Cars of Royals – from Rolls-Royce to Bentley to Porsche, Royal Rides are in their own league.
This is not only because of their royal connection, but also because they are usually exclusive models tailored for the comfort and safety of some of the most powerful monarchs in the world.
Here’s a look at some of those exclusive cars from royals like Queen Elizabeth II, Emperor of Japan and King Gustaf of Sweden.
Emperor of Japan
Emperor Naruhito (L) and Empress Masako (R) in convertibles during a royal parade on November 10, 2019. (Photo credit: STR / Jiji Press / AFP / Japan OUT)
A Century limousine with Emperor Naruhito (in the back seat R-in) on May 1, 2019. (Photo credit: Kazuhiro Nogi / AFP)
Emperor Naruhito of Japan travels in a Toyota Century Royal, the official car of the Emperor of Japan. A special convertible version of the car was made for the emperor’s coronation parade in 2019. It had a slightly higher back seat so the royal passengers could see and be seen by the people.
In addition to the convertible, the royal family has been using several second-generation Century sedans since 2006. These cars have three rows of seats. One of them is a hearse and was part of an official cavalcade in 2016 following the death of Prince Mikasa, the uncle of emperor Emeritus Akihito.
The internal features of the cars are not exactly known, but since they are used by the royal family, both the safety features and the comfort will be of the highest level.
Queen Elizabeth II, Great Britain
Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles were seen in the royal Bentley State limousine in London on December 19, 2019. (Photo credit: Isabel Infantes / AFP)
The company car the Queen usually travels in is a Bentley State limousine. Only two models have been built and both are designed for you. They were presented to the Queen on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of her accession to the throne in 2002. The Queen, her late husband Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and her chief chauffeur provided suggestions for the design.
Both Bentleys are based on the Arnage but have been modified for the comfort and safety of the monarch. They are almost three feet longer than a standard Bentley Arnage and have explosion-proof floors and airtight cabs. The engine is a 400 hp 6.75 liter V8 that powers a four-speed GM 4L80 E transmission. The doors are high and the queen can get up before leaving. Its design allows people to see them from almost any angle. Hield Lambswool Satin was used for the rear seats.
In addition to the Bentleys, there is a fleet of Rolls-Royce and Daimler and a bespoke Range Rover from 2015. It is believed that her favorite car was a bespoke Land Rover Defender that she drove over her property. The car was auctioned in 2014.
Her collection also includes a Bentley Mulsanne and a Jaguar XJ, which she was driven by when she arrived in 2013 for the Cartier Queen’s Cup Final at the Guards Polo Club. Worth mentioning is the Rolls-Royce Phantom IV State Landaulette, which went on sale in 2018 along with some of their other Rolls-Royce cars. The Phantom IV was one of only 18 built between 1950 and 1956 and was used by the Queen and Royal Family for several decades since the late 1950s. Then there is the Rolls Royce Phantom VI, which her crown wore before her speech at the opening of parliament on Nov.
Prince Charles, UK
Prince Charles with his Aston Martin DB6 during a visit to the Aston Martin Lagonda plant on February 21, 2020. (Photo credit: Rebecca Naden / Pool / AFP)
Like his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles has a collection of his own that is worth noting. He owns the beautiful Seychelles Blue Aston Martin DB6 Volante, a powerful car that the Prince converted in 2008 to run on biofuel made from excess wine and cheese. The original model was a present from the Queen for his 21st birthday. The prince often uses the convertible; It was with this car that he arrived at the Aston Martin Lagonda factory in Barry, Wales in 2020. However, the car’s most famous moment came in 2011 when Prince William drove his wife Kate in it after their wedding.
The Prince also has an Aston Martin V8 Vantage Volante that was a gift from the Emir of Bahrain. It is painted in the colors Balmoral Green and has undergone slight modifications such as the addition of a manual gearbox and the removal of the trunk spoiler. He also had a third Aston Martin – a Virage Volante, which was leased from Newport Pagnell for 15 years. The car was sold at auction in 2019, years after the lease ended.
Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Brunei
Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah celebrates a ceremony in his Rolls-Royce Phantom in Bandar Seri Begawan on July 15, 2005. (Photo credit: Roslan Rahman / AFP)
Brunei is one of the wealthiest countries in the world and its ruler, the Sultan of Brunei, is one of the richest rulers. With around 500, the Sultan holds the Guinness World Record (GWR), the largest private Rolls-Royce fleet in the world. The other cars in his collection are an enviable mix of luxury models and powerful supercars.
According to GWR, he owns Maybach 62, Porsche Carrera GT, Bugatti EB110, Lamborghini Murcielago LP640, the original red show model of the Bentley Continental R, as well as six permanent 962ssix Ferrari FX, five McLaren F1 and the only right-hand drive Mercedes-Benz CLK-GTR in the world . The total estimate of his car collection is around $ 4 billion.
