Obama bids to kick start American job creation... as he tours the country in $1.1m 'Darth Vader' bus - made in Canada

• President will lay out fresh ideas for speeding up job growth next month
• But $1.1m tour bus, compared to Darth Vadar's helmet, was made in Quebec
• Vehicle has on-board device capable of controlling nuclear weapons
• New bid to to pass road construction bill and extend payroll tax cut
• Republican hopeful Michele Bachmann makes Elvis gaffe in South Carolina
• President is in Illinois today before returning to Washington

Barack Obama will lay out new ideas for speeding up job growth in a major speech in early September, according to a senior administration official.

But the President's plan has been undermined by news the $1.1m bus he is using to tour the country was made in Canada.

The big black coach has already drawn fire for its imposing appearance - it has been likened to Darth Vadar's helmet, a police mortuary truck, and called the Battle Bus from Mordor - and the revelation the vehicle was made by Quebec-based company Prevost will dent Mr Obama's chances of reviving his flagging polls.

The President is using the bus, purchased by the Secret Service, to tour the Midwest and he is today giving two speeches in Illinois focused on how to get the 9.1 per cent unemployment rate down.

His fresh plans to be unveiled next month, expected right after the September 5 Labor Day holiday, are likely to contain tax cuts, jobs-boosting infrastructure ideas and steps that would specifically help the long-term unemployed.

The senior administration official emphasised that all of Mr Obama's proposals would be new, not rehashes of plans he has pitched for many weeks and still supports, including his 'infrastructure bank' idea to finance construction jobs.

Potent: The shiny 'Darth Vader' bus is bristling with secret communications technology and has flashing police-style red and blue lights on the front

Imposing: Secret Service stand watch next to US President Barack Obama's 'Bus Force One'

GREYHOUND ONE: STATISTICS

Model: VIP H3-45 made by the Quebec-based coach company Prevost
Cost: $1.1m
Security features: Armoured doors plus a device dubbed the 'football' that allows the President to remotely control US nuclear weapons.
Communications: Satellite equipment allows Obama to communicate and teleconference worldwide.
Additional features: Slide out panels to increase floorspace,  flat-screen TV, couches.

Economy: 6.7 mpg
Other owners:  Kid Rock, David Lee Roth and Kenny Rogers

However, his choice of touring vehicle has come in for scorn and with its brutal black paint job and tinted windows, critics have said it resembles Darth Vader's helmet.

Dubbed 'Greyhound One', the fearsome looking machine stands in stark contrast to the usual campaign trail buses, cheerfully emblazoned with slogans and decked in the Stars and Stripes.

Website Gawker came up with the Star Wars-themed suggestion as the President entered day two of his Midwest tour on the new $1.1million bus purchased by the Secret Service.

The BBC's Mark Mardell added that the formidable looking machine was, 'big, blocky, black, with painted-out windows.'

'It looks more like a police mortuary van than a symbol of hope arriving on your street.'

The impenetrable-looking conveyance is the size of a cross-country Greyhound, painted all in black, with dark tinted windows and flashing red and blue lights.

Secret Service spokesman Ed Donovan emphasised that the bus wasn't purchased solely for the President and would be used for other dignitaries in the future.

He said the agency has not previously had buses in its fleet and was overdue to get some since it's had to protect politicians travelling by bus for decades.

In the past, the service has had to lease buses and retrofit them for that purpose.

Boarding: Barack Obama boards his bus after arriving at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, on Air Force One, seen reflected in the side of the bus

The bus makes its way through Peosta, Iowa, on its way to to the Rural Economic Forum 

Convoy: The bus, seen in the distance, has a large train of vehicles following the President where ever he goes

Pit stops: The President tosses bags of popcorn to the media in the town of Le Claire and enjoys a self-service ice cream from a parlor in Dewitt during his tour of Iowa

House call: Obama talks to members of an Iowa family who own a local antique store

Mr Donovan said two buses were purchased and one is being used by Mr Obama as he travels through Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois.

Both will be used by other officeholders and candidates.

Donovan declined to comment on the buses' design or capability.

He said the decision to purchase the buses was made about a year ago but had been under discussion longer, and that the money was taken from a fund for transportation and armoured vehicles.

But because they are part of the official U.S. government fleet, campaigns will not be able to splash their political logos or other banners over the buses, which will retain their black paint schemes.

The vehicles will also be used as secure, mobile locations for the Secret Service when protectees travel to remote locations, Mr Donovan said.

Lurking: The Bus's intimidating presence is seen here as it passes among corn fields in Iowa yesterday

Hitting the streets: Sarah Palin's tour bus, emblazoned with the words 'We The People' and the slogan 'One Nation', looks very different to that used by President Obama

Getting ready: Sarah Palin's aides put the finishing touches to her tour bus, with the slogan 'join the fundamental restoration of America'

Dropping in: Members of Maquoketa High School girls volleyball team were thrilled when Obama paid them a visit

Heartland: Obama's is spending three days touring the country in a bid to boost jobs

Officials declined to disclose the exact specifications of each bus, but said the precautions were in line with those taken for other presidential vehicles, including Mr Obama’s hulking limousine, nicknamed the 'Beast.'

The official Cadillac has thick reinforced doors and reportedly has bullet-proof glass and is tough enough to withstand a rocket-propelled grenade or chemical attack.

Meet and greet: The President shakes hands with a customer at DeWitt Dairy Treats in DeWitt, Iowa

The vehicle is flown around the world in a huge U.S. cargo aircraft, and appears wherever Mr Obama does.

Mr Obama is urging congress to pass a new road construction bill and an extension of the payroll tax cut in a bid to get the economy back on track.

The President told farmers and small business owners in the key political battleground of Iowa it's time to 'put country ahead of party and put the next generation ahead of the next election'.

Mr Obama has accused GOP opponents of placing political considerations before national interests after they failed to support a recent $4trillion deficit reduction deal.