You might wonder why our president is riding a previous generation BMW 7 Series when the current model with split headlights and giant front kidneys is already sold in our market. Well, it’s because of the tender that was launched the year before last, so some cars have already been handed over, while others are gradually being completed.
Photo: Jiří Cermák
Petr Pavel will be driving a 7er of the previous generation, as the tender was tendered the year before.
We went to see the winner of the bidding process for one completed (at that time unsold) presidential piece, to examine it and find out what awaits Petr Pavel and his protectors.
The extended 750Li xDrive model, whose body is reinforced with carbon as standard, was already waiting for us at the premises of Stratos Auto. Built in Dingolfing, Lower Bavaria, this nearly 5.3-meter-long limousine hosts a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 engine with an output of 390 kW (530 hp) and an eight-speed sports automatic transmission that transmits 750 Nm of torque to all four wheels.
Photo: Jiří Cermák
The vehicle is powered by a 4.4-liter eight-cylinder with two turbochargers.
As part of the factory equipment specification, the vehicle in question will offer, for example, active steering of the front axle, air suspension, active turning of the rear axle, automatic closing of the doors, M sports brakes, glass roof, sun blinds, heating and ventilation of the front and rear seats (in addition, massage here), four-zone digiklima, independent heating, laser lamps, self-parking, television receiver and passive night vision with person recognition function.
It is precisely thanks to the last mentioned equipment that the driver can see the car better even at night, while such an item “without marking of motorization at the back” confuses everyone around. Of course, there is more factory equipment, but we have listed the most interesting ones.
Photo: Jiří Cermák
The car’s factory equipment also includes night vision for greater safety when driving at night.
However, we do not end there, because the car received some extra elements as part of the retrofitted equipment. Of course, this is no longer the work of the BMW factory, but of Stratos Auto specialists.
Cable kingdom
First of all, apart from the flag carriers, the vehicle is equipped with diode beacons, which can be found in the mask, bumper, behind the front and rear windows and on the roof. In addition, behind the front and rear windows, there is a light board where inscriptions such as “stay away”, “slow down” and others can be projected.
Photo: Jiří Cermák
Stratos specialists mounted the rear camera in the BMW logo.
There is also an external camera system with recording on the hard disk. While the front camera outside the window will not surprise anyone, the Stratos rear specialists have placed it in the rear BMW logo.
This additional electronic equipment also entails dozens of meters of shielded cables that run through the entire car. In the rear, in addition to the factory tubs in the trunk, there are also amplifiers and signal converters, while the control unit for the radios is hidden in the front.
Photo: Jiří Cermák
The installation of additional equipment is also carried out in the spirit of professional disassembly.
The interior equipment also includes a fire extinguisher, controls for beacons, a siren and light boards. All elegantly mounted so as not to disturb the structure of the factory designed interior.
The entire electrical equipment is then supplied with energy by two factory batteries, including the original software controlling their charging. According to Stratos Auto specialists, fluctuations in the on-board network will not occur even when all the lighting equipment (beacons, sirens, cameras) is turned on. After all, only diode beacons have a small consumption, sirens go through amplifiers…
Schrödinger’s Bavarian
Similar to the construction of police Bavarians, we also have the time-consuming rebuilding process, when a factory-new car must be disassembled relatively thoroughly and, according to the electrical installation specialist’s design, the wiring and equipment must be installed. The vehicle is usually prepared by two trained specialists who spend about 14 working days on one piece, which is about 80 hours of work each.
Photo: Jiří Cermák
The total labor intensity of the modification is about 160 hours of human labor.
In conclusion, it is necessary to write that even though the vehicle goes to the protection service of the president of the republic, the president himself may never drive this particular model or may drive it very often.
The decision about which car a protected person will drive to this or that event/journey is not made arbitrarily, or the president’s bodyguard may use cars from a completely different department. All this in the interest of safety.
Photo: Jiří Cermák
The Bavarians are a bit like Schrödinger’s cat for Peter Pavle. If you are not deeply interested, you will probably never know whether or not our head of state will drive in a BMW like the one you see in the picture. But the Superb may eventually come to pass, he should join the protective service at the end of the year. And maybe in the end the president will like it…
2024-01-17 04:00:00
#president #car #Surprisingly #Škoda #Petr #Pavel #preferred #brand #Garáž.cz
