The Next Presidential Limo Might Be Based on the Cadillac Escalade

The presidential limo known as the Beast might be getting an upgrade.

GM has made armored cars for American presidents for decades, and that relationship looks set to continue, according to Reuters, which says that Secret Service officials met GM officials last week to talk about new armored cars. The Secret Service confirmed as much in a post on social media on Friday.

“As threats evolve, we continue to explore emerging technologies to ensure our armored vehicles provide the highest level of safety for our protectees,” the Secret Service said in a post. “This week, Secret Service Director Sean Curran met with GM executives to discuss advancements that could benefit the next generation of armored SUVs.”

The next generation of armored SUVs are being developed in a process that apparently started in September, when GM got a contract worth as much as $40.8 million to build the cars. Of interest in the newest social media post, according to Reuters, is that an attached photo shows a Cadillac Escalade, though now President Trump “often travels in an armored Chevrolet Suburban.”

No timeline was given for when a new Beast will be delivered.

“Our engineering, protective operations, and technical security teams work for years to develop the state-of-the-art framework that is used to produce these highly advanced vehicles,” a Secret Service spokesperson told Reuters.

Before Cadillacs, presidents rode in a series of Lincolns, including Cosmopolitans, Continentals, and Town Cars. Beginning in 1984, President Ronald Reagan rode in a Cadillac Fleetwood, as did President Bill Clinton. Since 2001, presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Trump, and Joe Biden have all been driven in custom Cadillacs specially developed by GM.

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The current Beast is said to produce its own environment inside, sealed from the world. It is also said to weigh 10 tons, have one-foot thick doors, and have extra blood on hand for the president. Some other rumored features, like oil slicks and smoke screens, seem pulled from the world of spy movies. The Secret Service does not discuss specifics because it is, well, secret, but the cars have come a long way from Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s “Sunshine Special.”