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Auto Blog
13-05-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
General Motors Donated Some Cool Cars to Help Train the Secret Service
Secret Service agents have a very important job Granted their status as one of the world's most influential political leaders, the President of the United States is one of the most protected human assets in the world. Without fail, it is nearly impossible to spot them during public appearances without being within a stone's throw away from a member of their security detail; members of the United States Secret Service. Even when the President is paraded in different countries to meet other world leaders, it would be impossible not to spot the convoy of vehicles in the presidential motorcade, which includes many different cars, including some specially equipped Chevrolet Suburbans. Although it may seem like something out of TV or the movies, Secret Service agents responsible for the safety of the President are trained to be ready for anything, even if it means commandeering an unfamiliar car. General Motors donated a cornucopia of cars to hone Secret Service agents' skills This is where General Motors comes in. Earlier this week, the U.S. Secret Service rekindled its close relationship with the Detroit automaker after it donated 10 different vehicles to the agency's James J. Rowley Training Center (RTC) in Laurel, Maryland. These vehicles serve a broad spectrum across the automaker's brands and include some of its desirable high-performance offerings. GM provided the agency with two Cadillac CT4s, two Cadillac CT5s, and two Chevrolet Corvettes—including one Corvette E-Ray. Curiously, two of the Cadillacs provided were CT4-V and CT5-V Blackwings equipped with manual transmissions; a fairly unusual car for Secret Service use. A Cadillac Escalade at the James J. Rowley Training Center. A Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing at the James J. Rowley Training Center. A Chrvrolet Corvette E-Ray at the James J. Rowley Training Center. Though car enthusiasts and muscle car fans will drool over the idea that the Secret Service gets to train how to protect the President behind the wheel of a CT5-V Blackwing with a 6.2-liter V8 pumping 668 horsepower, the Secret Service sees this as a valuable teaching tool for scenarios when driving stick will be required. They maintain that its special agents assigned to foreign field offices or protective visits could be required to drive manual cars. 'Not everyone is able to operate a manual shift,' said RTC driving instructor Mark Armstrong. 'Having that platform here will enable us to give instruction on how to drive manual vehicles for overseas trips.' The fleet of vehicles donated to the Secret Service training ground also included a Chevrolet Suburban, a Chevrolet Tahoe PPV, a Cadillac Escalade, and a Chevrolet Colorado ZR2. Scott Simons, the special agent in charge at the James J. Rowley Training Center, noted that having a variety of vehicles on hand helps agents adapt to different vehicles they may encounter. Vehicles being unloaded at James J. Rowley Training Center. Vehicles being unloaded at James J. Rowley Training Center. 'Experience with different types of vehicles can help instructors teach students how to adapt their driving techniques based on the vehicle they are operating,' Simons said. 'Because each vehicle handles differently in any given situation, exposure to new cars will challenge instructors and give them an opportunity to develop more realistic training scenarios.' Constantine Gerukos, a driving instructor with 13 years of experience at the Secret Service, noted that while advanced driving is an important skill for agents, it is important to test out which vehicles are suitable for training and the field as auto technology evolves. 'I think it is cool to try out all these different platforms to figure out what is going to fit, and what we can use,' Gerukos said. 'The times are changing, and so is the rest of the world. So, we have to do the same thing.' Final thoughts In the press release, one of the driving instructors, Brandon Bohonek, noted that agents are trained to deal with various 'realistic' scenarios and that these vehicles will help add more depth to it. 'The students wouldn't be expecting it,' Bohonek said about the new cars. 'We won't have these vehicles in view. So, they won't know it is out there. They may be expecting a (police) SUV, and all of a sudden, one of these vehicles rolls up. We try to make it as realistic as possible out here, which is not always easy to do.' It should be noted that the Secret Service's responsibilities go beyond protecting the President. Up until 2003, they were a division of the U.S. Treasury, and are currently tasked with investigating a wide range of financial and cyber crimes, including credit card fraud, wire and bank fraud, computer network breaches, ransomware, as well as currency counterfeiting. It would be interesting to see Secret Service agents roll up in Cadillac CT5-V Blackwings to carry out a search warrant for a Superbill investigation or track down the origin of some hackers.
