Obama To Ride In Armored Cadillac Limo On Inauguration Day

By: Brian Montopoli
Topics: White House

(AP)

President-elect Barack Obama will ride in a new, heavily armored limousine during his Inaugural parade January 20th featuring "run-flat tires, bulletproof glass and a completely sealed interior to ward off a chemical attack," the Detroit News reports.

The 2009 Cadillac Presidential Limousine has more glass area than past presidential limousines, General Motors spokesman David Caldwell told Hotsheet. Caldwell said that while there are new features to the vehicle, it is not dramatically different than past models.

"It looks different and it is different in some ways, but it's pretty subtle," he said, noting that past presidential limousines will continue to be used.

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You can see photos of the vehicle at the Detroit News. We asked Caldwell for a photo to post here – the picture above is not of the new presidential limo – but he explained that the photos on the Detroit News site were taken by the vehicular equivalent of paparazzi, who snap photos of early models of cars before they are released to the general public and sell them.

The photos on the Detroit News site show the car in what appears to be an unfinished state. Caldwell said official photos of the vehicle should be released next week.

Brian Montopoli
Brian Montopoli is the senior political reporter at CBSNews.com.
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by lee3287 January 7, 2009 1:34 PM EST: The 2008 Election was truly a blessing. America has shown other countries how united we really are. I%u2019m thankful for a brilliant president...FINALLY!! Obama will make the white house a home and The United States of America a true land of dreams and opportunities. I will stop everything I%u2019m doing and sit on the couch to watch the Inauguration like I did with the amazing ceremony in Beijing...EXCITING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!; Reply to this comment


by libsnemesis January 7, 2009 4:18 AM EST: Oh, I''m so glad we finally have a black man as President. As a blue-state white voter, I have always felt SO guilty about slavery - and all that. I just feel so happy to have given a brown man the presidency. Now everyone will know that I am not a racist. As a white person, I always try so hard to please brown-skin people and foreigners, but my personal guilt has never been lifted like it was when we elected Obama! Let''s all celebrate!; Reply to this comment