Meet the seven-tonne limousine used by Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
The ‘Aurus Senat’ was custom-built for Mr Putin in 2018 by NAMI – a Moscow-based government engineering institute – to replace his outgoing and dated Mercedes-Benz S600.
Revealed at Putin’s fourth inauguration later that year, it is now the official ‘Presidential State Car’ of Russia and used in various configurations for all practical and ceremonial duties.
Almost every feature of the exterior – including the roof line, tail-lights, bonnet, windows, and mirrors – is quite clearly ‘borrowed’ from the current-generation Rolls-Royce Phantom luxury sedan.
However, the Russians don’t see it that way, and a statement on the manufacturer’s website notes: “The masculinity of this magnificent athlete is combined with smooth lines and noble forms”.
The grille has been altered just enough to avoid domestic lawsuits, though badging on the wheel hubs appears to self-centre while driving – an obscure and patented feature made famous by the original BMW-designed Rolls-Royce in 2003.
While a ‘standard’ series-production variant of the Aurus Senat – built for the everyday working-class oligarch – measures 5631mm from nose to tail and tips the scales at a measly 2700kg, Putin’s range-topper has been stretched to 6700mm.
Option boxes ticked by the head of state include bulletproof armour, reinforced glass, bomb-resistant underfloor protection, solid ‘run-flat’ rubber tyres, integrated “offensive” weapons, and a self-contained oxygen supply, blowing the weight of his car out to 7200kg – comparable tonnage to a commercial bus.
Under the bonnet, a twin-turbocharged 4.4-litre V8 petrol engine – reportedly developed in coordination with Porsche (though just as likely knocked off from the German design without permission) – is paired to a single electric motor, sending a combined 440kW/889Nm to all four wheels via a nine-speed automatic transmission.
According to Russian state media, this allows the 0–100km/h sprint to be completed in an impressive 6.0 seconds on the way to a top speed of 250km/h (though it’s unclear if this claim is for the standard car or heavier armoured variant).
Inside the cabin, polished wood runs along the door sills and dashboard. All four reclining seats are wrapped in white or tan “authentic Russian leather”, while a champagne fridge and window curtains come fitted as standard.
While there are no photos on Mr Putin’s own customised interior in the public domain, unconfirmed overseas reports suggest it is kitted out with a wall of screens for secure video conferencing.
The most famous historical ‘Presidential State Car’ in Russia is the Soviet-era ZIL-41052 (shown above), designed in Moscow and built between 1985 and 2002.
This was followed by various variants of Mercedes-Benz S-Class sedan – including the W140, W220, and W221 – under Boris Yeltsin and the first two decades of Putin’s reign.
You can read a deep dive into the history of the USA’s Presidential ‘Beast’ by clicking here.
Keyword: The Aurus Senat: Vladimir Putin’s 7200kg counterfeit Rolls-Royce limo