Aurus Senat History

Development of what became the Senat traces to 2013, when NAMI (Russia's central automotive research institute) launched the 'Kortezh' programme to replace the Mercedes-Benz S 600 Pullman Guard limousines in the Kremlin motorcade. Porsche Engineering provided consulting on aspects of the powertrain and chassis. Three body variants were developed in parallel: the S600 four-door sedan, the L700 stretched armoured limousine for heads of state, and a two-door cabriolet. All three were publicly revealed in 2018 and made their high-profile debut at Vladimir Putin's presidential inauguration in May of that year.

Power comes from a 4.4-litre twin-turbocharged V8 producing 590 hp, paired with a 62 hp integrated electric motor in a hybrid system driving all four wheels through a nine-speed automatic. The design draws deliberately on Soviet-era heritage, its proportions and chrome detailing echoing the ZIS-110 limousine of 1945. The armoured L700 limousine stretches to 6,620 mm and weighs up to 6,200 kg; the civilian S600 sedan measures 5,630 mm and tips the scales at around 2,700 kg.

Civilian-market production began in May 2021 at the Sollers plant in Yelabuga, Tatarstan, with an annual capacity of roughly 120 units. A facelift arrived in 2024. Aurus claims approximately 115 cars were sold in 2023, making the Senat one of the lowest-volume luxury sedans in the world. Export customers have included heads of state in Turkmenistan, North Korea, and Malaysia.