Vladimir Putin and his colleagues are set to cruise around in an all new series of limousines and cars thanks to a Russian project dubbed Kortezh (Cortege).
The $54-million Cortege project will provide Russian-manufactured vehicles for transportation of top local government officials, according to Moscow Times. These specially-created Cortege models will come in limo, sedan, SUV, and minivan body styles, and unlike the special cars created for American officials, these vehicles will be available to all Russians who can afford one as the maker plans to produce 4,000-5,000 editions of each version.
Production of the Cortege project is set to start in 2017 at the Central Scientific Research Automobile and Automotive Engines Institute (NAMI) in Moscow. 200 units are expected to be built in the first year, with the rest rolling out by the end of the decade.
Denis Manturov, Russia’s Commerce and Industry Minister, confirmed that Porsche helped develop the powertrain for the Cortege project, and while the actual engine under the hood is still unknown, some expect a V12 turbo with up to 800 horsepower.
Russian President Vladimir Putin will receive a model from the initial Cortege run sometime in late 2017 or early 2018.