Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping are bringing more than their delegations to the BRICS Summit in New Delhi. Their presidential motorcades feature two heavily armoured, specially built state cars.
Putin, who arrived on September 11, is travelling in his Russian-made Aurus Senat. Xi, who arrives on September 12, is expected to use China’s Hongqi N701.
Both limousines combine heavy armour with secure communication systems, allowing the leaders to remain protected and connected while on the move.
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Here is a closer look at the two cars set to be part of the high-security BRICS Summit in New Delhi.
PUTIN’S AURUS SENAT
Putin switched to the Aurus Senat in 2018, replacing the Mercedes-Benz S 600 Guard Pullman previously used by the Russian presidency.
The car was developed under Russia‘s Kortezh project to build domestically manufactured vehicles for the country’s top officials. The presidential L700 is around seven metres long and weighs several tonnes, much of it due to its armour and security equipment.
It is powered by a 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 hybrid engine producing around 598 horsepower and 880 Nm of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.
The exact level of protection remains classified, but the Senat is reported to be capable of withstanding high-calibre and armour-piercing bullets. Its windows use multi-layer bullet-resistant glass several centimetres thick.
It also has run-flat tyres, a reinforced fuel tank and underbody protection against explosions. The passenger compartment reportedly has an independent oxygen and filtration system for use in the event of a chemical attack, along with fire-suppression systems.
Secure communications allow Putin to remain in contact with officials while travelling.
The rear cabin has heated and ventilated massage seats, digital screens, work tables, a refrigerator and a privacy partition.
A civilian Senat costs around 18 million roubles, or roughly Rs 2.5 crore. Putin’s presidential version has additional security systems and is not commercially available.
The car also has an India connection. Prime Minister Narendra Modi travelled with Putin in the Aurus during the SCO Summit in China last year.
XI’S HONGQI N701
Xi’s presidential car comes from Hongqi, or “Red Flag”, a marque established in 1958 by First Automotive Works to build cars for China’s political leadership.
Its early models were used by senior Communist Party officials and visiting foreign leaders. The marque later lost prominence as foreign luxury manufacturers expanded in China before being revived as a premium domestic brand.
Xi’s high-security movements are now associated with the Hongqi N701, although China has released few official details about the limousine.
The N701 is estimated to be more than 18 feet long and weigh over three tonnes. It is believed to have heavy armour, bullet-resistant glass and reinforced bodywork, along with independent life-support and secure communication systems.
Unlike the Aurus, even the N701’s basic mechanical specifications remain largely undisclosed. China has not officially revealed its engine, power output or precise level of ballistic protection.
The limousine is produced in very limited numbers and is not available to private buyers.
Hongqi also has a direct India connection through another of its flagship cars, the L5.
PM Modi travelled in a Hongqi L5 during his visit to Tianjin for the SCO Summit in 2025. Xi had earlier used an L5 during his 2019 visit to India for informal talks with the PM in Mahabalipuram.
The L5 is more than 5.5 metres long and weighs over three tonnes. It has been offered with a 6.0-litre V12 producing more than 400 horsepower and can reportedly reach nearly 210 kmph.
Its cabin has leather seats, wood and jade detailing, heated and ventilated massage seats and individual entertainment screens. The L5 costs nearly 5 million yuan, or around Rs 7 crore.
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
