9 Cars Russian President Vladimir Putin Has Taken For A Spin

From Formula One race car to Aurus Senat, check out 9 cars which Russian President Vladimir Putin has taken for a spin.

Putin once gave Ex-US president George Bush and Egyptian leader Abdel Fattah el-Sisi a lift in one of these cars.

Russian President Vladimir Putin ditched his foreign-made state car by launching his Aurus Senat Limousine during his inauguration in 2018.

Before the 7-tonnes Limousine, the armoured Mercedes-Benz S600 Pullman Guard was Putin’s favourite official state car.

Despite being a leader that loves to be ferried around in heavily fortified cars, Putin is also known to enjoy getting behind the wheel himself.

The former KGB agent has a soft spot for Soviet/Russian-made cars. He once gave Ex-US president George Bush and Egyptian leader Abdel Fattah el-Sisi a lift in his cars.

Below are 9 cars which Russian President Vladimir Putin has taken for a spin.

1) ZAZ-968

The ZAZ-968, unfortunately known as the “clumsiest” Soviet car, was the first vehicle Putin drove.

The car was a gift from his mother. Along the line, Putin sold it to one of his KGB colleagues.

He reunited the ZAZ-968 when he became president, and it now resides in his garage.

2) Formula 1 car

Vladimir Putin just cannot stay away from manly pursuits.

In 2010, the-then Russian prime minister took a Formula One race car out for a spin, reaching speeds of almost 150 mph.

Reacting to how cramped the race car was, he said :

“Even in my Zaporozhets (his first car – ZAZ-968), I had more space,”

3) GAZ-21 Volga

Putin has been spotted behind the wheel of his 1956 GAZ-21 Volga.

In 2005, he allowed U.S. President George W. Bush to take the drivers seat in his Volga after their meeting at Putin’s Presidential Residence.

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4) Aurus Senat sedan

Putin got behind the steering wheel to show Egypt’s Abdel Fatah el-Sisi what the Formula 1 circuit in Sochi looks like, picking an Aurus sedan from his motorcade for the job.

5) KAMAZ

Putin got behind the wheels of a KAMAZ truck during the opening ceremony of the Kerch Strait Bridge (aka Crimean Bridge) on May 15, 2018.

The president personally led a convoy of 36 construction trucks that crossed Europe’s longest bridge in just 16 minutes.

6) NIVA

Putin is also a fan classic Russian-made Lada NIVA.

He once use the SUV for fishing trips.

“It’s 100 percent guaranteed to pass where Mercedez cannot, it drives well in the snow,”

7) Mercedes ML

Putin is also a fan of German cars. In 2017, the Kremlin strongman rocked up at the ancient Valaam Monastery in a Mercedes ML with a mystery lady in the passenger seat.

8) Yo-Mobil prototype

The Yo-Mobil was a planned series type hybrid electric car that never saw the light of day.

Putin managed to drive one before the project was sold to the Russian government for €1 in 2014.

As of 2020, no production vehicles were ever produced.

9) LADA Kalina

In 2010, Putin embarked on a four-day, 2,000-km road trip across Russia’s Far East in a Lada Kalina.

Putin was impressed, calling the car “outstanding.”

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