The Presidential Car: A Symbol of Power and Protection

The car that carries the president himself is known as the Beast, but it's far from your typical limousine. Designed to withstand any and all attacks, the presidential car is more like a comfortable tank than a sleek vehicle. With its advanced armor plating, rocket-powered grenades, and night vision optics, this vehicle is equipped with everything needed to protect the president in the most hostile environments.

The Beast costs around $1.5 million and weighs in at a staggering 2,000 pounds - roughly the same weight as a Tyrannosaurus Rex. But despite its massive size, it's surprisingly agile on the road. Each secret service agent who drives the Beast has to undergo an intensive 5-day protective driving course, honing their skills to navigate even the most treacherous terrain while keeping the president safe.

The interior of the Beast is equally impressive, with doors that are 8 inches thick and windows that can stop a bullet from a Magnum pistol. The floor is built on a modified truck bed with armor plating to protect against bombs and grenades. Even more remarkable is its own oxygen supply system, which provides a self-contained bubble of air around the president. This ensures that no matter where the Beast takes the president, they will always have access to clean air.

But the Beast is not the only vehicle in the presidential motorcade. There are at least two identical armored limousines, each with matching registration plates - making it impossible for potential attackers to know which one contains the actual sitting president. These two limos make up just part of the motorcade known as the "Secure Package". The vehicles in this package are designed to break away from the main convoy if an attack occurs, while also providing an additional layer of protection and countermeasures.

One of the most advanced features of the Secure Package is the United States Secret Service's custom-built Suburban. This vehicle jams any remote explosives that might be on route using two antennas that send out a huge range of radio frequencies, blocking any bomb activation signal. It also has electronic warfare sensors that can detect if an RPG or anti-tank missile is launched - in which case it releases smoke canisters across the Secure Package to throw off grenades and missiles.

Behind the Beast comes three separate SUVs, each with its own unique role to play in the motorcade. The first two are called the "Halfback" and the "Cat Car", while the third is simply referred to as the control car. The Halfback and Cat Car are designed to defend the Beast from attack, with their rear windows open to allow passengers to fire at a moment's notice - while the control car carries the president's most essential staff, such as military aid and doctor.

In front of the Secure Package, you'll find the "Route Car", Pilot Car, Lead Car, and a whole host of motorbikes known as Sweepers. The Route Car is in charge of scouting ahead and relayng information to the lead car, which leads the secure package through the motorcade behind it. But these motorbikes are not just there for show - they're also responsible for clearing roads and blocking off junctions, using their speed and agility to keep the convoy safe.

Despite its impressive arsenal of defensive features, the Presidential Motorcade still takes risks when necessary. In 1996, President Bill Clinton's motorcade was diverted away from an upcoming bridge in Manila after intelligence officers picked up a message that read "bridge" followed by "marriage", which was known to be a code word for assassination. The swift thinking of the Secret Service agents involved saved the president from potentially deadly harm.

Behind the scenes, there are even more vehicles at work, providing support and countermeasures to the motorcade. There's the ID car, which works with other counter-surveillance agencies to track down potential threats; the Road Runner, a mobile communication center that stays in touch with all parties involved; and the Hazardous Materials Mitigation unit, which contains equipment and personnel ready to respond to chemical, nuclear, or biological attacks.

