Daimler announced today that it has delivered Pope Benedict XVI his new popemobile. The Pope’s new custom ride is a one-of-a-kind Mercedes-Benz M-Class SUV with quite a few special security features. Daimler said the new car was delivered Friday to the Vatican and people should be able to see the pope riding in it Saturday in Rome during a celebration at the Spanish Steps.
Compared with the previous popemobile, a modified M-Class from 2002, Mercedes has extended the dome significantly to give the pope more room and easier entry. Larger glass panels and better illumination also aim to make the pontiff more visible and seemingly more accessible to crowds. The white-painted vehicle’s central interior design feature is a ‘‘throne’’ embroidered with the pontiff’s coat of arms.
Not surprisingly, Daimler did not go into detail as to what exactly the vehicle’s security features included, but you can bet it has similar features to those found in the Mercedes-Benz Guard Models.
