He shall never see the front seat much less drive that is a job for minons not the bass.

MIke, Rio Rancho, NM, USA

It's the right vehicle for it's cargo. Course it needs a big engine to carry the weight of all the armour plating.

Now if the Secret Service gives anyone from the outgoing Bush administration anything more than a bicycle to get around on then that's a whole different story..

Dan, Harrogate, UK

This is quite absurd.

Barack Obama is the most powerful man in the world. He need as much protection as possible! Since Kennedy, all presidents have had armoured cars.
These cars are super heavy and can not run on a 1.2 litre low emmision engine!

The Times should know better. Utter rubbish.

JP, Manchester,

The cars were ordered last July when it wasn't sure who would be president. They were ordered in consultation with the Secret Service. In actual fact, the president has little to say about his security. McCain could have been the passenger.

Morgan, Fort Lauderdale, USA

Have you people truly got nothing better to worry about?

John F, London,

The Mercury Mariner is a nice little 4-5 seat SUV, available in hybrid. But wait! The 2-seat SMART is now available in the US. Surely all the Pres needs is a driver while he reads his papers? (or maybe a unicycle with organic tires?) Yes, if you swallow simplistic journalism.

liam, Philly, USA

3 reasons why the President elect needs a safe vehicle.

1. President Kennedy
2. John Lennon
3. Upwards of 30,000 gun related deaths a year

John F, LONDON, UK

READ the story,as stated they started test driving that tank before they even knew who was going to be president. So it's not like he became president and instead of a green car he wanted a polluting, gas guzzler!! It seems bad, but it also meant for the protection of not just him but his family!!

Anna, Falls Church,

I'm glad to see that the President will be well protected. One chief executive having his head blown off by a sniper is quite enough, thank you very much.

Ellid, easthampton, USA

Dear Lord, armored Presidential limousines pollute more than Priuses!

Clearly, Obama should travel everywhere on foot, planting a redwood sapling every ten paces.

Sid, Courtenay, Canada

I find it funny that most of the sensible comments on this article were written by McCain supporters. (important to protect him regardless of politics)

will, Wenzhou, China

Yawn! Who cares? the world has more pressing environmental issues to deal with than the milleage of a presidential motorcade, such as deforrestation, conservation etc.

I'd prefer to see reports that deal with real issues rather than about the CO2 bogey man of obama's car...

Paul, Manchester, UK

The U.S. Secret Service acknowledged that threats on the life of Mr.Obama spiked following the invective used at Republican Party rallies (one McCain/Palin supporter shouted "kill him" on TV.)These cars were ordered long before Obama was elected. He needs protection from crazies. Keep him safe.

Roger, Hamilton, Bermuda

OK, the President of the United States needs a car which prevent him form an attack. Just remember how many US Presidents died (or nearly died) from bullets.
Whatever the consumpiton of this car, just offset its CO2 emission by financing a green project (groxwing trees or anyrthing else) !

Alain, PARIS, FRANCE

After the greenie, tree hugging environmentalists and the global warming ,climate change nonsense is proven to be just that, after wasting billions of dollars on pipe dreams, we'll look back and come to the realization that China,India,and Russia have relegated us to be a fourth rate power.

Ron Miller, Clinton , United States of America

George W. owns the most environmentally friendly house of any US President, ever. Check it out

http://www.snopes.com/politics/bush/house.asp

Richard, Laguna, US

The newly elected president picks his own car. It's a presidential perk that is decades old, predating JFK.
George W. Bush, John McCain and any other republican has nothing to do with it.
Stop worshiping Obama as a god come back to reality.

Rob, Baltimore, usa

This goes to show how ridiculous green people can be. The kind of weight this limo must carry could NOT be carried by hybrid technology. This is the (future) president we're talking about. Whether you like him or not, he must be secure, which requires him to be well-armoured and with decoys.

Dave, Orlando, USA

It makes sense that the Presidential limousine will not get good gas mileage. Anybody recall reading that line about "a raised roof, windows up to 5in thick, extra-strength tyres and a body made of steel, aluminium, titanium and ceramics" ?

Michael, Winchester, England

sounds like your typical politburo hypocrisy, "do as i say, not as i do" - the left wing elite will be able to shelter higher taxes, while us "upper middle class" rich people (a whopping $130K a year!) will get higher taxes in the form of different guises.

G, Seattle,

David from chicago is the voice of no reason. Bush? lets be real. Like many politicians from both sides of the aisle, they do not practice what they preach.

jason, Indianapolis, USA

Read the story, it is being prepared for OBAMA, not Bush. I am surprised that this vehicle will be the vehicle for a Green president--somebody did not think this through.

