PM-NARENDRA DAMODARDAS MODI TO RASHTRAPATI BHAWAN IN BMW

 

Narendra Modi was driven to Rashtrapati Bhavan for the swearing-in ceremony in an armoured Scorpio, long used by him during the campaigns. But soon after assuming office, the Prime Minister had to ditch his favourite SUV for a swanky BMW due to security reasons.

Mahindra & Mahindra had written to the Prime Minister, requesting he continue to use the Scorpio as his official car. Mahindra said it would be a matter of great pride and honour for Indians that the PM uses a vehicle designed, developed and built in India. However, the Special Protection Group (SPG) decided to go with the BMW 7 Series 760Li Security Edition— the most secured vehicle in the country.
BMW Security Vehicles are designed to withstand a range of three risk situations – street crime (attacks with blunt objects and handguns up to a calibre of .44 Magnum), organised crime (attacks with the most commonly used automatic weapon in the world, the AK-47) and attacks with explosive devices and armour-piercing weapons.
Also among the safety features are run-flat tyres, a self-sealing fuel tank, an attack alarm and an intercom system, which enables the occupants to communicate with the outside world without leaving the vehicle or opening the doors or windows.
Powered by a V12 engine, the car does 0-100kmph in 6.2 seconds and the top speed is electronically limited to 210 kmph.
The decision to replace Hindustan Ambassadors with BMWs was taken by Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2003. The current fleet is said to have more than half-a-dozen BMW 760Li limousines including decoy vehicles, surrounded by a dozen BMW X5 SUVs used by the SPG.