Heads of State are a privileged lot - they often have the power, wealth, and influence to drive whichever car they please. Some have used the opportunity to acquire the finest and rarest vehicles in the motoring world. The Sultan of Brunei, for instance, reportedly has over 7,000 cars worth $5 billion in his garage. Other (very few) heads of state have taken a different approach, shunning opulence and driving ordinary vehicles.
Jose Mujica, Uruguay’s leader from 2010 to 2015, used his personal Volkswagen Beetle as his presidential automobile. He drove the car and listed the $1,800 automobile as his only asset.
Mujica and the few others who eschew presidential opulence are exceptions. Most presidential rides are expensive and kitted with top-of-the-range security features. Here are 10 mind-numbing cars used by heads of state.
10 Emperor Naruhito: Toyota Century
The 126th Emperor of Japan - the Japanese royal family has reportedly ruled since 600 BC, making it the oldest running monarchy in the world - rides in a modified Toyota Century. The Toyota Century is a handcrafted luxury model common among Japan’s elite - and, allegedly, Yakuza top brass. It’s powered by a 5.0-liter V-8 hybrid powertrain plucked from the fourth-gen Lexus LS. It’s good for 425 horsepower and 376 pound-feet.
Toyota doesn’t sell the Century outside Japan. Even in Japan, very few people own the vehicle: the manufacturer produces just 50 examples per month. It’s, therefore, a unique and rare car. The Emperor’s Century is even more special, considering the modifications Toyota incorporated to accommodate and safeguard the custodian of the Chrysanthemum Throne. The vehicle’s modifications include:
- Bulletproof and bomb-proof construction.
- Protection against biological and nuclear attack.
- Japanese gold imperial seal in place of a number plate.
- A removable roof.
- Designated imperial seat with extra legroom.
- Special holder for the emperor’s katana.
9 Narendra Modi: Mercedes Maybach S650
India’s Prime Minister swapped a Toyota Land Cruiser and Range Rover Vogue for a Mercedes Maybach S650 in late 2021. It’s propelled by a twin-turbo V-12 engine churning out 621 horsepower and 738 pound-feet. Modi’s Maybach S560 needs every one of those horses considering the extra weight of the security reinforcements. The Guard variant that Modi drives arrived with the following modifications:
- A bulletproof armor capable of repelling sustained fire.
- Explosion resistance.
- Protection against gas attacks.
- Rocket-attack resistance.
To further safeguard The Prime Minister, his security team added extra safety features:
- Run-flat puncture resistance tires.
- A self-sealing fuel tank built using polymers developed for military helicopters.
- Satellite communication systems.
- Armor improvements.
- Separate air supply.
8 Sultan of Brunei: Golden Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit
The Sultan of Brunei loves luxury cars. Perhaps his most impressive luxury artifact is his royal carriage: a gold-plated Rolls-Royce Silver Spur II. The vehicle, in all its majesty, is lined with 24-karat gold and is worth an estimated $14 million.
It certainly pays to be at the helm of one of the last absolute monarchies. The Sultan ordered the car to be used during one of his weddings. The happy couple sat under a canopy in a seat placed where the trunk would typically be. Not much else is known about the Sultan’s Golden Silver Spur - he rarely gives interviews.
The elongated vehicle is based on a Rolls-Royce Silver Spur II. The vehicle’s modifications certainly add considerable weight, perhaps increasing the burden on the 6.8-liter 226-horsepower engine at the front. However, it’s unlikely that the Sultan ordered the Rolls for its performance, negating the need for engine improvements.
7 President Joe Biden: The Beast
The U.S. doesn’t take the security of its President lightly. Indeed, President Biden is one of the most protected people on the placement. He rides in a modified Cadillac aptly titled ‘The Beast’. The true extent of the vehicle’s security modifications is unclear: the Secret Service keeps some of the vehicle’s details close to its chest. The Beast’s alleged security features include:
- Shotguns, rocket-propelled grenades, and tear gas canisters.
- Eight-inch armor plating and five-inch thick windows.
- Protection against gas attacks.
- Run-flat puncture-resistant tires.
- Rigged door handles.
- Night vision equipment.
- Blast and bulletproof fuel tank.
In the unexpected event that the President sustains an injury, The Beast carries an oxygen supply and a blood bank to facilitate first aid. Any attack would reach the country’s top brass via the vehicle’s satellite communication system. Also, the President can, when the need arises, authorize a nuclear attack from the comfort and safety of the Beast.
6 King Charles III: Bentley State Limousine
To celebrate 50 years of Queen Elizabeth’s reign, Bentley delivered two limos specially made for the Queen’s transport. Bentley based the two special vehicles on the Bentley Arnage R. The Queen, her husband, and her chauffeur presented ideas to Bentley on how to build a car suited to the Queen’s duties. Bentley incorporated the following modifications for the beloved monarch:
- A ‘panoramic glasshouse’ design to allow the Queen to be seen.
