MOSCOW, July 6 - RIA Novosti. Vladimir Putin tested the latest russian car executive class, which is being developed within the framework of the "Cortege" project. According to the press secretary of the President Dmitry Peskov, the head of state personally rode a prototype of the future limousine.
The President was satisfied
The head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov told Izvestia that the president personally examined the Cortege.
“Vladimir Putin has already familiarized himself with the project, saw its different stages. He even went to prototype A, but they didn’t have time to show prototype B,” the minister said.
According to the official, the result of the work of domestic developers satisfied the president.
Manturov added that the president tested "prototype A" - a batch of just such machines should be at the disposal of the FSO by the end of 2017. Tests of cars for reliability and safety will last until spring 2018.
There was no testing
At the same time, the Kremlin denied reports of some media outlets, which reported that Putin personally tested the "Cortege".
“No, he didn’t ride the prototype. He got under way, drove a little, but didn’t drive,” said Peskov.
Last Tuesday Denis Manturov denied media reports about the curtailment of funding for the Cortege project.
"I didn't even understand who said it. Everything is according to plan, work is going on," the head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade told RIA Novosti.
Then the official explained that the prototype of the new car will be delivered in 2018, and full-fledged production will begin in 2019. According to the minister, the president elected in 2018 will arrive at the ceremony in a new car.
What is "Tuple"
Work on the "Cortege" project started in 2012. It is planned that four types of cars will be created: limousine, sedan, crossover and minibus.
The development of the new car is being carried out by employees of the Federal State Unitary Enterprise "Scientific Research Automobile Institute" (NAMI). By the way, the project itself is called not "Cortege" (as journalists called it), but "United modular platform"(EMP).
It is planned that new car will serve not only the president, but also other top Russian officials.
According to open data, foreign partners are also involved in the project: Porsche Engineering has developed one of the two engines with which the cars will be equipped, and Bosch Engineering.
Employees of "Russian Automotive Design", one of the divisions of NAMI, work on the design of new cars. There are several options external appearance "Cortege", but the final decision has not yet been made.
The media is also discussing the place of assembly of the "Tuple". In 2014, the head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade announced that the crossovers would be assembled at the facilities of UAZ in Ulyanovsk. As for limousines, according to journalists, they will be engaged in their production bus factory LiAZ in the Orekhovo-Zuevsky district of the Moscow region (owned by the GAZ group) and at KamAZ in Naberezhnye Chelny.
Not only for top officials
In April last year, Manturov said that the cars of the "Cortege" project will be delivered not only to officials. So, the military showed interest in new machines.
"We are planning to start deliveries for the Ministry of Defense, but this is based on SUV (SUV is an off-road vehicle of the Cortege project. - Ed.)," Manturov said.
According to the minister, this is a light armored vehicle.
At the same time, Manturov said that by 2020 the Ministry of Industry and Trade expects to reach an annual production of up to five thousand cars of the Cortege project of all types.
Five for safety
The Ministry of Industry and Trade wants to increase the production of cars of the Cortege project by 2020By 2020, Russia will produce 4-5 thousand units of cars of all types - limousines, sedans, SUVs and minivans, the head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov told RIA Novosti.Crash tests, traditional for all new cars, "Cortege" passed last year. In early June, the car was tested in Berlin.
"This is a frontal crash test, there are different tests, there are overlap tests, there are side ones, there is a rear impact. This is a whole series of tests in accordance with world standards. The first attempt, at the very first test of the frontal crash test, has the highest score," - said the vice-rector for promising projects of Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University Alexey Borovkov.
What presidents ride
Heads of state traditionally drive executive cars. Some countries buy cars overseas, and some prefer the national auto industry.
For example, Chinese leader Xi Jinping uses FAW Hong Qi HQE, and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe uses Toyota Century.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel also prefers "her" car - the Audi A8. True, her car is very different from the serial - they created an armored vehicle, and the thickness of the glasses is almost five centimeters. As a result, the sedan can withstand shots from firearms and a grenade explosion under the bottom.
