Russian president Dmitry Medvedev is said to be keen to revive the ZiL limousine, the car that was for decades the automotive symbol of Soviet authority, for government and diplomatic use.
This rather forbidding concept by the Slava Saakyan, the studio of former AMO ZiL designer Svyatoslav Sahakian is the response to these rumours.
Svyatoslav Sahakian, who we're told won the design contest for what would have been the next ZiL in 2001 but which never got beyond the concept stage, says he aimed to keeping the car modern, safe (note the absence of a back window - no back-of-the-head-assassinations in this car), and comfortable, but simple.
It all sounds rather fantastical, but in a newly self-confident Russia we suppose anything is possible. According to presidential property department chief Vladimir Kozhin, the ZiL is definitely on the cards: "There is a presidential order to explore this." He says. "We are currently discussing [the ZiL limousine] with factories."
We say: Onwards in opulent limousine comfort, comrades! Let's show those decadent westerners how to make a real luxury car! Or something like that, anyway...
Source (and more pics): cardesign.ru