There may or may not have been a very significant presidential election recently, and it got us thinking.
With great power comes great responsibility, and deciding on an appropriate mode of transport is among the many choices a world leader is required to make.
As well as providing comfort and security, the cars associated with presidents and prime ministers need to convey status and patriotism. Quite the list of criteria, then.
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Leaders near and far have come up with a broad range of solutions to the problem. For example, outgoing US President Joe Biden is ferried around in a bespoke Cadillac limousine dubbed ‘The Beast’, while Boris Johnson represented the UK in a Jaguar XJ.
Neither of those vehicles quite align with our focus on new cars, though.
Nevertheless, we like a challenge here at CarExpert, so here are the new cars that the editorial team would opt for as a VIP of the highest order.
James Wong: Bentley Flying Spur
While Aston Martins are probably my favourite ultra-luxury cars, they’re still made to be driven – whereas I would happily be driven in a Bentley.
The new 2025 Bentley Flying Spur is an opulent if more environmentally conscious vehicle of choice for a world leader, thanks to its V8 plug-in hybrid drivetrain offering up to 76 kilometres of EV driving range on the WLTP cycle.
Even better, its system outputs of 575kW and 1000Nm make for a very quick getaway if you’re ever in a hurry or in danger.
Tally ho, chaps…
Interested in buying a Bentley Flying Spur? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here
MORE: Everything Bentley Flying Spur
Matt Buchanan: Rolls-Royce Boat Tail
Okay. If I were the President, I’d be tempted to adopt as my favoured mode of conveyance a Sedan Chair, and be carried aloft by six soft-soled, broad-beamed loyal bearers along a rose-petalled path, padding to the next banquet, the next enormous throne fitting, the next humdrum thrashing of the ignoble peasantry.
But maybe that’s more kingly than presidential and, besides, this is about cars.
So maybe, instead, I’d hop into the back of a Bugatti Royale (1927-1933): 21 gleaming feet of Art Deco elegance and dominance, its high-mounted grille, running boards and elegant hood underscoring its opulent appeal and belying its massive 12.7-litre straight-eight engine, one of the largest car engines ever built.
Originally designed for aircraft, the engine produced a belting 300 horsepower, an impressive feat for the time and, despite its stately appearance, this three-ton beast could reach 160km/h.
Yes, yes, all very well, you say, but this column is all about which car of today would you select.
Glad you asked. For me I’d go for a modern-day equivalent, the only car that can match the prestige, power and utterly nutty charisma of the Bugatti Royale: the Rolls-Royce Boat Tail (don’t laugh).
It’s a car that could scarcely be more limited production, with only three ever made (Jay-Z owns one of them). Like the Royale the engine bay contains a beast – to wit, a 414kW/860Nm 6.75-litre twin-turbo V12, capable of bolting you to 100kmh in 4.4 seconds, pipping 250km/h.
And, like the Bugatti Royale it looks, well, magnificently ridiculous, an eccentric mix of the traditional (all teak wood trim and elegant sweeping lines) and the avant garde: is it a bird? Is it a plane? Is it a, erm… yacht?
Such a conspicuous show of wealth might not poll well, of course, and would likely attract the odd hiss or boo, the odd hail of rotting vegetables. But to ride in such a mad chariot, well, you’d be mad not to try it, eh? EH?
Interested in buying a Rolls-Royce? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here
MORE: Everything Rolls-Royce
Josh Nevett: Rolls-Royce Cullinan Black Badge
I have two key criteria for a presidential vehicle – safety and comfort. Enter the Rolls-Royce Cullinan.
Rolls-Royce is synonymous with opulent luxury, and the $800,000 Cullinan doesn’t miss in that regard – the front row is lovely, but VIPs belong in the back which is where you’ll find individual entertainment screens, power-adjustable seats with heating, ventilation and massage functions, and perforated quilted leather upholstery. All with plenty of legroom.
The Cullinan doesn’t quite have the structural integrity of modern military tanks if a crisis were to ever arise, but it does possess the mechanical traits to get you out of harm’s way in a hurry.
Top-spec Black Badge examples are powered by a 6.75-litre twin-turbo V12 petrol engine, producing a healthy 441kW and 900Nm – catch me if you can!
Unlike some of the other vehicles mentioned here, you’re not limited to the blacktop either, as the Cullinan has SUV ground clearance and all-wheel drive. Rest easy my anxious mind.
Interested in buying a Rolls-Royce Cullinan? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here
William Stopford: Genesis G90 or Electrified G80
On a selfish level, as a world leader you want to be driven in something that’s comfortable and conveys status. However, you also don’t want something too exorbitantly expensive or ostentatious… well, not if you’re leading a democracy and want to continue doing so!
Genesis G90
That rules out something like a Rolls-Royce, but the good news is you – or rather, the taxpayers – don’t have to spend Rolls money to get a luxurious interior.
