Narendra Modi vs Xi Jinping: Their Bulletproof Cars

• Published On: 18 June 2020
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Indian Prime Minster prefers the BMW 7 Series while the Chinese President travels in Hongqi limousine.

India and China are the emerging superpower of the 21st century with both countries competing for a slice of the economic pie. India is now taking a prominent role in International affairs under Prime Minister Narendra Modi while China harbors dream of a superpower position under the regime of Xi Jinping.We take a look at the vehicles driving the two most powerful men of Asia.   

PM Narendra Modi Car

Narendra Modi swept to power in 2014 and followed it with another resounding victory in 2019. With a supreme majority in place, PM Modi aims to make India a global superpower. From meditating in the Taliban talks to the Solar alliance, He is emerging as a powerful leader. With the rise in global influence, Narendra Modi needs to be safe from external threats. The Indian Prime Minister travels in a BMW 760Li, premium saloon advocated by the Special Protection Group (SPG). This BMW 7 Series is customized and is a high secured armoured mobile vehicle. Powered by a V12 engine, the car churns out a massive 539 bhp of power and can accelerate from 0-100 kmph in just 6.2 seconds. Top speed of the Narendra Modi’s BMW 7 series is 210 kmph. The 760Li complies with the V7 grade of ballistic protection and is compliant with the higher VR9 grade of protection also. If there is a gas attack, the cabin becomes a gas-safe chamber with additional oxygen tank too. The armoured BMW can handle assault rifle, bomb, IED (Improvised explosive device) and can run on flat tyres for kilometres. 

Besides the 7 Series, Mr Modi has also been spotted in a Range Rover SUV on multiple occasions. In fact during last year's Independence Day Celebration, he was driven to the Red Fort in 2019 Toyota Land Cruiser. 

China President Xi Jinping Cars

Xi Jinping is the President of the People's Republic of China (PRC) since 2013. His stranglehold over China is impressive and has led China to stupendous economic growth. Currently leading China in the battle against COVID-19 which emerged in Wuhan province. China aims to increase its influence in world affairs and Xi Jinping needs to travel a lot to build allies. Xi Jinping uses the bulletproof limousine for his travels be it in the China Mainland or outside the country. Recently on his state visit to India, Xi preferred ‘Hongqi’ limousine instead of the Helicopter offered by the Indian government. Xi Jinping travels in  ‘Hongqi’ limousine, produced by the Chinese automobile company China First Auto Works (FAW) Group. Dimension wise, the armoured sedan is 18-feet long and 6.5-feet wide and stands tall at 5 feet. The Hongqi limousine can accelerate from 0-100 kmph in just 8 seconds. The limousine is in production since the 1950s, the initial edition was inspired by the Chrysler limousine with the design being similar plus the components like gearbox were lifted directly from Chrysler. Xi Jinping’s Hongqi is powered by a turbocharged V8 engine churning out 402 horsepower. The engine is mated with an automatic transmission and can travel up to 500 miles on a full tank. Regarding the armour and ballastic capability, nothing is known as the Chinese Government are opaque regarding customization done on the car.  The Hongqi would be able to withstand assault fire, land mines and grenade explosion as normally expected in the armoured cars that ferries important world leaders.

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is wanting to establish itself as a super power