- The Aurus Senat gets a thorough refresh just in time to participate in Vladimir Putin’s inauguration event.
- The limousine sports new exterior design and better tech inside.
- Only Putin (and others in his motorcade) will be able to experience the updated Senat until it goes into wider production in 2025.
Although the Aurus Senat was impressive enough to catch the eye of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, it had become somewhat outdated for Russian President Vladimir Putin. At today’s inauguration event, which followed an election whose legitimacy has been questioned, Putin received a facelifted version of the imperious limousine as he begins his fifth term, embarking on another six years as Russia’s leader.
Starting with the exterior, the first thing you’ll notice is that the grille has been modernized with wider-spaced slat slats and a decorative frill at the top. The chrome outline along the bottom now extends outward at each side, accentuating the side air intakes. Additionally, the headlights at the top of the front fascia have been upgraded to include L-shaped DRLs and matrix LED technology.
Read: Putin Gifts Kim Jong Un Lavish Aurus Senat Limo, UN Sanctions Be Damned
Around the back, the look is altogether more harmonious, with rectangular taillights that are topped by a chrome strip that extends across the full width of the car. The Senat’s license plate holder has also been relocated further down, onto the bumper. The result? The limo now looks more Bentley Flying Spur than Rolls-Royce Phantom. Well, at least they’re staying loyal to British aesthetics.
Inside, Putin’s chauffeur will benefit from a new NAMI MM infotainment system with a massive touchscreen that’s customizable. The chauffeur will also benefit from improved cameras around the vehicle (including one pointed at him), as well as a night vision system to monitor the road when the sun goes down.
The Senat will continue to be powered by a hybrid powertrain centered around a 4.4-liter V8 that makes 598 hp (446 kW / 606 PS). This engine sends power to all four wheels through a nine-speed automatic transmission.
Whether you appreciate the updates or not is somewhat academic at this point, since the Senat isn’t available for purchase anyway. Currently, Aurus is only producing these vehicles for Putin’s motorcade. However, if you’re reading this from, say, the upper reaches of the Korean peninsula and find yourself enviously wishing for one, Tarantas reports that broader production is expected to start in 2025 at a former Toyota plant in St. Petersburg.
Thanks to Mikhail for the tip!
