AUTONEWS

Russian Rolls Royce: upgraded Aurus Senat long

The Russian luxury sedan Aurus Senat will be on display at the International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg (June 3-6). Along with the standard sedan, its updated version with a long wheelbase will also be presented.

The first official images of the updated Aurus Senat Long also show the main difference from the previous version. More precisely, the modernized car has replaced the extended insert between the front and rear doors with a larger rear door. According to reports, this not only makes the sedan more aerodynamic, but also improves access to the rear seats.

The third side window has been moved to the C-pillar. Unlike the standard sedan, the updated Senat Long has undergone a major structural reconstruction.

Other exterior changes are identical for both models: different lights, bumpers and grille, as well as a new aluminum hood and trunk lid.

The cabin of the extended sedan has a partition between the driver and passenger compartments, and the legroom in the rear has been increased. The dashboard, steering wheel, center console and door panels have also been changed. The NAMI MM-System multimedia system has a larger screen, while the number of buttons on the dashboard has been reduced.

The Senat family update also included changes to the braking system, suspension and automatic transmission, but the overall hybrid powertrain remained unchanged.

The gasoline 4.4-liter V8 engine with two turbochargers produces 598 hp and 880 Nm. The nine-speed KATE automatic transmission integrates an electric motor with a maximum power of 63 hp, and there is also four-wheel drive,.

The exact availability time of these vehicles and their price have not yet been announced.

What is Putin's Aurus Senat like? The Aurus Senat used by President Vladimir Putin is a car that lives up to its nickname of "Rolls-Royce." On the outside, the facelift has made the car even more sober and classic, thanks to the wider vertical lines of the front grille, the L-shaped LED lights, and the rectangular taillights, which are joined by a chrome strip.

Inside, the standard is also that of an international premium model. The seats are leather, with marble-like appliqués. The multimedia center is gigantic and displays images from the various cameras scattered around the imposing sedan, which also has a night vision system to warn of road hazards.

Vladimir Putin's new luxury sedan has not had any changes to its engine compared to the previous model. This means that the Aurus Senat retains a powerful hybrid powertrain, consisting of a 4.4 V8 combustion engine and an electric motor.

They work together with the all-wheel drive and the 9-speed automatic transmission, delivering a combined power of 606 hp to the driver. More than enough power for a sedan that is 5.63 meters long and, thanks to its armor plating, weighs 6.2 tons, significantly more than the standard model, which weighs "only" 2,700 kg.