The Aurus Senat is the car that Russia built out of spite – Jalopnik

For years, the country of Russia has faced punitive sanctions imposed by the EU, Great Britain and the US. These measures affect a country’s ability to participate in the global supply chain, which is essential for production, as the different parts of a car, for example, come from all over the world. This region has produced some interesting vehicles in the past, such as when Soviet Russia produced an off-road sedan, long before AMC or Subaru. However, with his latest car venture – the reportedly self-built Aurus Senat – Putin is sending a message to world leaders in the form of a big middle finger.

Dubbed the Kortezh Project, the Russian government claims that the Aurus Senat was produced in-house without help or materials from the outside world. Without saying it explicitly, as Putin drives around the Senate, he is essentially telling world leaders that their sanctions are ineffective – look what Russia can accomplish on its own.

And the luxury sedan is impressive at first glance, as it is powered by a 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 that can generate a robust 598 horsepower. It is equipped with four-wheel drive and offers numerous protective measures to ensure the safety of high-ranking government officials. When the Senate has installed its full armor, it will even weigh 6.5 tons. The extra weight is worth it, however, as the vehicle can apparently withstand both gunfire and grenade explosions, should it be attacked. There’s just one problem: the Aurus Senat is not what it seems.

The aim of the Senat project was to ditch the Mercedes S-Class, which Russia has been using for years, and replace it with a domestic model. After some high-profile appearances by Putin using the Aurus Senat, the production was launched to the public and included several types of cars. After he presented an Aurus Senat to North Korea’s leader last year, photos show Vladamir Putin and Kim Jong-un on a road trip through hell. However, according to Reuterswho examined customs records, the Aurus Senat uses parts imported from several countries including South Korea, Italy, China, Turkey and more – so much so because it is an all-Russian made car. Ultimately, the Aurus Senat is nothing more than propaganda, but the problems don’t end there.

In an incident that attracted widespread attention on social media, an Aurus Senate was filmed going up in flames after an explosion near the FSB headquarters in Moscow in early 2025. No one was injured during the incident, but it reportedly frightened the Russian government.

For example, compared to Russia’s Aurus Senat, the US uses a motorcade called “The Beast.” It features the Cadillac logo clearly visible on the grille, along with a host of protective measures. The Beast is heavier than the Senat, weighing approximately 20,000 pounds, and is believed to feature three-inch-thick windows and armor up to eight-inches thick. Unfortunately for the Senate, the combination of news surrounding the imported parts and the fiery incident is not exactly helping to strengthen its intended image.