Genesis’ flagship sedan is the G90, which sadly isn’t sold here. It serves as a rival for the likes of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, and is also offered in a factory long-wheelbase version which can be had in a special four-seater ‘VIP’ configuration.
This features massaging, heated and ventilated rear seats, while you can additionally option a panoramic sunroof. All G90s come with a twin-turbo V6 and air suspension.
Genesis Electrified G80
The gorgeous G90 has serious presence in person and you might just be able to avoid some of the ire of the electorate – I mean after all, this is a car made by Hyundai, it’s not a Rolls-Royce or a Bentley or anything, right? Just don’t look at that price tag… Hey, it’s still much cheaper than a Rolls, folks!
If I wanted something that conveyed a more ‘green’ image than the G90, Genesis recently revealed an updated Electrified G80 with a stretched wheelbase that brings it closer to G90 levels of luxury. There’s also the dramatic Cadillac Celestiq, but its Bentley-level price tag would have me torn to shreds in parliament.
Interested in buying a Genesis Electrified G80? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here
MORE: Everything Genesis Electrified G80
Marton Pettendy: Mercedes-AMG G 63
I’d have a Brabus-tuned Mercedes-AMG G 63 that looks standard enough on the outside to blend in with the hoardes of them now frequenting our roads.
But for extra legroom, luxury and privacy it would ride on a stretched wheelbase, and feature all the mod-cons I’d be accustomed to, including first-class airline seats that fold flat if I need a kip, a widescreen multimedia system with every available connectivity technology, and of course blacked-out bulletproof windows.
Naturally, it would have the highest (B7) level of armoured vehicle protection, enabling it to withstand a 7.62mm NATO round from as close as half a metre away, plus everything else available for protected species in vehicles, including hydraulic rams, ram cameras, and both gas and radiation detection.
The tweaked twin-turbo V8 would deliver enough performance to outrun most pursuers, and the G-Wagen’s standard off-road capability would guarantee I’d get to my fully-stocked deep underground military bunker well ahead of them.
Interested in buying a Mercedes-AMG G63? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here
MORE: Everything Mercedes-AMG G63
Max Davies: BMW i7 Protection
I don’t think anyone would argue that BMWs don’t offer some degree of upmarket style, even if their recent design choices have been… interesting.
For a company known for its sporting pedigree, the 7 Series – and i7 in particular – is an impressive deviation from the sporty cars BMW is renowned for.
If I were a world leader, the imposing stature of BMW’s flagship sedan is exactly what I’d be after. I’ve never been one for the ultra-expensive Rolls Royces and Bentleys, and even with all the money in the world I just can’t see myself being ferried around in the back of one.
And so it’s the i7, specifically the special-order Protection variant that takes a lot from the top-spec M70 xDrive. The normal M70 xDrive has Executive Lounge Seating with ventilated and massaging rear seats, but the Protection is simply next-level.
Its body is made from armoured steel, while BMW has added underbody protection and armoured glass to boot. Better still, its tyres allow you to keep driving at up to 80km/h if they go flat.
In BMW’s own words, the i7 Protection offers “customised protection from attacks with firearms or explosives for at-risk individuals” – perfect!
There may be more spacious and luxurious cars to choose from, but I feel like there’s a sense of niche exclusivity about the i7 – strengthened not least by the fact no one else here has chosen one.
The rear seats are naturally where I’d be spending the most time, and I’m sure some arrangements could be made to unlock a little extra space for that reclining function. Better yet, I could rest assured knowing my driver was well-covered on account of that stunning front-row presentation.
The Protection has lower quoted outputs of 400kW and 745Nm than the normal i7, with a gentle 0-100km/h time of 8.1 seconds that won’t spill your drink. Hopefully its price isn’t too much of a shock for the parliamentarians.
Interested in buying a BMW i7? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here
MORE: Everything BMW i7
Jordan Mulach: Cadillac Celestiq
May I present the Cadillac Celestiq.
At almost 5.4 metres long, it gives off a feeling of importance without being as brutally basic as The Beast.
There are plenty of screens inside to do business and be entertained while being driven from different events, reading to school kids or making empty promises.
If you need to make a quick escape, its dual-motor powertrain sends 447kW and 868Nm to all four wheels, and can drive for almost 500km on a charge – more than enough for any event which doesn’t require a plane to get to.
Sure, it’s electric and the public doesn’t like that, but they will have bigger issues with the price they’ll have to offset in taxes.
Interested in buying a Cadillac? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here
MORE: Everything Cadillac
Jack Quick: Zeekr 009
With maximum comfort, yet also maximum performance, the Zeekr 009 makes perfect sense as the ideal presidential shuttle.
It’s one of the most luxurious people movers to ever be offered in Australia. With delicious captain’s chairs and air suspension you’ll be riding in comfort after a day of meetings.
Also if you’re caught in a mass of hecklers and need to get away from a situation, the Zeekr 009’s dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrain can propel you from a standstill to 100km/h in 4.5 seconds.
It seems you can have your cake and eat it too.
Interested in buying a Zeekr 009? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here
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