Some of the most high profile vehicles in the world are the official state cars used by nations to transport their heads of state. These vehicles are used to transport some of the most important individuals in the world, from the emperor of Japan to the queen of England to the president of the United States. These vehicles must not only be reliable but stylish as well, so it comes as no surprise that limousines are often the vehicle of choice for official state cars. Limousines can be styled in almost any way that the traveler can imagine and there are a number of luxury vehicles that can be modified into a limousine. Limousines can also be modified for the increased safety required for many heads of state. For these reasons, limousines are often the type of vehicle chosen by heads of state for their transport.
One of the reasons that limousines are popular for use as an official state car is that so many different types of vehicles can be modified into a limousine. The emperor of Japan is driven in a specially modified Toyota Century that is estimated to be close to twenty feet in length. Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom uses a modified Bentley Arnage for travel to important functions. The German heads of state favor limousines created from Mercedes-Benz S-class vehicles, along with some Audi and Volkswagen models that have also been modified into limousines. The limousine style can be incorporated in a large number of vehicles, allowing the heads of state to choose the limousine version that appeals to them the most.
Another reason that limousines are popular choices for official state cars is that the actual vehicle can be modified and tailored to the needs of the individuals that will be using the car. The most popular modification for these types of vehicles is armor plating for the safety of the passengers inside. There are only a small number of companies worldwide that have the ability to armor plate a car and they work almost exclusively for the heads of state that require their vehicles to be armored for safety. Some individuals like to customize the interior of their limousines to further reflect their status and personality. The official state car of Emperor Akihito of Japan has a custom granite entryway installed along with a V-12 engine, very rarely seen in Japan. No matter what the personal style of the head of state may be, there is a type limousine available that will appeal to them.
Cadillac DTS Limousine used as an Official State Car
(Image from NetCarShow.com)
