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Russia's Cortege presidential limousine prototypes pass crash tests — minister

The cars will be available for sale in 2018

© ITAR-TASS/Valery Sharifulin/archive

MOSCOW, June 21. /TASS/. Prototypes of the Russian presidential limousine under the Cortege project are successfully undergoing tests. Minivans of this series will be available for public sale in 2018, Minister of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov said in an interview with Rossiyskaya Gazeta newspaper.

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"Presidential limousine prototypes from Cortege project received maximal 5 safety ‘stars’ during crash tests in Germany and in Russia," Manturov said.

"We assume the minivan prototype will be ready at the end of this year," the minister said. "Automobiles will be available for public sale in 2018," he said. "Various modifications will appear to expand the range and series of the Cortege project," Manturov added.

The program stipulates development of a range of vehicles for top public officials. The Cortege project comprises SUVs and business class cars. The Ministry of Industry selected Sollers as the manufacturer of all models in the product line - SUV, microbus, sedan car, and limousine. Budget investments into the Cortege project amount to 12.4 bln rubles ($193.2 mln) in 4 years.

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