Xi Jinping's car arrives in Delhi under black covers. What we know about the 'secret' Hongqi N701 | India News - Hindustan Times

**Xi Jinping’s Armoured Hongqi Rolls Into Delhi Under a Shroud of Secrecy**

The Chinese president’s official limousine, a Hongqi N701, touched down at Indira Gandhi International Airport on the morning of the BRICS summit, concealed beneath black fabric covers that concealed every detail of the vehicle. The practice of masking foreign leaders’ cars is standard protocol for Indian security agencies, which aim to prevent visual reconnaissance and curb speculation about the car’s capabilities. Officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs confirmed that the vehicle was escorted by a contingent of the National Security Guard (NSG) and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), both of which have been deployed in unprecedented numbers to protect the three heads of state—Xi, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi—throughout the four‑day meeting.

The Hongqi N701 is a bespoke, bullet‑proof limousine built on a platform shared with China’s state‑run automotive brand’s flagship sedan, but heavily modified for diplomatic use. According to sources familiar with the car’s specifications, the vehicle features a multilayered armour composite capable of withstanding 7.62 mm armour‑piercing rounds and improvised explosive devices, an electronic counter‑measure suite that can jam radio‑controlled IEDs, and a run‑flat tyre system that allows it to travel up to 100 km/h even after a puncture. Inside, the cabin is outfitted with climate‑controlled seating, encrypted communications equipment, and a sealed environment to protect occupants from chemical or biological threats—a feature that aligns with China’s “secret” designation for the vehicle.

India’s security grid for the summit mirrors the high‑tech protection seen at other global gatherings, but the presence of two ultra‑secure limousines—China’s Hongqi N701 and Russia’s Aurus Senat—has drawn particular attention. The Aurus, a Russian‑made bullet‑proof limousine, was similarly shrouded and displayed a comparable suite of defensive technologies, underscoring a new era of diplomatic travel where state leaders move in purpose‑built armored platforms. Indian officials say the joint security framework, coordinated among the Ministry of External Affairs, the NSG, the Delhi Police, and intelligence agencies, will monitor the vehicles’ routes, employ UAV surveillance, and establish exclusion zones to mitigate any threat, ensuring that the summit proceeds without incident.