The limousine of US President Donald Trump, nicknamed "The Beast", stands apart. The vehicle weighs more than eight tons; it has 20-centimeter door armor and 12-centimeter window armor.
The car, which costs $ 1.2 million, is capable of withstanding direct shots from large-caliber weapons.
And even rode a little on it. He liked the car as a whole, but it is impossible to talk about full testing, because the car is not ready yet. Press secretary of the head of state Dmitry Peskov told about this, clarifying the information of journalists and officials, reports "Interfax".
“This information (about testing -“ WORLD 24 ”) is slightly exaggerated. The thing is, the car isn't ready yet. Indeed, there are some sketches, let's say, the president saw the prototype, he liked it, ”he explained.
Earlier, Minister of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov said that Putin had a ride on "prototype A", which will go to the disposal of the Federal Security Service until the end. They didn't have time to show him Prototype B.
“The first understanding really looks interesting. He didn’t drive the prototype - he got under way on it and really drove a little bit. But I didn't go, because it's still a prototype. The president cannot ride it yet, ”Peskov corrected him.
The "Cortege" project was launched in 2012. Within the framework of the program, executive class cars are created - a limousine, a sedan, an SUV and a minivan. They should be used by top officials of the state. Later cars will go on sale for ordinary, albeit wealthy citizens. It is assumed that at the site of the Central Scientific Research Automobile and automotive Institute NAMI will produce up to 300 cars a year.
In countries with developed automotive industry the first persons, as a rule, travel to the products of the domestic auto industry. So it was in the USSR - with the exception of Vladimir Lenin, all state leaders traveled in limousines manufactured by ZiL (formerly ZiS). Such a car was used by the first President of Russia Boris Yeltsin, while in 1997 he switched to Mercedes.
Photo: Yorick Jansens, Zuma \\ TASS
In the United States, Donald Trump drives an armored limousine Cadillac One, nicknamed The Beast. It is believed to be the most secure car in the world. It is built on a tank frame, weighs up to 9 tons and can, for example, spray tear gas. General Motors is currently testing updated version presidential limousine... It was supposed to be shown at the inauguration on January 20, 2017, but the premiere was delayed. Note that the heads of the White House did not always use Cadillac, but it was his products that were preferred by the last four presidents. But George W. Bush moved in a Lincoln Town Car.
Chinese President Xi Jinping uses a FAW Hong Qi HQE (Red Banner) limousine. The car is 6.4 meters long and is styled after the first Hong Qi of the 1950s. The model is also popular with other Chinese officials.
Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain drives a Bentley State Limousine, formally part of the German volkswagen concern Group, or one of the Rolls-Royce variants - for example, the one-off Phantom VI with a retractable roof. But British Prime Ministers traditionally use Jaguar cars. So, Theresa May prefers the Jaguar XJ. Her predecessor, David Cameron, used the Jaxuar XJ Sentinel.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel opted for the Audi A8 L Security W12 in a special Kanzler version with numerous additional options... However, there is also a Mercedes-Benz S600L of the Sonderklasse class in her garage.
In France, there is no tradition of using representative cars for the head of state, but the car must be French. The current president, Emmanuel Macron, chose the flagship model of the premium French brand - the DS 7 Crossback, while his predecessor François Hollande appeared in public on the mid-size, almost serial DS 5 hatchback.
In Japan, the imperial family and prime ministers have been using Toyota Century sedans that are hand-assembled for them for years. Wherein toyota sedan Century Royal for Akihito looks more impressive than Shinzo Abe's car. It is worth noting that the premier version is also preferred by some high-ranking officials and even the richest members of the Japanese Yakuza mafia.
Independently provides the first persons of the state with cars and South Korea... The main car for the President of the country is the Hyundai Equus VL500, which significantly exceeds the size of the main car manufacturer's fleet.
In Italy, top officials choose a Lancia car (the current president of Sergio Mattarella is a Lancia Flaminia 335), in the Czech Republic - Skoda. But in Sweden, King Carl XVI Gustav does not use a local Volvo for official ceremonies, but a rare Daimler DS420 of 1968, which was preferred by many monarchs of Europe. However, on ordinary trips, he still goes to the Volvo S80.