Fred, Herndon, USA

I didnt vote for Obama and don't agree with almost anything he stands for but he is our president and deserves to be protected without having to be concerned with what the environmentalist birkenstock mafia has to say.

Jeff, Chicago,

Why does he need 3 brand new custom-built limos? Besides their gas-guzzling tendencies, there is also an environmental impact from manufacturing them.
What is wrong with the limo fleet used by Bush? This seems very wasteful to build a brand new fleet to replace a perfectly good existing fleet.

Drew, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, USA

Some people need to get over the election. I don't care if you he is purple, green or orange with polka dots. Just do a good job. His proctection is the most important because of the color of his skin and how small minded some people are.

Lois, New Castle, USA

No, Regan, I'm not defending Obama, just logic. Note that this limo was "road-tested last summer". Gosh, golly, gee whiz, that was before Obama had been elected. Bet it was planned and built even before he was the Democratic nominee! Get a clue.

Beej, Lincoln, NE

In what way is it a gas guzzler? These things need to be measured by passenger miles right? Obama journey carries the dreams of millions. Per person, that's not a lot of gas then :-)

Frode Hegland, London, UK

Maybe he should just stay in the white house and not come out for 4 years. We will all benefit as he has no leadership experience anyway

Dave, Cannon Falls, USA

While I, too, am no fan of President-elect Obama, this truly is unreasonable. There are no hybrid tanks in any military and until there is, there isn't the technology to supply an adequate hybrid drive train for the presidential limousine. It must carry too much weight for the armour!!!

Lane, Stamford, USA

Do as I say and not as I do. Obama should lead by example. He certainly can have a green auto if he wants to. Tired of Washington telling taxpayers how to live and to pay more to save the planet but it never applies to them.

Lise, fairfield, fairfield

Who cares if the car is a hull-armored MRAP- Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle that gets 5 miles to the gallon. I want the President-elect safe. He was the first candidate to require Secret Service protection during the primaries due to repeated death threats. Yawn - much ado about nothing

Marcee, Los Angeles, USA

He can take it to the gym on Sunday....

joe, Folsom, CA, USA

Here come all the Obama defenders making excuses for him before he is even inaugurated. Where's the courage? To claim he does not have a say - give me a break! He'll be the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES! He can tell the secret service what car he'll drive if he wants to.

Regan, Tampa, FL, USA

With Obama in office we're all done for..

Bob Sanders, Green Bay,

I think the world can spare a few gallons of gas to protect a president . Think of all the fuel we'll save just by leaving Iraq!

Antillies, St Louis, USA

Well what does Air Force One run on? Cabbages?

Michael, Liverpool, UK

The President doesn't decide what car to use, the Secret Service makes that decision.

James, Milwaukee, USA

And I'm sure if there was a hybrid version of this car that was equal in safety as this one I'm sure Obama would request the Secret Service to look into it. It's not like he has a say in these matters....

Sara, London,

Wait a minute. The MSM and all the dems are telling us that the whole world loves Obamba and that the dangers the repubs have been warning us about over the last 8 years were just a ploy to "play on our fears" and elect McCain, so why does "the one " who has inspired the world, need a tank?

Gary, Los Angeles,

Pack out the publication with useless content...

david, Stourbridge, uk

Clearly a case of Do as I say, not as I do. No surprises there.

Steve, derby, uk

I'm pretty positive that the administation has very little input on the car, and to be fair, try get a hybrid to carry 10 tonnes of effective tank at 50 to the gallon, it just won't happen. the car has its own atmosphere in case of gas attack for god sake, I don't think a prius will work:)

graeme, Newcastle, UK

Good lord now I've heard it all. You yahoo's who blame this on the Bush Administration really need to get a life and a clue.... This is the same type of limo that the President of the United States has been riding around in for decades. Who are you gonna blame when Bush is gone?

Robert, Dallas, USA

If this was test driven last summer, it could have been for McCain if he had won.

Ed Clancy , New Orleans,

This is not news, this is just fuel for the fire in ignorant peoples minds - this article is causing more pollution than the new "official limo" ever will.

John, Baltimore,

Obama did not choose this car, the Bush administration did. I'm sure Secret Service had major imput. To suggest responsibility of the new President, shows ignorance of the process.

Dave, Louisville, USA

security for the president of the nation is the most important
factor so its okay relax

mike, san diego, usa

A useless article, for all reasons that should be obvious. Please do real and useful news.