The Mercedes-Benz CLK-GTR is a sports car of its kind that was not made for the road. It was designed for the FIA GT Championship and won the 1997 edition spectacularly. Car enthusiasts consider the CLK-GTR to be an icon in the Mercedes line. The car’s 6.9-liter V12 delivered enough power to reach a top speed of 314 km / h.
King Maha Vajiralongkorn, Thailand
King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida arrive in a Rolls-Royce Phantom at the Grand Palace in Bangkok on November 1, 2020. (Photo credit: Lillian Suwanrumpha / AFP)
His father, the beloved ex-King Bhumibol Adulyadej, preferred the Maybach 62 sedan. This car is now in the hands of King Maha Vajiralongkorn, the current ruler of Thailand and one of the richest royals in the world. The Maybach 62 is an ultra-luxurious vehicle that offers everything from four-zone automatic air conditioning to the BOSE Surround Everywhere sound system with 21 speakers. For privacy, the vehicle is equipped with tinted windows and infrared-reflecting laminated glass all around. There’s a cooling compartment, two rear LCD TV screens, and folding rear tables among several other convenience-oriented features.
The king can also be seen on a Rolls-Royce Corniche. Its last production model was launched in 2000 and continued until 2002. Known as the Rolls-Royce Corniche V, the car had a 6.75-liter V8 engine and elegant interior. Its sole purpose was to provide the ultimate in luxury to its driver.
In addition, the king and other members of the royal family are on the road in several other luxury vehicles, including Mercedes-Benz cars and, on special occasions, a cream-colored Rolls-Royce Phantom VI.
King Carl XVI. Gustaf, Sweden
The Swedish King Karl XVI. Gustav (2nd R) speaks during the exhibition opening in Kiev, Ukraine, on October 1, 2008. (Photo credit: Genya Savilov / AFP)
A standard blue BMW M8 Competition Coupé. (Photo credit: BMW)
In 2020, the Swedish king was in the news for buying an exclusive BMW M8 Competition Coupé. The extremely stylish sports car has a 4.4-liter V8 with 617 hp. The car reaches a top speed of 300 km / h and accelerates from zero to 100 km / h in three seconds. It is available in 12 colors, including the standard Marina Bay Blue Metallic.
While his latest personal purchase is indeed a head-turner, this isn’t the King’s first “high-speed” four-wheeler. He also has an AC Cobra, a Porsche, a Shelby Mustang, and a Ferrari. It was also reported in 2015 that the King had bought some Volvo XC90 SUVs to expand his fleet.
On special occasions, however, the king uses the 1950 Daimler DE27 sedan. The eight-seater is one of the oldest cars in the Swedish royal stable and was restored between 2008 and 2009. The car’s engine is a 6 cylinder, 4095 cc and delivers 110 hp SAE at 3,600 rpm.
There’s also a 1969 Cadillac Fleetwood Seventy-Five sedan that the King used extensively until the late 1980s. The eight-seater with its 8-cylinder engine with 7735 ccm is used on special occasions and to transport ambassadors.
Sheikh Hamdan, Crown Prince of Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum participates in the introduction of a prototype “hover taxi” service in Dubai. Handout photo dated September 25, 2017. (Image credit: Handout / WAM / AFP)
A Howe and Howe Ripsaw F4. (Image credit: Howe and Howe)
The Crown Prince of Dubai and son of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Sheikh Hamdan, is one of the most haunted royals on Instagram. Part of his popularity on social media is his way of letting his followers experience the simple joys of his life with family, traveling, and love for horses. He also owns an armada of cars including a selection of Rolls-Royce models and a Bentley Bentayga.
Then there is a Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse, which shares space in its garage with a Ferrari F12 Berlinetta. These are two of the fastest cars in the world. The Bugatti reaches a top speed of 410 km / h and accelerates from zero to 100 km / h in just 2.6 seconds. The Ferrari with its 6262 cm³ V12 reaches up to 340 km / h. His unique collection also includes an unspecified number of gold-colored cars, including a Range Rover and a Lamborghini.
Hamdan doesn’t just like driving standard cars. Part of his thirst for adventure is fulfilled by his six Panther vehicles – amphibious cars that travel both on land and water – and tanks. The King of Dubai bought a whole fleet of luxury tanks from Howe and Howe Technologies. The company is known for manufacturing military machinery and holds the Guinness Record for the smallest armored all-terrain vehicle called the PAV1 Badger. The tracked vehicles are capable of moving over any terrain and Jay Leno is one of his other illustrious fans.
(Main and special images: Rebecca Naden / Pool / AFP)
