When Barack Obama lands in Delhi for the Republic Day celebrations, he will be taken along the city’s prime esplanade in a vehicle fitted with a special night-vision system, tear gas cannons, steel wheels, a blood bank holding the president’s blood type and its own oxygen supply. Obama’s Cadillac limousine, or the ‘Beast’, as the US Secret Service likes to call it, will be used to ferry him during the course of his visit to India.
Obama’s, however, is not the only fortress on wheels that will trundle down Rajpath. Prime Minister Narendra Modi travels in a BMW 7-Series 760Li Security Edition
Here is a comparison between Obama’s Cadillac and Modi’s BMW
The Beast
> Made of titanium, ceramic, steel and aluminum, the Beast has 8-inch thick armour-plated doors. They weigh as much as the cabin door of a Boeing 757 jet.
> Tyres are shred and puncture resistant, with steel rims underneath. The car can easily survive if the tyres are blown away. Thanks to the steel rims, the car can drive at high speeds even without the tyres.
> It is equipped with an advanced fire-fighting system, night-vision cameras and tear gas cannons
> The boot has a bank of the president’s blood type and an oxygen supply system.
> Inside the car, the president has access to a state of the art satellite phone, which can be connected to the Pentagon and the White House.
Engine: 8,000 cc (approx)
Power: 800 bhp
Fuel: Diesel
Mileage: 3.4 kmpl
0-100 kmph: 15 seconds
Top Speed: 150 kmph
Price: Rs 8 crore
BMW 7-Series 760Li Security edition
> The car is fully compliant with VR7 grade of ballistic protection and parts of it comply with a higher VR9 grade of protection as well.
> The cabin of the car can turn into a gas-safe chamber in case of a gas attack and is also equipped with a back-up oxygen tank.
> It has a self-sealing fuel tank that cannot explode in any circumstances. Also on board, similar to Obama’s car, is a fire-fighting system, emergency exit and thick bullet-proof windows.
> It also has armour plates beneath to withstand mines and bombs.
> It can run on flat tyres for several kilometres and possesses advanced heat sensors to provide protection from bombs and missiles.
> Modi’s BMW is considerably lighter than Obama’s Cadillac, making it easier to maneuver. However, the Cadillac One generates greater momentum.
Engine: 5,972 cc
Power: 544 bhp
Fuel: Petrol
Mileage: 4.5-7.46 kmpl
0-100 kmph: 6.1 seconds
Top Speed: 210 kmph
Price: Rs 5 crore