Miami Herald
09-05-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
General Motors Donated Some Cool Cars to Help Train the Secret Service
Granted their status as one of the world's most influential political leaders, the President of the United States is one of the most protected human assets in the world. Without fail, it is nearly impossible to spot them during public appearances without being within a stone's throw away from a member of their security detail; members of the United States Secret Service. Even when the President is paraded in different countries to meet other world leaders, it would be impossible not to spot the convoy of vehicles in the presidential motorcade, which includes many different cars, including some specially equipped Chevrolet Suburbans. Although it may seem like something out of TV or the movies, Secret Service agents responsible for the safety of the President are trained to be ready for anything, even if it means commandeering an unfamiliar car. This is where General Motors comes in. Earlier this week, the U.S. Secret Service rekindled its close relationship with the Detroit automaker after it donated 10 different vehicles to the agency's James J. Rowley Training Center (RTC) in Laurel, Maryland. These vehicles serve a broad spectrum across the automaker's brands and include some of its desirable high-performance offerings. GM provided the agency with two Cadillac CT4s, two Cadillac CT5s, and two Chevrolet Corvettes-including one Corvette E-Ray. Curiously, two of the Cadillacs provided were CT4-V and CT5-V Blackwings equipped with manual transmissions; a fairly unusual car for Secret Service use. Though car enthusiasts and muscle car fans will drool over the idea that the Secret Service gets to train how to protect the President behind the wheel of a CT5-V Blackwing with a 6.2-liter V8 pumping 668 horsepower, the Secret Service sees this as a valuable teaching tool for scenarios when driving stick will be required. They maintain that its special agents assigned to foreign field offices or protective visits could be required to drive manual cars. "Not everyone is able to operate a manual shift," said RTC driving instructor Mark Armstrong. "Having that platform here will enable us to give instruction on how to drive manual vehicles for overseas trips." The fleet of vehicles donated to the Secret Service training ground also included a Chevrolet Suburban, a Chevrolet Tahoe PPV, a Cadillac Escalade, and a Chevrolet Colorado ZR2. Scott Simons, the special agent in charge at the James J. Rowley Training Center, noted that having a variety of vehicles on hand helps agents adapt to different vehicles they may encounter. "Experience with different types of vehicles can help instructors teach students how to adapt their driving techniques based on the vehicle they are operating," Simons said. "Because each vehicle handles differently in any given situation, exposure to new cars will challenge instructors and give them an opportunity to develop more realistic training scenarios." Constantine Gerukos, a driving instructor with 13 years of experience at the Secret Service, noted that while advanced driving is an important skill for agents, it is important to test out which vehicles are suitable for training and the field as auto technology evolves. "I think it is cool to try out all these different platforms to figure out what is going to fit, and what we can use," Gerukos said. "The times are changing, and so is the rest of the world. So, we have to do the same thing." In the press release, one of the driving instructors, Brandon Bohonek, noted that agents are trained to deal with various "realistic" scenarios and that these vehicles will help add more depth to it. "The students wouldn't be expecting it," Bohonek said about the new cars. "We won't have these vehicles in view. So, they won't know it is out there. They may be expecting a (police) SUV, and all of a sudden, one of these vehicles rolls up. We try to make it as realistic as possible out here, which is not always easy to do." It should be noted that the Secret Service's responsibilities go beyond protecting the President. Up until 2003, they were a division of the U.S. Treasury, and are currently tasked with investigating a wide range of financial and cyber crimes, including credit card fraud, wire and bank fraud, computer network breaches, ransomware, as well as currency counterfeiting. It would be interesting to see Secret Service agents roll up in Cadillac CT5-V Blackwings to carry out a search warrant for a Superbill investigation or track down the origin of some hackers. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Cadillac Blackwings Help U.S. Secret Service Learn How to Drive Stick
General Motors donated 10 new cars to the United States Secret Service training facility. The new fleet includes two , two , an , two , a , a with a police package, and a . Of the Cadillac sedans, two are equipped with manual transmissions to help agents hone their three-pedal driving skills. Training for United States Secret Service agents just got a lot more fun. Earlier this week, General Motors dropped off a shipment of 10 new cars to the Secret Service's James J. Rowley Training Center (RTC) in Laurel, Maryland. The video above features some overly dramatic music and mind-bending camera angles, but it also details why the agency wants a diverse testing fleet. The fleet of 10 consists of two Cadillac CT4 sedans, two CT5 sedans, an Escalade, two Chevy Corvettes (including a hybrid all-wheel-drive E-Ray), a Colorado ZR2, a Tahoe with a police package, and a Suburban. According to RTC driving instructor Mark Armstrong, two of the Caddy sedans are equipped with manual transmissions, which means both are the range-topping Blackwing models. The CT4-V Blackwing features a 472-hp twin-turbo V-6, while the mightier CT5-V Blackwing packs a 668-hp supercharged V-8. "Not everyone is able to operate a manual shift," Armstrong said. "Having that platform here will enable us to give instruction on how to drive manual vehicles for overseas trips." The other bonus is the different types of cars included in the fleet. Constantine Gerukos, another instructor at the facility, pointed out that advanced driving is a perishable skill, like a muscle that needs to be worked out, so having a variety of cars can keep trainees and instructors alike fresh. What's not clear is if training agents on manual transmission cars is a new focus awarded by having these Blackwing models in the fleet or if three-pedal driving is a long-standing prerequisite for Secret Service trainees. Car and Driver reached out to the Department of Homeland Security to inquire about the training, and we'll update this story if we hear back. You Might Also Like Car and Driver's 10 Best Cars through the Decades How to Buy or Lease a New Car Lightning Lap Legends: Chevrolet Camaro vs. Ford Mustang!