Finally, for journeys of 30 minutes or less, the Presidential Motorcade puts away its armor plating and fancy gadgets. Instead, it relies on more conventional means of protection - like Marine One and Air Force One, which transport the president in style but also provide a significant level of security. With costs running into hundreds of thousands of dollars per trip, protecting the most powerful person in the world is an expensive business indeed. But for those who would seek to harm the president, it's a price that may be too high to pay.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enthis is the most expensive and complicated motorcade in the world with around 50 vehicles and over 100 Personnel the United States presidential motorcade has a single objective keep the president alive at the heart of the motorcade is the car that carries the president himself known as the beast but it's less of a limo and more of a comfy tank the presidential car also known as Cadillac 1 is designed to withstand any and all attacks the Beast costs around $1 and5 million and weighs in at a whopping £2,000 which is about the same weight as a tyranosaurus Rex every secret service agent has to pass a 5-day protective driving course and those who end up behind the wheel of the president's limo undertake even more advanced training the doors are 8 in thick the windows will stop a bullet from a magnum and the floor is built on a modified truck bed with armor floor plates to protect from bombs and grenades it's even hermetically F to prevent biological attacks with its own oxygen supply on board you'll find rocket powered grenades Night Vision Optics a tear gas Cannon pump action shotguns and even two leaders of the president's blood type but as we all know it's not just one car that keeps the president moving there's a whole Fleet of vehicles that play their role when the president's in transit in fact the Beast containing the president isn't even the only Beast involved there are at least two identical armored limos in every motorcade both with matching Reg ation plates this means that potential attackers have no clue which one contains the actual sitting president and these two limos make up just one part of the motorcade known as the secure package the vehicles in the secure package are designed to break away from the motorcade should an attack take place also in the secure package is the United States Secret Service counter measures Suburban this car jams any remote explosives that might be on Route using two antennas that send out a huge range of radio frequencies that block any bomb activation signal it also has electronic warfare sensors that detects if an RPG or anti-tank missile is launched it's believed that if it did detect a rocket the car would release smoke canisters across the secure package to throw off grenades and or missiles however that's just speculation because it's obviously classified after that comes three separate SUVs with one distinct difference two of them have their rear window open and one doesn't these two SU s are called the halfback and the cat car if the president's in danger it's the job of the halfback to defend the Beast and the job of the cat car to take the fight to the insurgents the reason their rear window is open well that's so the rear-facing passengers can open fire at a moment's notice the car with the closed rear window is the control car the control car carries the most essential staff such as the president's military aid and doctor in front of the secure package you'll find the route car Pilot Car lead car and a whole host of motorbikes known as sweepers the rude and Pilot Car Scout the route ahead and relay information to the lead car which leads the secure package to the motorcades behind them the motorbikes are in charge of clearing the way for the motorcade by ushering cars out of the way and by blocking off roads and Junctions this role may seem simple but should the Convoy need to be diverted for whatever reason the route and pilot cars must be able to react and communicate that quickly one example of this was back in 1996 then President Bill Clinton was visiting the Philippines and was scheduled to meet with a local politician in Manila during the journey Intelligence Officers picked up a message containing the words bridge and marriage while this may seem like no big deal to you or me this sent alarm Bells going off throughout the motorcade this is because marriage was known to be a code word for assassination the moday diverted away from an upcoming Bridge thanks to the quick thinking of all involved soon after it was discovered that a bomb had been planted under that bridge the plot reportedly organized by Osama Bin Laden behind the secure package is a fleet of support Vehicles including the ID car which leazes with other counter surveillance agencies The Road Runner which acts as a mobile Communication Center and the Hazardous Materials mitigation unit which contains equipment and Personnel that can respond to chemical nuclear and biological attacks as well as Vehicles containing more Secret Service agents politicians emergency personnel and members of the press now all of this may seem like a lot and that nothing could ever go wrong but the Secret Service actually view it as the exact opposite to them the safest motorcade is no motorcade traveling by car is seen as one of the moments when the president is at their most vulnerable so the motorcade will only be used for journeys of 30 minutes or less for everything else there's Marine one and Air Force One it's estimated that this one trip which takes around an hour costs over $150,000 so in short it's an expensive business protecting the most powerful person in the world but many would argue it's a small price to paythis is the most expensive and complicated motorcade in the world with around 50 vehicles and over 100 Personnel the United States presidential motorcade has a single objective keep the president alive at the heart of the motorcade is the car that carries the president himself known as the beast but it's less of a limo and more of a comfy tank the presidential car also known as Cadillac 1 is designed to withstand any and all attacks the Beast costs around $1 and5 million and weighs in at a whopping £2,000 which is about the same weight as a tyranosaurus Rex every secret service agent has to pass a 5-day protective driving course and those who end up behind the wheel of the president's limo undertake even more advanced training the doors are 8 in thick the windows will stop a bullet from a magnum and the floor is built on a modified truck bed with armor floor plates to protect from bombs and grenades it's even hermetically F to prevent biological attacks with its own oxygen supply on board you'll find rocket powered grenades Night Vision Optics a tear gas Cannon pump action shotguns and even two leaders of the president's blood type but as we all know it's not just one car that keeps the president moving there's a whole Fleet of vehicles that play their role when the president's in transit in fact the Beast containing the president isn't even the only Beast involved there are at least two identical armored limos in every motorcade both with matching Reg ation plates this means that potential attackers have no clue which one contains the actual sitting president and these two limos make up just one part of the motorcade known as the secure package the vehicles in the secure package are designed to break away from the motorcade should an attack take place also in the secure package is the United States Secret Service counter measures Suburban this car jams any remote explosives that might be on Route using two antennas that send out a huge range of radio frequencies that block any bomb activation signal it also has electronic warfare sensors that detects if an RPG or anti-tank missile is launched it's believed that if it did detect a rocket the car would release smoke canisters across the secure package to throw off grenades and or missiles however that's just speculation because it's obviously classified after that comes three separate SUVs with one distinct difference two of them have their rear window open and one doesn't these two SU s are called the halfback and the cat car if the president's in danger it's the job of the halfback to defend the Beast and the job of the cat car to take the fight to the insurgents the reason their rear window is open well that's so the rear-facing passengers can open fire at a moment's notice the car with the closed rear window is the control car the control car carries the most essential staff such as the president's military aid and doctor in front of the secure package you'll find the route car Pilot Car lead car and a whole host of motorbikes known as sweepers the rude and Pilot Car Scout the route ahead and relay information to the lead car which leads the secure package to the motorcades behind them the motorbikes are in charge of clearing the way for the motorcade by ushering cars out of the way and by blocking off roads and Junctions this role may seem simple but should the Convoy need to be diverted for whatever reason the route and pilot cars must be able to react and communicate that quickly one example of this was back in 1996 then President Bill Clinton was visiting the Philippines and was scheduled to meet with a local politician in Manila during the journey Intelligence Officers picked up a message containing the words bridge and marriage while this may seem like no big deal to you or me this sent alarm Bells going off throughout the motorcade this is because marriage was known to be a code word for assassination the moday diverted away from an upcoming Bridge thanks to the quick thinking of all involved soon after it was discovered that a bomb had been planted under that bridge the plot reportedly organized by Osama Bin Laden behind the secure package is a fleet of support Vehicles including the ID car which leazes with other counter surveillance agencies The Road Runner which acts as a mobile Communication Center and the Hazardous Materials mitigation unit which contains equipment and Personnel that can respond to chemical nuclear and biological attacks as well as Vehicles containing more Secret Service agents politicians emergency personnel and members of the press now all of this may seem like a lot and that nothing could ever go wrong but the Secret Service actually view it as the exact opposite to them the safest motorcade is no motorcade traveling by car is seen as one of the moments when the president is at their most vulnerable so the motorcade will only be used for journeys of 30 minutes or less for everything else there's Marine one and Air Force One it's estimated that this one trip which takes around an hour costs over $150,000 so in short it's an expensive business protecting the most powerful person in the world but many would argue it's a small price to pay\n"