Hugh Howell, Honolulu, USA

I don't care if it gets 1 MPG as long as it keeps him safe.

Republican who voted for McCain, Atlanta, USA

While no fan of Obama, I tire of these "gotcha" type complaints. The United States Secret Service is in charge of the protection of the President of the United States, and it is the Secret Service that specs the vehicles the President rides in. Whoever the President is, their safety is paramount.

Doug, Iowa, USA

Sounds typical for the US automobile industry. Unable to adapt. No wonder it is asking for a hand-out from the taxpayer.

Chris, Ashford, Middx, England

Slow news day?

Ed, Kill Devil Hills, USA

Stupid...he was not event president last summer when the car was tested. The point???

Randy , Dallas, US

You expect our President to ride in a Civic. Get real!

Thomas Hagerman, Los Angeles,

Clearly Obama's going to be a terrorist target. You can harly expect him to go places ina normal car. Please find some real news to report.

ChrisHealy, Woking, UK

A small price to pay to protect the currently most important job on the planet. Face it, he will be the most targetted person in any administration ever!

Tom Minch, Hudson, Ohio

Remember that this car isn't made simply to ferry the President around town.

A fleet of C-130 Hercules cargo lifts are maintained to "follow" Air Force One everywhere it flies. These are the cars the President will be driven around in when fleeting about foreign capitals, friendly or otherwise.

Shane, Sarasota, USA

I suppose there is a more useless story online, but I haven't found it.

The protection of our soon-to-be president is none of your concern. I don't care if it requires mid-air refueling, Obama, like Bush before him and whomever follows Obama needs the best protection available.

Mike, Columbus, Ohio, USA

Think Animal House...."Road Trip! Road Trip! Road Trip!....."

Roy, USA,

1. I did not vote for Obama and rarely support his policies. I think this story is unfair to him on so many levels. They clearly were ordered before he was even elected. At this point, his only option would be to scrap 3 new vehicles (with no civilian use) to appear environmentally friendly.

Brad , Farmington, USA

I highly doubt that there a hybrid limo available yet that can be customized to have bulletproof armor and the various other security features that the Secret Service would require. Seriously, why is this news? He isn't even president yet.

Jeanette, New Milford., CT, United States

OBAMA had nothing to do with this vehicle : it's a BUSH administration monstrosity ! its BUSH's car

david, chicago, usa

While I dislike and distrust Obama, this story is not fair to him.

Anyone familiar with armored vehicles will tell you how much they weigh. It would have been a nice symbolic gesture for O to use an existing limo, but if this was was already on order, that would be a bigger waste of money.

Bruno Pescado, NYC, USA

The President of the USA is an immediate target for every idiot that wants to make a name for him/herself. The new vehicle has incorporated into it all the information that the Iraqi urban warfare has taught us including IED attacks. When people quit hating then the Prez can go green.

Dee Adams, Dallas USA,

A hybrid could NOT be used to convey the POTUS they are too underpowered to remove him from harms way quickly enough. There is a reason that it is built like a tank and safety cannot be traded for efficiency in this case.

John, Austin, USA

Obama had no trouble acting presidential during his campaign - why is he suddenly unable or unwilling to step in and make a statement about a matter that affects him personally? All he has to say is that this car will not do, His actions simply don't match his promises. (Get used to that concept.)

Kyle, Lubbock, USA

This is a non-story. It's required to protect the POTUS. I guess you all think a Prius could be armored? Stupid stupid story!

Matt, Syracuse, USA

I didn't vote for Barrack Hussein Obama, but this is a stupid story. He is going to be our Commander in Chief(God Help Us). He needs to be protected at "all costs". This whole global warming thing is bogus anyway(go ahead and chastise me, but in 10 years we'll all be in fear of global cooling..)

David, Sarasota, God's

Give me a break! This was not either a Bush decision nor an Obamma decision. this was a decision by the Secret Service. It is their Task, Duty to protect the President, no matter who he is, quite honestly people need to get a life. Adapting a truck or anything else is ludicrous. NEW is the answe

Bill, Dallas, USA

This is one of the dumbest article I've ever read. I thought you British are supposed to be smarter than us "Yanks". I guess the Poshes and Beckmans are indicative of your country.

