Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to use his Aurus Senat limousine during his upcoming visit to India. The car has already been in the spotlight, especially after pictures showed India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi travelling with Putin in the same vehicle during their meeting in China for the SCO Summit.
The Aurus Senat, often called a “fortress on wheels,” has become a key part of Putin’s travel convoys at home and abroad. Putin, using the same model in India during his upcoming visit on December 4, would not be unusual. He has used the Aurus Senat during earlier foreign visits as well.
During his last visit to India in 2021, his security convoy also included the Russian-built limousine or its predecessor variants.
Price of Aurus Senate: The price starts at around 18 million rubles (around $2.5 crore INR), but the fully armoured state version used by Putin is significantly more expensive and not available for public sale.
What exactly is the Aurus Senat?
The Aurus Senat is an armoured luxury limousine developed under Russia’s Cortage project, which began in 2013 after Putin directed that Russia should have a home-grown presidential car. Production started in 2018, and the model has since become the official state vehicle for the Russian presidency. The Aurus Senat became Putin’s primary presidential limousine, taking over from the Mercedes-Benz S 600 Guard Pullman, which had been used for state visits up until then.
The Senat is often compared to the Rolls-Royce Phantom for its styling and strong, block-like presence. Wherever the President of Russia travels, the car is transported along with him. It has replaced imported cars in official ceremonies and has become a symbol of Russian engineering.
Aurat Senat: Engine and performance
Despite its bulky look and heavily armoured exterior, the Senat is built to move quickly when needed. It uses a 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 engine paired with a hybrid system, which produces enough power to push the giant limousine from zero to 100 kmph in about six to nine seconds, depending on the version.
Its top speed is around 160 kmph, which is more than enough for convoy movement and especially useful during high-security situations where smooth acceleration matters more than outright speed.
Technology-wise, “Aurus cars are built on a brand new Unified Modular Platform. The modularity principle of design makes it possible to change the wheelbase, length and even type of the car easily and quickly, as well as to adapt the production site for different Aurus models,” according to the brand’s official website.
Interior and VIP comfort
Inside the cabin, the Aurus Senat feels more like a private lounge than a car. The seats are covered in premium leather, the cabin has wooden panels, and the rear passengers are surrounded by screens, controls and complete privacy.
The seats have heating, cooling and massage functions, and there is a divider that can separate the front and rear cabins whenever required. In the new limousine version, there is enough space to add extra rear-facing seats for security officers or aides.
Safety
According to the Senat’s official website, “The AURUS Senat Limousine offers VR8/VR10-level ballistic protection. These benchmarks on a scale recognised as the international standard for protected vehicles demonstrate that this is the apogee in terms of levels of protection for a passenger car. You could only feel more secure in an armoured military vehicle.”
Its body and windows are bulletproof. The underbody is designed to withstand blasts, the tyres can keep running even if damaged, and the fuel tank is made to resist explosions. The car also has systems to filter the air in case of chemical threats. It also has special communication tools and an escape system. Aurus has one of the highest protection ratings globally.
It is more than five and a half metres long and two metres wide. Aurus produces only a limited number of units each year.