In general, world leaders most often use the products of the German and British automotive industry. special series or made by special order.
Perhaps the most original of all is the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte. His choice is his personal bike. Moreover, he drives it not only to work, but also to other cities when he arrives there on an official visit.
“Of course, initially, Putin himself chose what he liked best in style. So, the ZIS concept was chosen, which is still developing, - said Nagaytsev. - We made a model and showed it to the president at the turn of 2012-2013 in Novo-Ogarevo. And from him we heard only one question: "When?" As a result, he almost drove off on it! " - said Nagaytsev.
Earlier, the head of the design department of NAMI and one of the founders of the AHRF in an interview with Gazeta.Ru said that the main concept in the development of machines is to use the ideas of leading Western companies, but implement them by domestic specialists. The general contractor of the project is indeed NAMI.
At the same time, another 130 companies and institutions were involved in the creation of cars for the top officials of the state, 50 of which are foreign, including those that have offices and production in Russia.
So, in development brake systemAccording to the documents, Haldex and the renowned Italian manufacturer Brembo took part. Software development and multimedia systems is handled by Harman Connected Services, part of the American Harman group of companies. Many car owners know Harman for the audio systems that are produced under the Harman / Kordon and Bang & Olufsen brands and are installed on cars. premium stamps: BMW, Land rover, Mercedes-Benz and other auto companies.
In addition, the creation of audio systems for domestic government cars the Swiss family company Daniel Herz is engaged. Another foreign manufacturer that has joined Cortezh is the Chinese group U-shin, and in particular its division in Slovakia. The company is large manufacturer auto components such as keys, door locking mechanisms, fuel filler flap and fuel filler caps, door handles, systems keyless entry, sensors and gearbox mechanisms, engine start systems from a button, LED license plate lights, as well as blocks climatic installations and all kinds of switches. The company's customers are such car manufacturers as Mazda, Honda, Suzuki.
The body parts for the first car prototypes were handled by the South Korean company DNK Tech Co., LTD.
In addition, domestic companies participated in the work on the project. So, for example, I was involved in development.
Car glasses are probably developed at one of the oldest glass factories in Russia - Mosavtosteklo. The limousine's armor protection was probably handled by the Nizhny Novgorod enterprise PJSC "Plant of Buildings".
Previously, a patent for the exterior of the sedan and SUV models from the Cortege was placed in the public domain. By appearance the models turned out to be similar to luxury British cars rolls-Royce brands and Bentley - about the same should look and the limousine on which the president will move.
In 2018, the next presidential elections will be held in Russia, and at this inauguration ceremony, the head of state will be driven in a limousine "Cortege" domestic production.
As the media found out, funding for the creation of the Cortege project has been preserved, within the framework of which 3.7 billion rubles are allocated from the state budget alone. An assembly site for limousines for top officials of the state is already located in Moscow.
So, the head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation Denis Manturov has recently admitted that budget financing "has not been frozen." “I don’t remember what name it goes by (line in the budget), but we haven’t frozen anything - 3.7 billion rubles, as planned, it is. All plans are not just valid, they are being implemented,” he said ... Moreover, the prototype, which will not be shown to anyone in order to preserve intrigue and secrecy, will be ready in January 2016.
"We must ship the first pre-production batch at the end of 2017 to the FSO, respectively, you will see at the inauguration," the minister shared, referring to the inauguration of the Russian president after the 2018 elections.
"Until now, it is not known exactly what displacement the engine will have - 6.0 liters or 6.6 liters. But the power this motor should be within 800 horse power", - the press has already written. The journalists added that the project has other cars -" sedan, SUV and minibus ", which will receive turbo engines" with a smaller working volume. "
By the way, the SUV and sedan from the "Cortege" project will be mass-produced - at least 5,000 units per year and will be sold even to private (naturally very wealthy) individuals. It is clear that private cars of the "Cortege" series will not be equipped with "presidential" booking and special communications (if, of course, they will not be purchased at state trade for the leadership of the authorities).
