Cardiplomacy in Delhi: Russia’s Aurus and China’s Hongqi Showcase Power, Prestige and Protection

World leaders arriving for the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi brought more than just delegations — they brought mobile fortresses that doubled as symbols of national pride. 0628

Putin’s Aurus Senat:

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in his armoured Aurus Senat, the official limousine that replaced the Mercedes-Benz S 600 Guard Pullman in 2018. Developed under Russia’s Kortezh project, the L700 stretches around 7 metres and weighs several tonnes, with most of that in armour. 0628

It’s built as a “fortress on wheels”:

Protection: VR10-level armor, reinforced ballistic glass, bomb-resistant underbody, run-flat tyres, fire suppression, independent oxygen supply, and chemical-attack filtration. It’s also designed to resist missile and drone attacks, and can even float if submerged.

Performance: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 hybrid producing ∼598 bhp and 880 Nm torque, 0–100 km/h in 6–9 seconds, top speed around 160–249 km/h.

Price: Civilian base model ∼18 million rubles / Rs 2.5 crore, but Putin’s customised, classified version is nearly double and not available to the public. Only ∼120 units are made annually. 

The car also became a diplomatic stage — PM Narendra Modi rode with Putin in the Aurus during their bilateral talks ahead of the summit, with the two reportedly spending nearly an hour in conversation. 0628aec2

Xi Jinping’s Hongqi N701:

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived with the Hongqi N701, from Hongqi “Red Flag”, a marque tied to China’s leadership since 1958. Details are closely guarded, but reports estimate it’s over 18 feet long, weighs more than 3 tonnes, and features heavy armour, bulletproof glass, 21-inch bulletproof wheels, and systems to guard against chemical attacks. 

Power is believed to come from a 6.0-litre V12 with ∼408 hp. Like the Aurus, it includes independent life-support and secure communications, and is produced in very limited numbers with no private sales. 

Hongqi also has an India link: PM Modi travelled in a Hongqi L5 during the 2025 SCO Summit in Tianjin. 

Why it matters:

Both limousines are designed to project technological self-reliance, sovereign security and national prestige. Analysts called the arrival a showcase of “cardiplomacy”, where the motorcade itself becomes part of the diplomatic message  combining top-level security with a strong statement of domestic industry and pride. 

The Aurus emphasizes speed, hybrid efficiency and luxury alongside protection, while the Hongqi remains China’s clearest link to its original state role. Both are often compared to the US President’s “Beast” for their protective capabilities.