At one time, Cadillacs and Lincolns represented the pinnacle of one’s success for ever black man. Radio’s “Fly Jock,” Tom Joyner, invested $30,000 in a new Lincoln, after he thought he had secured partial payment of a healthy bonus for supposedly convincing Muhammad Ali to host a syndicated sports talk show in the seventies. While many from the community have gravitated toward Lexus and Mercedes to reflect their current social status, our new president is bringing cool back again in his new limo designed by Cadillac.
Unlike Joyner and every other successful black man owning a Cadillac or Lincoln, there is something unique about Obama’s vehicle. This is the first time an African American has been charged with working hand-in-hand with the Secret Service to oversee such a coveted automotive assignment. Edward Welburn, a graduate of Howard University and the only African American to head the global design team of any automaker, is making history, too. Since 2005, Welburn has been responsible for the design development of every new GM vehicle. He heads a team of over 1,400 men and women operating 11 design centers in eight countries around the world.
In fact, this assignment was so secretive that Welburn remained tight-lipped about releasing any information about the details of this vehicle during my recent one-on-one interview with him at North America’s International Auto Show held in Detroit. The only tidbit he shared was that this vehicle was designed in what he referred to as being “Studio X,” GM’s private classified design studio for advance projects.
Although I was unable to get this car enthusiast to open up about this once in a lifetime assignment, I managed to get a few details about Obama’s new ride from my GM inside sources. For instance, the front-end of Obama’s new Caddy incorporates the signature grill found on GM’s popular CTS and Escalade. And the rear cabin includes an executive-like suite with embroidered presidential seals, ample seating space and mobile technology for our gadget-savvy President. Obama’s vehicle will have an extensive set of security measures incorporated in it too. Unfortunately, I am not at liberty to share the details.
Since 1993, when Clinton, the last Democratic president took delivery of his limo, GM has manufactured all of the presidential vehicles in-house, as opposed to subcontracting the work to an outside source.
Because of security reasons, neither GM nor the Secret Service will reveal such information as pricing, engine type or the material the vehicle is outfitted in. I can only assume Obama won’t be riding in a fuel-efficient hybrid, although may be in his second term the president may consider a hybrid-based Cadillac limo.
Just think: Obama‘s new house – The White House – was made by the hands of slaves, while his new limo also involved the hands of a descendant of slaves.
Unlike Joyner and every other successful black man owning a Cadillac or Lincoln, there is something unique about Obama’s vehicle. This is the first time an African American has been charged with working hand-in-hand with the Secret Service to oversee such a coveted automotive assignment. Edward Welburn, a graduate of Howard University and the only African American to head the global design team of any automaker, is making history, too. Since 2005, Welburn has been responsible for the design development of every new GM vehicle. He heads a team of over 1,400 men and women operating 11 design centers in eight countries around the world.
In fact, this assignment was so secretive that Welburn remained tight-lipped about releasing any information about the details of this vehicle during my recent one-on-one interview with him at North America’s International Auto Show held in Detroit. The only tidbit he shared was that this vehicle was designed in what he referred to as being “Studio X,” GM’s private classified design studio for advance projects.
Although I was unable to get this car enthusiast to open up about this once in a lifetime assignment, I managed to get a few details about Obama’s new ride from my GM inside sources. For instance, the front-end of Obama’s new Caddy incorporates the signature grill found on GM’s popular CTS and Escalade. And the rear cabin includes an executive-like suite with embroidered presidential seals, ample seating space and mobile technology for our gadget-savvy President. Obama’s vehicle will have an extensive set of security measures incorporated in it too. Unfortunately, I am not at liberty to share the details.
Since 1993, when Clinton, the last Democratic president took delivery of his limo, GM has manufactured all of the presidential vehicles in-house, as opposed to subcontracting the work to an outside source.
Because of security reasons, neither GM nor the Secret Service will reveal such information as pricing, engine type or the material the vehicle is outfitted in. I can only assume Obama won’t be riding in a fuel-efficient hybrid, although may be in his second term the president may consider a hybrid-based Cadillac limo.
Just think: Obama‘s new house – The White House – was made by the hands of slaves, while his new limo also involved the hands of a descendant of slaves.
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