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New Presidential Limousine Flown To Israel After Mistake By Staffers
President Obama’s recent trip to Israel hit an unexpected snag when his presidential limo, nicknamed “The Beast” was disabled by a rather unbelievable mistake by a member of his staff. The Beast broke down shortly after having its gas tank filled with diesel fuel instead of gasoline. Details are sketchy, but it seems that a staffer who was supposed to prepare the limo for the President’s arrival at Gurion Airport made the mistake. When he attempted to start the limo and drive away, the engine stalled and would not start. Jordanian and Israeli officials reportedly scrambled to arrange a new limousine to transport the President and his staff, and a new limo was flown to Israel from the U.S. The disabled Beast was put on a flatbed truck and hauled away for repairs.
President Putin Commissions New Zil Limousine
We wrote recently about the resurgence of legendary Russian Luxury automaker Zil. The struggling company recently received a huge boost when they delivered an order to the Kremlin, a new limo for Russian President Vladimir Putin. The presidential limo will be called “Limo Number One,” and Zil reports that it took six years to manufacture. The new limo is awaiting final approval from Kremlin officials, but it is expected to pass inspections and begin transporting the president and other Russian dignitaries in the very near future.
Limo Number One features six doors, calf leather upholstery, a video screen that shows the road ahead to passengers when privacy shutters are closed, the obligatory armored plate, advanced telecommunications equipment and many other security features that will not be made available to the public. The presidential limo is powered by a huge 7.7-liter motor easily capable of accelerating the 7,000-pound vehicle to reported top speeds of 125 mph.
After many years of being transported in a Mercedes limousine, President Putin will join predecessors Nikita Krushchev, Leonid Brezhnev, Mikhail Gorbachev and many other Russian dignitaries by riding in a Zil limousine, a move viewed as very important to reviving the automaker and the Russian economy.
Mikhail Sattarov, the head of luxury models at Zil, revived a bit of Cold War brinksmanship as well, saying that the new presidential limo is demonstrably better than President Obama’s new Cadillac One limousine, unofficially named “The Beast.”
Mr. Sattarov remarked, "We saw what Obama rides in; it’s an ugly submarine with no aesthetics," he said. "It looks awful."
With all due respect, we disagree with Mr. Sattarov. Given the Zil’s history of designing limousines that more closely resemble cereal boxes on wheels, we would expect a bit more restraint on his part when critiquing the looks of other automakers’ vehicles.
If you have a special event in the near future and you’d like to reserve one of our San Francisco limos, party buses, SUV limos or other luxury vehicles, give us a call today at NLS Limo at 800-339-8936 to make reservations today. We treat each of our guests like heads of state and provide a level of customer service that keeps them coming back again and again. If you’re looking for the best Bay Area limousine rental experience at the best rates, just give us a call, and let us take care of the rest!
More Details About Presidential Limo Revealed
We have written about President Obama’s new limousine in previous posts, but some new information about this very customized limo has come to light recently, and we thought our readers might appreciate a bit more information about what is affectionately known as “The Beast.” Unlike our San Francisco limos, the presidential limo is built to withstand a bomb blast and chemical attack, is bullet-proof (naturally), features a mobile office in the rear and is powered by a very thirsty 6.6-liter engine. How thirsty is The Beast? Gas mileage is estimated at slightly under eight miles to the gallon, or around seven times thirstier than a Toyota Prius.
During the planning phase of the new presidential limo, Mr. Obama had requested that the limo be a hybrid. However, the logistics of creating a hybrid limo complete with armored plate panels up to eight inches thick on the doors proved too problematic, and the President had to make a concession. During an early meeting about the limo, President Obama said, “I asked can we make these cars hybrids. Secret Service said no. Now the reason is not because Secret Service are bad guys. It’s because these cars that I’m in are like tanks.”
In addition to the armored plate, the limo also features a mixture of protective materials including high-strength steel, aluminum, ceramics, titanium and other materials that remain classified. There is an oxygen system, fire-fighting equipment, bulletproof tires, night vision cameras and other security equipment the Secret Service is loath to disclose. For weaponry, details are still sketchy, but we did learn that the limo features at least one tear gas cannon and shotguns strategically stashed in the door panels. The limo also contains an indeterminate amount of the President’s own blood in case a transfusion becomes necessary.
The Beast is a truly remarkable limousine, and we are ever on the lookout for more information about the President’s ride. If you’re looking for a fun and affordable San Francisco limo experience, we have good news for you! You don’t have to be the President to enjoy first-class service and accommodations. Simply call us at NLS Limo today at 1-800-339-8936 to make a reservation! Our Bay Area limousine may not feature any armaments, but they do feature wet bars and many other luxury amenities. Call us today to learn more about our affordable rates and your rental options.
Indians Get Rare Glance at Obama’s Presidential Limousine During Asia Trip
Car lovers in Mumbai, India got a rare treat recently when President Obama paid them a visit as part of his Asian trip. President Obama was traveling in his new Cadillac presidential limousine, the Barack Mobile C1, the “ultimate vehicle on the planet.”
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