Jerome, DC, USA

This is an idiotic article. We're talking about the vehicle that the leader of the free world rides in, not some new model that is going to be rolled out by gm. Geesh!

andrew, USA,

How petty to make this an issue, do you want the first black american president to ride about on a bike with a target on his hi-vis vest?

richard dow, Stenhousemuir,

Right on "Ron."
As far as you libs are concerned, don't you think the current President is seriously concerned about his security and has a darn safe vehicle! But like all politicians, the new guy has to have his "own" vehicle. He follows the old adage, "do as I say, not as I do."

EL, L.A., USA

Obviously these vehicles were:
1. Designed and ordered long before president elect Obama was the POTUS elect
2. Required for security
3. Heavey and therefore a gas guzzler to carry that considerable weight
4. The President of the United States is Commander-In_Chief and that is a military rank

Dan, Chardon, USA

Compare the cost of keeping the US President safe with the same costs for your Queen. I'm sure money is wasted on both counts. Obama? Didn't vote for him. Don't trust him. Don't care what kind of dog he gets or where his kids go to school or what his wife wears. It's gonna be a long 4 years.

Joey, Greensboro, USA

This limo was ordered long before the election. It is a bit of a stretch to criticize Obama for it. It's just another questionable decision by the Bush Administration.

Richard Lewis, Rosendale, USA

Haha, I wonder if all the "as long as he's safe" apologists would be saying the same thing if it was Bush, McAmnesty, or Palin that we are talking about.

Mmmhmm...exactly.

ALSO, I thought that according to the great messiah, we cannot expect to drive around in the cars we like.

What a hypocrite.

Narcissa, Las Vegas, USA

I wonder about you people sometime. The New York Times had an extensive article on the new Presidental limo several weeks ago. It's been in production for several years. Only the base chasis is made by GM; the car itself is made by a customer body maker. Remember that Obama is not the President

Burlroad, Neptune Beach, FL, US

So what if its a gas guzzler? Does it matter? I expect you'd find something more interesting to write about.

Phil, London, UK

And exactly how is this a story worthy of such an esteemed paper? God save me from a slow news day.

Oh wait, someone shot at The Ukranian and Polish PMS... hmmmmmm.

Alex Hamilton, New York NY,

He talks the talk, but doesn't walk the walk. Is anyone with a brain really surprised?

Steve R., Alabama, USA

Custom building an eight ton hybrid presidential limo is ridiculous in 2008. The vehicle has but one purpose, to get the president safely from point A to point B.

Michael, Grove City, OH,

This is a non-story. So the car gets 10 miles per gallon. The huge MILITARY CARGO JET that carries the car to every city that Obama visits gets far worse mileage.

Jeesh, if you're going to do a story about symbolism (rather than substance), might as well do it up right.

Jay Reeder, Washington, USA

The President has nothing to say about his limo, we Yanks do not want another JFK.

Mercury Mariner? What twit said that?

Besides being an amored vehicle designed to look like a Caddy, the vehicle has extensive secure communications systems. That could be one of the reasons for new vehicles.

Tom, Lansing, USA

C'mon folks, The armored car has to be able to move all of that heavy armor, very quickly without fail to get the man out of danger. The current chassis that it is built on makes the most sense. There just aren't any commercially available alternatives.

Scott, Suisun City, USA

I don't think they've created a light weight limo capable of protecting him and that matters, doesn't it?

Dev, Washington, D.C., U.S.A.

The president-elect deserves all strategic forms of security available. IF he can steer the automakers into making more efficient and green vehicles, he should have all of our blessings to ride around in any tank available or made for his use. Get off his back and give him a chance.

Russ, McKinney, USA

In it's self this means nothing, but watch for this is the first of many, "do as I say, not as I do"

Larry, Indianola, USA

What is wrong with the cars Bush used?

Eric Downer, Honiton, United Kingdom

in the case some of you went to public school, John Kennedy ordered to have his roof removed from his limo so he can be more in touch with the ppl of Dallas.

johnnyhemi, mesa, USA

What do you expect? 10 miles a gallon is better than the Hummer. If that is what we have to pay to keep Obama safe, it's a fantastic deal! Being 7 miles from White House, I am planning on attending his swearing in ceremony. I felt as I voted for Obama, that I was voting for the rest of the world!!

John Merica, Arlington, Virginia, USA

The article says that the limo was built/tested this summer. You could just as easily call it McCain's car as calling it Obama's car except for one thing. Obama won the election so he gets it and everything else that Bush leaves him on January 20th. I did not vote for Obama but wish him well.

Alex Degaston, Fairfax, VA, USA

The environmental movement has nothing to do with protecting the environment. They want to bring about social and economic change by destroying US enterprise by pushing through environmental requirements that don't protect the evironment, but will cost companies greatly and hurt competitiveness.

