Prime Minister Narendra Modi & the cars in his convoy: Land Rover Range Rover to Toyota Landcruiser

India’s most important man, Prime Minister Narendra Modi moves around a lot for inaugurations, speeches and various other events. Modi’s security is handled by the SPG (Special Protection Group) during all his Indian and foreign trips. To keep Narendra Modi safe on the road, the SPG uses a motorcade with armoured vehicles. Which are these vehicles used by Narendra Modi’s convoy? Let’s find out.

BMW 7-Series High Security

The BMW 7-Series High Security is a high-end, bullet-proof armoured sedan that replaced the humble Mahindra Scorpio from the PMO’s fleet. The car costs around Rs. 10 crores in India and Modi’s convoy uses three of them. While Modi travels in one of the BMW 760Li High Security cars, the other two cars that look exactly the same are used as decoys.

The armoured car gets a VR7 certification that means that it can withstand close range firing from AK47s, high-intensity blasts of up to 17 kg and roadside bombs. The sedan gets added reinforcements and heavy sheet metal making it weigh around 4 tonnes. It also gets its own air circulation system with an oxygen tank. The car can move at a speed up to 80 km/h even with punctured tyres.

BMW X5

Narendra Modi’s convoy has 8 black coloured BMW X5s that forms a security perimeter around the 7-Series when Modi is on the move. The BMW X5s are also armoured and are used by SPG officials who travel with Modi. The SUVs are unmarked so that they can blend into traffic easily, but they get camouflaged flashers that are used to clear the way when the convoy is moving. It is not known which engine powers the BMW X5 but even the entry-level variant of the SUV draws power from an inline 6-cylinder engine that generates a maximum of 258 Bhp – 560 Nm.

Land Rover Range Rover Vogue

The Land Rover Range Rover Vogue is seen as the ultimate luxury SUV. Prime Minister Modi has started using the SUV quite often as it is easier to get in and out of the vehicle. He also uses the sunroof of the SUV to get out and greet the public. It is an armoured SUV and just like all other cars in the convoy, it gets the stealth black colour. Modi has been spotted numerous times using the Range Rover for road shows. The Indian ownership of the British brand is also an added point for using the Range Rover.

Toyota Land Cruiser 200

The Toyota Landcruiser 200 is one of the new cars in which Modi can be seen in recent times. The Toyota Landcruiser 200 is a tried-and-tested SUV from the Japanese manufacturer, Toyota. It has a massive stance and is used by many other politicians and industrialists in India. The LC 200 used by Modi gets a huge sunroof that allows the prime minister to get out and greet the crowd easily. The roof is quite big and one can even stand in the second-row seat to get out of the vehicle. It is not known if the Toyota Landcruiser LC200 is armoured, but if the Prime Minister of India is using it, there are high chances that it is an armoured vehicle.

Toyota Land Cruiser Prado

Modi’s convoy also gets the smaller version of the Land Cruiser 200 in the form of Prado. The Prado does not move as a part of the main motorcade but it is often seen trailing the convoy. It is quite possible that SPG officers or tactical teams travel in the Land Cruiser Prado to tackle any situation that may come up on the way.

Toyota Fortuner

The Toyota Fortuner is the best-selling SUV in its segment, in India. The new generation Fortuner looks quite sleek and modern, and is quite popular in India. Modi’s motorcade gets numerous black coloured Toyota Fortuners that form the outer ring of the security perimeter. The black Toyota Fortuners form a perimeter that keeps the cars in the middle safe from any attacks. These cars do not look armoured though. Toyota offers Fortuner with both petrol and diesel engine options in the Indian market but it is highly likely that these SUVs are powered by diesel engines.

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter

Trailing the motorcade is a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van that has been modified as a mobile ambulance. The Sprinter stays in close proximity of the convoy wherever the prime minister goes. The Sprinter comes with powerful engine options that allow it to stay near the high-speed convoy. It is either powered by a 161-Bhp or a 188-Bhp engine.

Tata Safari

The good old Tata Safari is an indispensable vehicle when it comes to politicians in India. The Safari is the main choice of politicians since the past few years. In Modi’s motorcade, the Safari is used as a signal jammer and stays in close proximity of the prime minister’s car. The Safari gets high-tech jammers mounted on the roof that ensures no one can use remote control bombs when the convoy is passing through.

Mahindra Scorpio

The Mahindra Scorpio used to be the official vehicle of the Prime Minister of India before it got replaced by the BMW 7-Series High Security. The rugged and tough SUV can be seen in Modi’s motorcade at the end. The black-coloured Scorpio is not armoured and ferries Narendra Modi’s support staff wherever he travels.

Toyota Innova

The Innova is the best-selling MUV in India and is used by the police forces of various states. In most of Narendra Modi’s motorcades, a Toyota Innova that belongs to the state police leads the way. There are also quite a few old-generation Toyota Innova MPVs, at the end of the convoy, for the support staff travelling with the prime minister.

Source: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10