Cadillac Escalade Camp Package Joins The Beast In Presidential Motorcade

Looks like the U.S. President has a new ride for when the famous limo stays behind. The United States Secret Service has quietly added a pair of heavily modified SUVs known as the Cadillac Escalade Camp Package to the motorcade.

These trucks are meant for situations where the presidential limousine, better known as The Beast, might struggle. Think rougher terrain, narrow streets, or locations where a massive armored limo just isn’t practical. The SUVs actually made their first public appearance during the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos earlier this year, though the Secret Service is only now sharing a few more details.

There are two of them in service, which is pretty typical for presidential transport. The motorcade almost always includes backup vehicles in case something goes wrong. SUVs have been used before, too. In the past, armored versions of the Chevrolet Suburban have handled similar duties when the road ahead wasn’t ideal for the limo.

The agency hasn’t revealed exactly what protection these Escalades carry, but the clues are there. The window frames look reinforced, and the trucks ride on heavy-duty eight-lug wheels, which usually means the vehicle underneath has been seriously strengthened to handle armor.

Another interesting detail is the design. The SUVs look closer to an older-generation Cadillac Escalade rather than the newest model currently on sale. That raises the possibility that these could actually be modified Suburbans wearing Cadillac body panels, since both SUVs share the same underlying platform.

Officially, the Secret Service simply describes them as “full-size sport utility vehicles with Cadillac branding.” That is about as much information as they are willing to share. And honestly, when it comes to presidential security vehicles, that level of mystery is probably part of the point.