Bentley and Rolls-Royce are storied brands, but
they’re getting some competition in the form of the Aurus Senat limousine and
Senat sedan. Currently on display in Geneva, these Russian-made luxury vehicles
incorporate a number of Rolls-Royce styling cues and were prominently featured
during Vladimir Putin’s inauguration last year.
The most notable is the armored limousine which
reportedly measures 6,630 mm long and has a massive 4300
mm wheelbase. Those dimensions dwarf the Rolls-Royce Phantom Extended
Wheelbase and even the old Maybach 62. The Senat sedan is significantly
smaller, but it’s not tiny by any stretch of the imagination. Instead, it
measures 5630 mm long with a wheelbase that spans 3300
mm.
While the exterior styling isn’t exactly ground
breaking, the cabin is undeniably luxurious as it features premium leather
upholstery, wood trim and metal accents. The cars are also pretty high-tech as
they have a digital instrument cluster, a widescreen infotainment system and a
dual screen rear entertainment system. Like Bentley and Rolls-Royce,
Aurus offers an extensive personalization service which enables buyers to
customize virtually every aspect of the interior.
Power is provided by a hybridized V8 engine that
produces 590 hp and 880 Nm of torque. It enables
the sedan to accelerate from 0-62 mph (0-100 km) in approximately six seconds,
while the limousine can accomplish the same task in roughly nine seconds.
In terms of safety, the Senats come standard with an
assortment of driver assistance systems including adaptive cruise control,
automatic emergency braking and a collision avoidance system with pedestrian
recognition technology. The model also has a blind spot warning system and a
traffic sign recognition system.
Aurus is currently accepting pre-orders, but noted
production is extremely limited at the moment. However, a new plant is slated
to open late next year in Tatarstan and this should enable Aurus to boost
production to 5,000 units annually.
