Prime Ministerial Car

British manufactured cars have always been used as prime ministerial cars by the prime ministers of the United Kingdom. The cars currently used are armoured, custom built Jaguar XJ Sentinel supercharged 5.0 litre V8 models. The cars used by the prime minister are the long wheelbase models of the Jaguar XJ.[2][3] Prime ministerial and ministerial limousines are operated and administered by the Government Car Service, an executive agency of the Department for Transport, and stored and maintained at 10 Downing Street. The cars are driven by officers from the Metropolitan Police Royalty & Specialist Protection branch, skilled in protection convoy, anti hijack and evasive driving skills.[4]

This article is about the car used by the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. For the Australian equivalent, see Prime Ministerial Limousine.
Jaguar XJ LWB Sentinel
Overview
TypeJaguar XJ (X351)
ManufacturerJaguar Cars
Production2010
Powertrain
Engine5.0 L 510 PS (375 kW) supercharged AJ Gen III V8 (Petrol)
Transmission8-speed automatic
Dimensions
Kerb weight3,300 kg (7,300 lb)[1]
Chronology
PredecessorJaguar XJ (X308) (Brown/Blair)
Jaguar XJ (X300) (Thatcher/Major/Blair)
Jaguar XJ at Downing Street, 2014

They are escorted by three to four unmarked Land Rovers or Ford Galaxy and at least nine to ten RaSP officers, with the ability to utilise motorcycle outriders from the Metropolitan Police Special Escort Group to aid in the swift travel and protection of the motorcade.[5][6]

The current model fleet was first seen in use on 13 May 2010, when newly appointed Prime Minister David Cameron arrived at 10 Downing Street.[7] On 12 August 2011, one of the fleet was damaged when its driver dented the car on a high kerb in Salford, although the car was able to be driven away.[8] On 17 June 2020, Boris Johnson was in one of the vehicles when a crash occurred due to a protester running in front of the motorcade.[9]

General specifications

Many details are classified, but the current Jaguar models are estimated to have cost up to £300,000. They feature a number of security features, including a 13 mm explosive resistant steel plate underneath the body, titanium and Kevlar lined cabins, armoured windows with bullet resistant polycarbonate toughened glass, and run flat tyres.

The cars are also equipped with an independent, self contained oxygen supply, to protect the Prime Minister and other passengers against chemical or biological attack.

The vehicle used to be classed as B7 level but under the new system, called VPAM, is classed as VPAM9, and is understood to be capable of withstanding the blast of 15 kg equivalent TNT, and sustained attack by a variety of other armour piercing weapons.[10][11][2]

The car has a 5.0 litre supercharged petrol engine producing 503 bhp, with a top speed of 121 miles per hour (195 km/h), and is capable of reaching 60 miles per hour (97 km/h) from stationary in 9.4 seconds, slower than the original due to the substantially greater weight of the vehicle.[1]

See also

References
  1. Luxury Jaguar Now Safely Protects David Cameron. "Luxury Jaguar Now Safely Protects David Cameron". Trendsupdates.com. Retrieved 2012-10-14.
  2. INUncategorised. "Jaguar XJ Sentinel: the bombproof Big Cat | MotorTorque". Motortorque.askaprice.com. Archived from the original on 2012-07-12. Retrieved 2012-10-14.
  3. "Blogs From 2010/5 | MotorTorque". Motortorque.askaprice.com. Archived from the original on 2012-07-18. Retrieved 2012-10-14.
  4. "SO1 Specialist Protection". www.eliteukforces.info. Retrieved 2019-05-18.
  5. "David Cameron's security: The people who protect the Prime Minister". Mirror. 27 October 2014. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  6. "SO14 Royalty Protection Group". www.eliteukforces.info. Retrieved 2019-05-18.
  7. Webster, Tom (2010-05-13). "Cameron gets a new Jag to go with the new job - Autoblog UK". Uk.autoblog.com. Retrieved 2012-10-14.
  8. "David Cameron's limo dented and scratched in Salford prang - Mirror Online". Mirror.co.uk. 2011-08-12. Retrieved 2012-10-14.
  9. Davies, Gareth (2020-06-17). "Boris Johnson in car crash outside Parliament". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2020-06-17.
  10. "Armored vehicles Protection levels B1-B7 vs VPAM". www.aurum-security.de.
  11. "New Jaguar XJ Sentinel Armored Version to Debut at Moscow Show - Carscoop". Carscoop.blogspot.com. 2010-08-18. Archived from the original on 2012-03-04. Retrieved 2012-10-14.
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