The hidden features on the president’s $20,000,000 heavily armored car ‘The Beast’ will blow you away
Published on Jan 13, 2026 at 5:44 AM (UTC+4)
by Claire Reid
Last updated on Jan 13, 2026 at 5:44 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Claire Reid
The heavily-armored V8-powered US presidential limousine is nicknamed ‘The Beast,’ and after a look at some of its impressive features, it’s easy to see why.
As one of the most important people on the planet, the President of the United States can’t be expected to travel around in your typical vehicle.
Instead, the POTUS has a specially-equipped 10-tonne Cadillac as his personal transport vehicle.
Dubbed ‘The Beast’ the slick-looking black limo comes with an incredible array of security and safety features from night-vision cameras to tear gas cannons – and a whole lot more besides.
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The Beast is… well, an absolute beast of a vehicle
The first US president to ride in a car was President William McKinley, who rode in a Stanley Motor Carriage Company steam car all the way back in 1901.
As you can probably imagine, a lot has changed since then.
Now the official US presidential state car is an absolute monster – known, fittingly, as The Beast – and comes with enough gadgets and high-tech security features that even James Bond would be impressed.
With security and safety of paramount importance, The Beast features armored bodywork that is just under five inches thick and is designed to withstand bullets and explosions.
There’s an additional armored plate backed with explosion-proof foam over the gas tank, for extra peace of mind.
Its extra-thick windows and doors are completely bulletproof, and it sits on Kevlar-reinforced run-flat tires.
The super-sized vehicle also comes with tear gas cannons, smoke screens, and night vision devices, as well as oil slicks that act as defensive measures against would-be attackers.
Under the hood, the car has a 6.6-liter V8 diesel engine, that’s powerful enough to lug around the car, which weighs between eight and 10-tonnes.
The presidential vehicle carries some unexpected items on board
Outwardly, The Beast is basically a fortress on wheels.
Meanwhile, the inside contains some unusual – but very important – additions.
The presidential car has its own oxygen supply, which can be piped directly into its hermetically sealed cabin in case of an attack.
It also houses a refrigerated supply of blood that matches the POTUS’s blood type, as well as other medical supplies.
And to ensure that communication runs smoothly between The Beast and other vehicles in the motorcades, there’s a top-of-the-range communication system.
As for the cost, estimates put the price of building such a vehicle at between $1.5 and $2 million.
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Claire Reid is a journalist who hails from the UK but is now living in New Zealand. She began her career after graduating with a degree in Journalism from Liverpool John Moore’s University and has more than a decade of experience, writing for both local newspapers and national news sites. Claire covers a wide variety of topics, with a special focus on cars, technology, planes, cryptocurrency, and luxury.
