Discover how the Aurus Senat 900, once hailed as Russia’s ‘Rolls‑Royce’, is now a rebadged Chinese Hongqi H9 luxury sedan. Learn the full story and pricing today.
Origins of the Aurus Brand
Established in 2018 by a decree from Russia’s Ministry of Industry and Trade, Aurus was tasked with creating a domestically‑produced line of ultra‑luxury vehicles to replace foreign makes for the country’s elite and state officials.
The Original Aurus Senat
When the brand launched, it introduced the Senat family in sedan and limousine formats. The Senat limousine quickly earned the nickname “Russia’s Rolls‑Royce” because it became the official car used to escort the Russian president on state visits.
Enter the Senat 900: A Chinese Makeover
According to automotive news outlet Carscoops, the newly unveiled Senat 900 is not a pure Russian design. It is essentially a rebadged version of the latest generation Hongqi H9, one of China’s most prestigious full‑size sedans.
The front end has been restyled with a new grille that follows Aurus’ current design language, along with updated headlamp clusters and a revised bumper. Apart from these changes, the rear end is a near‑identical copy of the Hongqi H9, featuring the same tail‑light assembly, rear bumper and exhaust layout.
Dimensions and Interior
The Senat 900 measures about 5.14 m in length. It is offered in two configurations: a VIP four‑seat layout and a more traditional five‑seat version. The cabin is virtually unchanged from the Hongqi H9, except for the Aurus logo on the steering wheel.
Luxury touches include Nappa‑leather upholstery, real‑wood trim, heated, ventilated and massaging seats, as well as a suite of advanced climate‑control features.
Powertrain and Performance
Under the hood sits a 3.0‑litre V6 turbocharged engine delivering 326 hp and 450 Nm of torque. Power is sent through an eight‑speed automatic transmission to a permanent four‑wheel‑drive system. The car can sprint from 0 to 100 km/h (0‑62 mph) in roughly 6.5 seconds. An air‑suspension system is standard, providing a smooth ride befitting a state limousine.
Production and Pricing
Production of the Senat 900 began at a former Toyota facility in St. Petersburg, Russia. Customers can already place deposits.
Pricing starts at 12 million rubles (about US$162,800) for the five‑seat model and rises to 12.5 million rubles (approximately US$169,600) for the VIP four‑seat version.
What This Means for the Russian Luxury Car Market
The rebadging strategy signals a pragmatic shift: rather than developing an entirely new platform, Aurus is leveraging an existing Chinese flagship to meet domestic demand while keeping production on Russian soil. For enthusiasts, the Senat 900 offers the prestige of a Russian‑branded limousine paired with the proven engineering of Hongqi’s flagship sedan.
Whether the market will embrace this Chinese‑Russian hybrid as the new “Rolls‑Royce of Russia” remains to be seen, but the car certainly raises the bar for home‑grown luxury in the region.