“In July 2013, the Russian government banned state and municipal purchases of foreign-made cars,” the publications said, explaining that we are not talking about Russian complete or “screwdriver” assemblies of foreign cars. True, for top managers all machines, their components, assemblies and the smallest details are checked by the FSO and the FSB for "bookmarks" and vulnerabilities.
Experts, including world experts in the automotive industry, already admit that the "Cortege" brand (or "a car like the president's") will be very popular with wealthy businessmen and government officials. However, we are not talking about a commercial project - after all, for the first time since the Soviet era, Russia will have its "own" supercar, which will be driven by the head of state - and his escort vehicles.
"As you know, the" Cortege "project includes the development of a limousine for the President of the Russian Federation, support vehicles in the bodies of SUVs and minibuses for accompanying persons," the experts confirm.
"The stylization under the Stalinist ZIS-115 limousine can be considered quite successful: on the one hand, its motives are unmistakably recognizable in the prototype for the Cortege project, on the other, they do not have a single detail of the exterior that is similar in shape," the media share, analyzing the leaked data about the project "Tuple".
"Naturally, in cars of this level - an armored capsule, communication systems and special communications, multimedia systems, means of protection against eavesdropping and interception of communications, evacuation systems, electronic and power defense, as well as all kinds of special" gadgets ". Tires that work even after heavy shelling , a system of disks on which a limousine can go without tires, a special gas tank, "says a man who had a hand in creating Soviet and post-Soviet limousines for the country's leadership.
He added that even without the territory cleared by the FSO and security vehicles, "which in reality does not happen," those in the limousine "should be fully armed with the appearance of a hostile helicopter, drone, grenade and machine gunners.
Of course, he did not disclose the specifications of the "Cortege" project, as well as the details of booking the presidential limousine, special communications systems and other subtleties.
"The exact information about the design of the" armored cars "is kept in the strictest confidence. Each car is assembled by special order. But it is known that special tires are installed on the car, allowing it to continue driving despite punctures," the experts write.
"Self-sealing fuel tank and an automatic fire extinguishing system. According to experts, the limousine has cylinders with a supply of air, which will withstand a gas attack, hidden loopholes, compartments for storing various weapons, "they add.
Some experts even report that " american car president - good if you have a little trouble, but ours is ready for war. "They explain that" the passengers of the car can survive a small nuclear explosion, but at a certain distance. "
"It will be power, greatness, strength, technology and security - perhaps these words can describe the head limousine of the Cortege", - shared with one of the participants in the development of the "Cortege" project, adding - any more detailed description is a violation of state secrets.
"FSO and GON must get cars of the Cortege project in advance for their development, for training all drivers, security - each presidential limousine or minibus has its own dynamics, acceleration, weight, skidding, behavior on the road. You need to take into account every moment for a comfortable and safe passage of routes, in case of emergency, and so on, "he explained. "Of course, perhaps someone will" merge "the appearance of the" Cortege "project in the media in 2016, it will appear in the media and will be discussed - but no one will definitely know the" stuffing ".
At the inauguration of the Russian president, who will be elected in 2018, citizens will see the new super limousine of the head of state. It became known how it will look and how it will become better than Obama's "megacadilac". Now russian leader will not drive a special version of the Mercedes "Pulman", but a limousine russian production - the so-called "project" Cortege ", the most secure, armored, equipped with all types of communications.
3.7 billion rubles are allocated for the creation of the "Cortege" project. An assembly site for limousines for top officials of the state is already located in Moscow. 
"Cortege" will be mass-produced - at least 5000 units per year and will be sold even to private individuals. 
Naturally, in cars of this level - an armored capsule, communication systems and special communications, multimedia systems, means of protection against eavesdropping and interception of communications, evacuation systems, electronic and military defense. Tires that work even after a heavy fire, a system of discs on which a limousine can go without tires, a special gas tank. 
Even without the territory cleared by the FSO and security vehicles, “which in reality does not happen”, those in the limousine “must be fully armed with the appearance of a hostile helicopter, drone, grenade and machine gunners. 
