Putin's new limo: Top 10 Russian-made designs in online contest

For big companies, the delicate task of designing a new car for the Russian president is still ahead. But dozens of professional and amateur designers have already rushed to compete in the “Auto for the President” contest, offering over 100 entries.

The contest, organized by Russian web portal CarDesign.ru and sponsored by Marussia Motors, invited everyone aged 18 or more to try and devise a modern look for the presidential limousine and its cortege.

A prize of 150,000 rubles ($5,000) for the best project, as well as decent rewards for two other winners, attracted more than 40 skilled professionals and design students, as well as some 80 amateur designers from Russia and worldwide.

The challenge was set to combine such household retro brands as “ZiL” and “Chaika” with modern designs and features. However, the contestants were also allowed to think of their own “perspective design.”

The deadline was set for the end of February, and the jury will select the winners on May 1.

The best project is meant to provide the basis for a new series of presidential cars. Although it will be of Russian design, it’s still planned to be manufactured abroad.

The authors chose the ZiL as the "only Russian brand with a recognizable image, experience in building high-end cars and a history rich enough to correspond to the task."

To associate with a high-tech and reliable technology the project should use Sukhoi brand in its marketing campaign, the author suggests. Russia’s best car should take advantage of the experience in the development of advanced military technology accumulated over many decades.

The author offers an “austere and comfortable” limousine under the brand Marussia.

In his concept the author tried to embody the elements of post-WWII era Soviet car design into the modern presidential limousine. The main inspiration was the ZIS-110.

This was based on the “most luxurious Russian car ever made,” the legendary GAZ-13 Chayka. The designer tried to preserve traditional elements in the modern form of the limo.