Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin is the current President of Russia who has been serving since 2012. Putin also held the position from 2000 until 2008, and then served as the Prime Minister of Russia under Dmitry Medvedev in between his presidential terms. Vladimir Putin was born in Leningrad, Russian SFSR on & October 1952. During his first eight years of presidency, Russian economy grew and the purchasing power increased by 72%. The growth happened due to the 2000s commodities boom, recovery from the post-Communist depression and financial crises, also fiscal policies.
However, we are here not to discuss about Putin’s career in politics, but more of his personal life. It is believed that he is the richest man in the world with a net worth of up to £150 billion. His lifestyle is more like a celebrity rather than a head of state. His wealth allows him to own super expensive cars, lavish yachts, and palaces. Putin also enjoys socializing with athletes, models, and socialites. To leave you in awe, let us take a look at these 6 cars from the approximately seven hundred that Vladimir Putin has in his collection.
1. Aurus Senat Limousine
This is the official Russian presidential car that Vladimir Putin has been using since 2018. Aurus is a local brand that stands for aurum (Latin for gold) and Rus (for Russia). The car measures in at 6,629 mm and powered by a 4.4 litre hybrid-petrol V8. The engine can produce 598 hp and 880 Nm of torque with additional 40 hp from the electric motor supplies. Inside, the seats are perforated heavily bolstered leather, fine wood trimmings and driver assistance system. No questions with the quality of the air-con vents, convenience and infotainment system. The ambient lighting can be adjusted and – the most important part, as it is a presidential car – the whole body is armored and bullet proof.
Putin was first seen driving the car in May 2018 on a televised public outing. He usually used his Mercedes-Benz but showed off the change that day. Putin was proudly driving the Aurus as a sign of Russia’s self-sufficiency and independence on imported goods and technology. The whole of the Senat was made in Russia.
2. Lada Niva SUV
This is another Russian brand that has been around for quite a long time. The Niva model was first launched in 1977 and it was not the most comfortable ride. Until today, Lada Niva has evolved in many ways, but it remains big, raw and rugged as a way to stick to the tradition and give it the real Russian look. This type of SUV can be used in the city but also tough enough to travel the roughest Siberian terrains. It also stays off of any modern gadgets and airbag while improving its off-roading abilities. Just like a real Russian, Lada Niva SUV prefers to cut the small talk and just get right to the point. Vladimir Putin drove this car when he traveled the area of western Sayans in the Republic of Tuva.
3. Lada Kalina
President Putin doesn’t always ride big cars, obviously. He also likes family cars. Lada Kalina comes from the same factory as the Niva SUV. Kalina is more “gentle” than Niva as it offers infotainment system that includes multimedia options, telephony and smartphone connectivity. Since it is a family car, it pays attention to safety. It is equipped with airbags, stretchable seatbelts, and the side door impact reduction bars. The steering wheel is electric powered and the overall maintenance is quite low. On August 19, 2005, Putin was spotted driving his yellow Lada Kalina along the Chita-Khabarovsk highway.
4. 1956 GAZ-21 Volga
GAZ is the abbreviation for Gorkovsky Avtomobilniy Zavod which means “Gorky automobile factory”. It is a Soviet Union brand and the 21 Volga was produced in between 1956 to 1970. In 1959, Volga M-21 became the most luxurious car in the USSR that only a few people could afford to buy it. This type was built with high ground clearance, rugged suspension, strong engine and rustproofing paint. The interesting fact is that, in 1956, there were only five Volgas produced and now one of them belongs to Vladimir Putin which value is definitely more than just the price of the car. In 2006, he drove George Bush around in his classic Volga after they had a meeting.
5. ZAZ 1968
This is another Soviet car that in included in the collection of Vladimir Putin. He is said to have an emotional connection with this car since it was his first ever car given by his mother. It is a classic tiny car that was heavily influenced by the Volkswagen Type 1 Beetle. It was simple but tolerant of rough roads like in Siberia or Turkmenistan, and had reliable machine. This type of car was also known as Zaporozhets and the first real people car in Soviet that the ordinary citizens could finally afford.
6. Mercedes ML
Although Vladimir Putin prefers Russian and Soviet cars more than any other cars in the world, he also has the kicks for foreign cars and Mercedes ML is one of them. Before starting to use the Aurus Senat as his official presidential car, Putin had driven Mercedes-Benz for work. This German SUV has it all when it comes to comfort, luxury and power. It is equipped with navigation system, heated seats, defrost system for the windows (which is very useful in countries as cold as Russia), infotainment system, and many more.
From the list we can see that despite the huge collection of cars that President Vladimir Putin has, he is a Russian through and through that most of his most notable cars are wholly made in Russia. It is clear that he aims more than just being luxurious but also staying true to his country. So, what do you think of Putin’s cars? Anything that left you in awe?