Specifications and Capabilities
The model is a 2005 hand-crafted, custom built, heightened-roof, and armored vehicle designed with the styling of the Cadillac DTS sedan built on a GM four-wheel drive platform. The vehicle was custom built by Centigon (formerly O'Gara, Hess & Eisenhardt). It was first used on January 20, 2005, during the second inauguration parade of George W. Bush.
Most details of the car are classified for security reasons. The vehicle is one of a kind. It sports a tall roofline, an all-wheel drive set up based on that of the Cadillac Escalade, red and blue emergency lights built into the front grille, and is fitted with red strobe lights in the headlights and rear brake lights. The standard door handles have been replaced by those of a more loop design. The vehicle is completely fitted with military grade armor 5 inches (130 mm) thick for maximum protection. The windows do not open, the wheels are fitted with run flat tires, and five antennas are mounted on the trunk lid. Due to the thickness of the glass, much natural light is excluded, so a fluorescent halo lighting system in the headliner is essential.
The car can seat seven people, including the president. The front seats two, and includes a console-mounted communications center. A glass partition divides the front from back. Three rear-facing seats are in the back, with cushions that are able to fold against the partition. The two rear seats are reserved for the president and another passenger; these seats have the ability to recline individually. A folding desk is between the two rear seats. Storage compartments in the interior panels of the car contain communications equipment.
Read more about this topic: 2005 Cadillac DTS Presidential State Car (United States)
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