Bob Hunter, Dener, USA

I've heard since being young, that we were headed for an ice age in 20 years. Nothing. Now it's global warming. I'm all for being smart with the resources, but lets stop all the crisis mongering. Let 's be energy independent because it's the right thing to do.

Keith, mesa, USA

I didn't vote for the guy but come on... this is a secret service vehicle not his personal car he bought while in College. should he fly in a cessna instead of Airforce One to save gas? all we need right now is a dead president and let's see where this economy goes further.

David, Garwood NJ, USA

The Backus family of Dalton, Georgia, is a U.S. military experiment gone bad. We actual Americans apologize.

Conrad, Tobar, USA

He's just another ambitious politician more concerned with his own security, comfort, and power than anything else. He's no different than the rest of them. Our new master is only different from the old by how much he wants to take from us.

Ron, Nashville, USA

The President's vehicle is a specially designed military vehicle dressed up to look like a limosine. It's not a regular limo, nor should it be. The President needs to be protected when travelling, so these precautions are necessary. This article is not fair.

John, Marshfield, MA , USA

dumb subject cause he has no say in what he drives in now.
What bothers me is the hypocracy of sending his kids to private school. He really could have made an amazing statement by sending his kids to the dc public school. but as usual mr. o is a hypocrite and hopefully he will govern that way

louis, Chevy Chase,

Why doesn't Obama just ride in a tank and be done with it? That way, he'll always be protected. He just needs to keep an eye on the Clintons. Hopefully he'll keep in mind what they did to Vince Foster and others.

Roberto, New York,

What do you expect? Did he replace the chrome with gold? How many speakers does it have and does it have the all important sub-woofer?

M Backus, Dalton, USA

If President John F. Kennedy would have had something like this - He may not have been taken before his job was finished.

L.Elliott-George, Wymondham,

Remember that Obama is a politician. Obama only purchased his hybrid when he started his campaign and when he is in DC, he has a hired limo paid by the government. All he made so far is just promises. Let him take office and over time, we will see what actions he takes.

Dan, Clearwater, USA

I didn't vote for Senator Obama. If this type of car is what his USSS protectors believe they need to keep him safe, great!

I take issue with the fact we have elevated the position of POTUS to nearly an emperor with a praetorian guard. He is supposed for work for us, not the other way around.

Alex, Los Angeles, USA

Environmentalists are always in a "forgiving mood" as long as you say the right things. Then what it amounts to is that the people telling us how to live can do whatever they want (e.g.; hypocrasy). Case in point: Al "the message is bigger than the man" Gore.

Sam Spade, Chicago, USA

FDR didn't need ONE!...A used POPEMobil would have worked or M1A1 Tank.

ken G, orlando, USA!

no 'change' there then for americas answer to Tony Blair

rob, ashbourne, uk

Didn't vote for him, wouldn't vote for him and why should he ride in a car that is so inefficient. Don't care what kind of dog he gets, don't care where his kids go to school or if they go to school. The Democrats sold us down the river.l We really need to be praying for ourselves and this country.

Linda, Houston, USA

If the vehicle was being road tested last summer, it wasn't exactly Obama's choice, now was it?

Finley Snipes III, Louisville, KY, USA

Much as I object to the sorts of policeis proposed by Obama, and to those which I expect to actually come from his administration, the notion that the President should be in some light-weight vehicle is laughable on the face it. We'd spend a lot more resources on replacing assassinated Presidents than we spend on fuel for that vehicle.

Daniel, San Diego, CA, US, US

If it is designed to protect him and keep him safe, then I could care less how much gas it guzzles.

Lisa, New York,

The tune-up/tire inflation idea is outdated. A tune-up helps if your car is 10 years or older, and tire inflation makes a minimal difference on mid-size vehicles. Wishful thinking on the greenpeoples part.

mike, dallas, usa

As long as Mr. obama`s car emissions are lower than all other cars in the U.S.A , i`m cool with his 10 ton blast proof gas guzzler. After all we voted for him, and his safety comes first. Let`s see how the first four years go, worry `bout his gas guzzler later.that`s another gray hair no 1 needs

Michael lee, Conyers, USA

well, if we could only get this type of vehicles for our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, maybe so many wouldn't die from IEDs... hmm...

CS, Boston,

Security is the paramount concern, who cares about his car consuming a ton of gas.

Joe, LA, USA

As long as he gets regular tune-ups and inflates the tires every week, I can handle President Obama having a gas-guzzler for his official limo.

Bill S., Modesto, USA