- A flat floor (the transmission tunnel runs under the car).
- Raised rear seats lined with lambswool cloth.
- Raised roof to facilitate the Queen’s movement into and out of the vehicle.
- Doors that open 90 degrees to facilitate movement.
- A custom-built compartment for her handbags.
Security enhancements included run-flat tires, protection from gas attacks, and armor plating. King Charles III inherited the Bentley State Limousines following the Queen’s death. Some of the vehicle’s modifications won’t be of much use to him - the handbag compartment, for example. However, he must take pride in riding in a car made to celebrate his mother’s long reign.
5 Xi Jinping: Hongqi L5
The Chinese equivalent of a Rolls-Royce is the Hongqi L5. Given the resemblance between the cars, the Hongqi’s designers likely borrowed some design cues from Rolls-Royce. Hongqi updated the L5 in 2023, adding more chrome to the exterior, debuting new alloys, and lengthening the grille. Inside, the Hongqi blends digital and analog, with three massive screens and many physical buttons lining the dash.
The details about Xi Jinping’s car and the Hongqi L5 are a mystery: the vehicle’s power unit is believed to be a 6.0-liter V-12 or an ‘entry-level’ 4.0-liter V-8. Nevertheless, a car ferrying the leader of one of the world’s largest economies is expected to be fairly secure.
4 Sergio Mattarella: Lancia Flaminia 335
Sergio Mattarella’s Lancia Flaminia 335 is rarely seen - it emerges annually during the National Day of the Republic and every seven years during a presidential inauguration. The Flaminia became the official presidential car in Italy during a time of economic prosperity for Italy. The then-President instructed Pininfarina, the legendary car designer behind some of the most beautiful cars in the world, to design four vehicles worthy of a President and the visiting Queen of England.
Consequently, the Flaminia 335 is perhaps the most beautiful car on this list. The stretched version of the base Flaminia was built by Lancia, General Motors, and Pininfarina. The two presidential Flaminias still in service are convertibles with a retractable soft top. Barring a restoration by Fiat in 2001, the vehicles are largely unchanged, more than six decades since their debut.
3 Gabriel Boric: 1966 Ford Galaxie XL
The 1966 Ford Galaxie XL used by Chilean leader Gabriel Boric arrived in the country in the mid-1960s by order of the British Royal Family. Queen Elizabeth used it during her tour of the country and left it behind. Upon President Salvador Allende’s election as President in 1970, he designated the Ford Galaxie XL as the official presidential car, ditching the previously-used horse-drawn carriage.
Since then, Chile’s heads of state have used the Galaxie XL. The Galaxie is used during national holidays, presidential inaugurations, and state visits. Gabriel Boric, the current president, was the first Chilean premier driven in the Ford by a female driver during his inauguration.
2 Pope: Popemobile
Pope Paul VI pioneered the Popemobile in the 1960s, using a modified Lincoln Lehmann-Peterson to greet crowds in New York. The Popemobile didn’t have much in terms of security apparatus. That changed when, riding in a Fiat Campagnola Popemobile into a crowded St. Peter’s Square, Pope John Paul II was shot by Mehmet Ali Agca. The assassination attempt prompted the Vatican hierarchy to fortify the Popemobile against attack. Popemobiles usually have the following security features:
- Bulletproof construction.
- Armored undercarriage able to resist bomb blasts.
- Separate oxygen supply.
- Explosion resistance.
The needs and preferences of a Pope also influence the vehicle’s design. For instance, Pope Benedict XVI used a modified Mercedes Benz M-Class SUV with a hydraulic seat in the back which elevated the Pope when he needed to be seen.
Pope Francis, the current pontiff, is famous for embracing a simple lifestyle. On his election night, he eschewed the papal limo, riding with other church leaders in a mini-van. Pope Francis’ cars are, therefore, reasonably modest. So far, he has used modified variants of an Isuzu D-Max, a Jeep Wrangler, and a Fiat 500L as Popemobiles.
1 King Filipe VI: Rolls-Royce Phantom IV
Rolls-Royce only sold the Phantom IV to heads of state and the British Royal Family. The manufacturer only made 18 Phantom IVs, making it one of the rarest cars in the world. Three of the 18 - two limos and a cabriolet - were delivered to General Francisco Franco. The vehicle featured several security features, including armor plating and bulletproof windows.
Adding to the vehicle’s uniqueness was the fact that it featured a 5.7-liter or 6.5-liter straight-eight engine. The engine was favored by heads of state due to its ability to run at low speeds for long, a valuable feature for ceremonial vehicles. King Filipe IV inherited the Phantom IVs when he ascended to the throne in June 2014. He used the Cabriolet variant during his 2004 wedding to Letizia Ortiz and on his coronation ten years later.