Inside Aurus Senat, the armoured limo in which Putin-Modi held talks

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday rode with Russian President Vladimir Putin in his official car to reach the venue of their bilateral meeting after the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in China.

The Aurus Senat, a fully armoured luxury car, carried the two leaders from the summit venue to the hotel where the talks were held.

“President Putin and I travelled together to the venue of our bilateral meeting. Conversations with him are always insightful," PM Modi said in a post on X.

But what is this car? How does it stack up against US President Donald Trump’s “Beast”?

Let’s take a look:

Putin’s Aurus Senat: All you need to know

Russia uses the Senat model car made by Aurus Motors, a Russian luxury automaker.

Aurus is a relatively new brand in the luxury car market. The name comes from ‘Au’ for Aurum, the Latin word for gold, and ‘Rus’ for Russia.

The Aurus Senat was first introduced during Vladimir Putin’s fourth inauguration in 2018, replacing the Mercedes-Benz S 600 Guard Pullman.

The current version is the armoured L700 Limousine. Often called the Russian Rolls-Royce, it combines features of both Rolls-Royce and Bentley, offering safety along with comfort.

The car is part of Russia’s ‘Kortezh’ (Cortege) series. The standard model has a 4.4 L twin turbo V8 engine with about 598 hp, paired with a 9-speed automatic gearbox. A V12 hybrid version has also been developed.

The vehicle can go from 0 to 100 km/h in nearly 6 seconds and reach a top speed of around 249 km/h.

The limousine is designed as a moving fortress. It can resist armour-piercing bullets and grenade blasts.

It has run-flat tyres, reinforced glass 6 cm thick, emergency exits, and protection standards approved by Russia’s Federal Protective Service.

Measuring about 7m and weighing several tonnes, it is fitted with advanced systems such as extra oxygen supply against chemical attacks, a fire suppression unit, and a mini command centre. The armour meets VR10 ballistic standards and is made of composite materials, News18 said in a report.

The Senat has also been used in diplomacy. In 2024, one was presented to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as a gift.

A civilian edition of the car is available, but production is limited to 120 units a year. Each is priced at about 18 million roubles (around Rs 2.5 crore).

Aurus Motors also plans to add SUVs and vans to the Kortezh line, with upgrades expected in the future.

How does it compare with Trump’s “Beast”?

The Beast is the official limousine of the US president. It is a custom-made Cadillac, also known as ‘Cadillac One’, ‘First Car’ and ‘Stagecoach’.

Commissioned in 2014, it entered service in 2018 during Donald Trump’s first presidency.

Although designed to look like a Cadillac XT6, it is built on the chassis of a heavy-duty Chevrolet Kodiak truck and manufactured by General Motors.

The cost is estimated at between $1 and $1.5 million.

Inside, it has leather seats, bottle holders, sometimes a fold-out desk, and advanced communications systems.

The car usually travels abroad in a military transport aircraft such as the C-17. It was used by both Trump and Joe Biden during the 2025 inauguration.

Its engine is believed to be a Duramax 6.6L V8 diesel or a similar type, with power between 214 and 300 hp and torque around 500–600 lb-ft.

The top speed is thought to be 96-112 km/h, with diesel as its fuel.

Exact details remain secret, as most of the car’s specifications, including tyre pressure and fuel system design, are classified.

General Motors has built the presidential limousines since the 1980s, when Ronald Reagan switched from Lincoln to Cadillac, which had dominated the 20th century.

The Beast carries heavy protection, with about 8-inch-thick armour, 3-inch ballistic glass, night-vision systems, tear-gas launchers, electrified door handles and secure communications, including the ability to send nuclear launch codes. It weighs around 9,000 kg.

An NBC report said its armour uses aluminium, ceramic and steel. It has tear-gas systems, night-vision, and is believed to be able to create a smoke screen to hide its movements.

The car also carries supplies of the president’s blood type in case of emergencies. It can seat seven people and has direct communication links with the Pentagon and the vice president.

The Beast focuses almost entirely on safety but sacrifices speed and flexibility. The Aurus Senat, on the other hand, is built for both security and luxury, while offering better performance.

The Beast is reserved only for the US president, whereas Aurus also sells a civilian version of the Senat.