Motor 1
08-05-2025
- Automotive
- Motor 1
The US Secret Service Can't Drive Stick. GM Is Helping Fix That
We all know that the US President rides around a big Cadillac nicknamed The Beast . You probably also know that it's not really a Cadillac, but an armored behemoth built on a heavy-duty truck chassis. And should you ever see POTUS on parade, you'll definitely see the convoy that goes along for the journey. It's usually a cavalcade of black Chevrolet Suburbans, with perhaps a SWAT vehicle or two thrown in for good measure. Here's the thing: None of those vehicles have manual transmissions, which is fine. But if there was ever an emergency that required a Secret Service agent to drive one, it might be easier said than done. That's why General Motors included two manual-equipped sedans in a fleet of 10 vehicles delivered recently to the US Secret Service training facility in Maryland. 'Not everyone is able to operate a manual shift,' Mark Armstrong, an instructor at the training facility, said in a statement . 'Having that platform here will enable us to give instruction on how to drive manual vehicles for overseas trips.' He makes a good point. While manual-equipped cars are few and far between in the States, they're still widely used in other parts of the world, especially in Europe. The Secret Service usually takes its own vehicles when the President travels abroad, but not all activities involve direct real-time protection. It sure would be awkward for a tough-as-nails agent to climb behind the wheel of a Euro-spec surveillance van and not know what to do with that lever in the middle. If the situation was dire—escaping with the President Hollywood-style in a commandeered vehicle to prevent a global nuclear war for instance—not having the correct training could destroy the world. Hey, it could happen. That's why everyone should learn to drive stick shift. The two manual-equipped sedans aren't mentioned by name, but it's not hard to suss out. Blackwing versions of the Cadillac CT4-V and CT5-V are the only remaining three-pedal cars in GM's garage. Images shared by the US Secret Service show two of each being among the 10 cars delivered. Presumably, one of each has a six-speed manual. Corralling 668 manually shifted horsepower from the CT5-V Blackwing's 6.2-liter supercharged V-8 should be quite a training session. Photo by: US Secret Service The reason for this fleet goes well beyond manual transmission training. Among the fast Caddys are a Chevrolet Suburban , Chevrolet Tahoe , and Cadillac Escalade for full-size SUV familiarity. A beefy Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 is in there, presumably for off-road training. And two Chevrolet Corvettes round out the fleet, though we're at a loss on those. High-performance training could be handled by the Blackwings. But if GM offered us a Corvette Z06 to play with, we wouldn't say no. 'Experience with different types of vehicles can help instructors teach students how to adapt their driving techniques based on the vehicle they are operating,' Scott Simons, special agent in charge at the James J. Rowley Training Center, said in a statement. 'Because each vehicle handles differently in any given situation, exposure to new cars will challenge instructors and give them an opportunity to develop more realistic training scenarios.' Presidential Speed: President Biden Took A Porsche To 171 MPH With Help From Launch Control The Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing Still Kicks Ass: Review Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Source: United States Secret Service via The Drive Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
The Advertiser
08-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
US Secret Service gets Corvettes, Cadillacs to help train agents
The US Secret Service is best known for its work protecting the president and other high-ranking politicians and their families, and its agents need to be ready for anything – and that includes vehicles outside of its traditional fleet. General Motors this week sent 10 vehicles to the federal law enforcement agency's James J Rowley Training Center (RTC) in Laurel, Maryland in order for the company to not only get feedback from agents, but also to give them experience driving different vehicles. The fleet of 10 vehicles is diverse. It includes three SUVs (a Cadillac Escalade, a Chevrolet Suburban, and a Chevrolet Tahoe with a police package), as well as two Chevrolet Corvettes. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. GM also sent the Secret Service four Cadillac CT4 and CT5 sedans, two of which have manual transmissions. That would make them hot twin-turbocharged V6-powered CT4-V Blackwing and supercharged V8-powered CT5-V Blackwing models. You might think it's pointless for a government agency to be driving supercars and manual sports sedans, but the Secret Service has explained the rationale. "Not everyone is able to operate a manual shift," said Mark Armstrong, a driving instructor at the RTC for 10 years. "Having that platform here will enable us to give instruction on how to drive manual vehicles for overseas trips." These overseas trips can include visits to foreign field offices or protective duties, so agents need proficiency in a range of driving skills and vehicle types. "Experience with different types of vehicles can help instructors teach students how to adapt their driving techniques based on the vehicle they are operating," added Scott Simons, the special agent in charge of the RTC. "Because each vehicle handles differently in any given situation, exposure to new cars will challenge instructors and give them an opportunity to develop more realistic training scenarios." Having vehicles outside the norm also provides an element of surprise for students, who might be expecting a black Tahoe only to find a Corvette blast into the training area. Ultimately, special agents in the field and uniformed division officers are more likely to end up behind the wheel of something like a Tahoe in their daily duties but, sorry agents, we don't think a supercharged V8-powered, manual CT5-V Blackwing will end up in your motor pool. GM already supplies vehicles to the Secret Service, including presidential parade limousines and armoured SUVs for use in motorcades. Initially established to investigate the counterfeiting of US currency, the Secret Service these days provides more than just protective services. It also conducts financial and cybercrime investigations. Click an image to view the full gallery. Content originally sourced from: The US Secret Service is best known for its work protecting the president and other high-ranking politicians and their families, and its agents need to be ready for anything – and that includes vehicles outside of its traditional fleet. General Motors this week sent 10 vehicles to the federal law enforcement agency's James J Rowley Training Center (RTC) in Laurel, Maryland in order for the company to not only get feedback from agents, but also to give them experience driving different vehicles. The fleet of 10 vehicles is diverse. It includes three SUVs (a Cadillac Escalade, a Chevrolet Suburban, and a Chevrolet Tahoe with a police package), as well as two Chevrolet Corvettes. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. GM also sent the Secret Service four Cadillac CT4 and CT5 sedans, two of which have manual transmissions. That would make them hot twin-turbocharged V6-powered CT4-V Blackwing and supercharged V8-powered CT5-V Blackwing models. You might think it's pointless for a government agency to be driving supercars and manual sports sedans, but the Secret Service has explained the rationale. "Not everyone is able to operate a manual shift," said Mark Armstrong, a driving instructor at the RTC for 10 years. "Having that platform here will enable us to give instruction on how to drive manual vehicles for overseas trips." These overseas trips can include visits to foreign field offices or protective duties, so agents need proficiency in a range of driving skills and vehicle types. "Experience with different types of vehicles can help instructors teach students how to adapt their driving techniques based on the vehicle they are operating," added Scott Simons, the special agent in charge of the RTC. "Because each vehicle handles differently in any given situation, exposure to new cars will challenge instructors and give them an opportunity to develop more realistic training scenarios." Having vehicles outside the norm also provides an element of surprise for students, who might be expecting a black Tahoe only to find a Corvette blast into the training area. Ultimately, special agents in the field and uniformed division officers are more likely to end up behind the wheel of something like a Tahoe in their daily duties but, sorry agents, we don't think a supercharged V8-powered, manual CT5-V Blackwing will end up in your motor pool. GM already supplies vehicles to the Secret Service, including presidential parade limousines and armoured SUVs for use in motorcades. Initially established to investigate the counterfeiting of US currency, the Secret Service these days provides more than just protective services. It also conducts financial and cybercrime investigations. Click an image to view the full gallery. Content originally sourced from: The US Secret Service is best known for its work protecting the president and other high-ranking politicians and their families, and its agents need to be ready for anything – and that includes vehicles outside of its traditional fleet. General Motors this week sent 10 vehicles to the federal law enforcement agency's James J Rowley Training Center (RTC) in Laurel, Maryland in order for the company to not only get feedback from agents, but also to give them experience driving different vehicles. The fleet of 10 vehicles is diverse. It includes three SUVs (a Cadillac Escalade, a Chevrolet Suburban, and a Chevrolet Tahoe with a police package), as well as two Chevrolet Corvettes. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. GM also sent the Secret Service four Cadillac CT4 and CT5 sedans, two of which have manual transmissions. That would make them hot twin-turbocharged V6-powered CT4-V Blackwing and supercharged V8-powered CT5-V Blackwing models. You might think it's pointless for a government agency to be driving supercars and manual sports sedans, but the Secret Service has explained the rationale. "Not everyone is able to operate a manual shift," said Mark Armstrong, a driving instructor at the RTC for 10 years. "Having that platform here will enable us to give instruction on how to drive manual vehicles for overseas trips." These overseas trips can include visits to foreign field offices or protective duties, so agents need proficiency in a range of driving skills and vehicle types. "Experience with different types of vehicles can help instructors teach students how to adapt their driving techniques based on the vehicle they are operating," added Scott Simons, the special agent in charge of the RTC. "Because each vehicle handles differently in any given situation, exposure to new cars will challenge instructors and give them an opportunity to develop more realistic training scenarios." Having vehicles outside the norm also provides an element of surprise for students, who might be expecting a black Tahoe only to find a Corvette blast into the training area. Ultimately, special agents in the field and uniformed division officers are more likely to end up behind the wheel of something like a Tahoe in their daily duties but, sorry agents, we don't think a supercharged V8-powered, manual CT5-V Blackwing will end up in your motor pool. GM already supplies vehicles to the Secret Service, including presidential parade limousines and armoured SUVs for use in motorcades. Initially established to investigate the counterfeiting of US currency, the Secret Service these days provides more than just protective services. It also conducts financial and cybercrime investigations. Click an image to view the full gallery. Content originally sourced from: The US Secret Service is best known for its work protecting the president and other high-ranking politicians and their families, and its agents need to be ready for anything – and that includes vehicles outside of its traditional fleet. General Motors this week sent 10 vehicles to the federal law enforcement agency's James J Rowley Training Center (RTC) in Laurel, Maryland in order for the company to not only get feedback from agents, but also to give them experience driving different vehicles. The fleet of 10 vehicles is diverse. It includes three SUVs (a Cadillac Escalade, a Chevrolet Suburban, and a Chevrolet Tahoe with a police package), as well as two Chevrolet Corvettes. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. GM also sent the Secret Service four Cadillac CT4 and CT5 sedans, two of which have manual transmissions. That would make them hot twin-turbocharged V6-powered CT4-V Blackwing and supercharged V8-powered CT5-V Blackwing models. You might think it's pointless for a government agency to be driving supercars and manual sports sedans, but the Secret Service has explained the rationale. "Not everyone is able to operate a manual shift," said Mark Armstrong, a driving instructor at the RTC for 10 years. "Having that platform here will enable us to give instruction on how to drive manual vehicles for overseas trips." These overseas trips can include visits to foreign field offices or protective duties, so agents need proficiency in a range of driving skills and vehicle types. "Experience with different types of vehicles can help instructors teach students how to adapt their driving techniques based on the vehicle they are operating," added Scott Simons, the special agent in charge of the RTC. "Because each vehicle handles differently in any given situation, exposure to new cars will challenge instructors and give them an opportunity to develop more realistic training scenarios." Having vehicles outside the norm also provides an element of surprise for students, who might be expecting a black Tahoe only to find a Corvette blast into the training area. Ultimately, special agents in the field and uniformed division officers are more likely to end up behind the wheel of something like a Tahoe in their daily duties but, sorry agents, we don't think a supercharged V8-powered, manual CT5-V Blackwing will end up in your motor pool. GM already supplies vehicles to the Secret Service, including presidential parade limousines and armoured SUVs for use in motorcades. Initially established to investigate the counterfeiting of US currency, the Secret Service these days provides more than just protective services. It also conducts financial and cybercrime investigations. Click an image to view the full gallery. Content originally sourced from:
