Russian president Putin gets new limo
Armour-plated Russian-built limousine breaks cover at Putin's inaugurationUS presidents have famously been transported short distances in bullet-proof Cadillac limousines that can withstand chemical attacks, but now Russian president Vladimir Putin has his own 'beast' in the form of project Kortezh.
Roughly translated to Cortege, the new limousine is understood to weigh an astonishing 6.5 tonnes and measures more than 6.6 metres long. That's about three times the weight of a top-spec Toyota HiLux ute and 2.6 metres longer than a Mazda2 hatch.
Parking shouldn't be a problem, as the presidential limo will always have a police escort.
A lot of the car's weight is understood to be due to ultra-thick bullet-proof windows, reinforced body panels and various armour-plated upgrades required for the Russian president.
National Russian news outlet,
, reports that the Kortezh limo is powered by a 4.4-litre "turbo-bomber" which is likely to be a V8 configuration. Engine output is rated at 445kW (600hp), channelled through a nine-speed automatic gearbox.There has also been talk that a V12 engine was developed for the presidential cruiser.
As previously reported, Porsche Design was commissioned during the early stages of the attack-proof limo's development, which looks a little like a Rolls-Royce Phantom from some angles.
Built by Russian manufacturer Sollers, the Kortezh made its first public outing during Putin's inauguration at the Grand Kremlin Palace. The Russian presidency has used Mercedes-Benz S-Class vehicles for the past couple of decades, so the use of a home-grown Russian vehicle is a point of pride for Putin.
According to Russian media reports at least another 100 Kortezh vehicles will be built for government use, including regular-sized sedans, SUVs and people movers.
There are also plans to offer sedan versions of the austere vehicles for sale to the public. Priced from around $130,000 or six million roubles, vehicle sales will start in 2019 and be limited to around 200 units, ensuring exclusivity.
US president Trump currently gets around in a 2009 Cadillac limousine nicknamed "The Beast" but an updated version of the vehicle from General Motors is almost ready. The new vehicle was intended for Trump's inauguration but has been delayed.
In Australia, the Prime Minister is ferried around in an armoured BMW 7 Series, after the Holden Caprice was retired in 2014.
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