trips, making driving this vehicle require real skill.
This is what you’d expect from a car protecting one of the most powerful individuals in the world. The UK royalty makes use of a bespoke Bentley State Limousine, designed with extra height so members of the royal family could exit “in a suitably dignified manner”; Thailand’s Maybach 62 Limousine is complete with a wine chiller for the Thai King. The UK Prime Minister’s Jaguar XJ Sentinel is wrapped with Kevlar and steel and even features rear massage seats, while the Pope’s Mercedes-Benz M-Class Popemobile allows him to greet crowds through its glass enclosure.
Simply put, world leaders travel in rolling fortresses of elegance.
In Africa, presidential convoys also mirror this mix of status and security by typically featuring Mercedes-Benz S-Class limousines alongside SUVs, armed police vehicles, and motorcade escorts.
Whether it’s ceremonial or tactical, every presidential fleet carries more than its occupant, it is essentially a mobile badge that shows how a country can protect its number one citizen and the authority of the office itself.
