This article is about the car used by the Prime Minister of Australia. For the British equivalent, see Prime Ministerial Car.
The Prime Ministerial Limousine is the official state car used by the prime minister of Australia. The current vehicle is a white BMW 7 Series. The prime ministerial and other ministerial limousines are maintained by COMCAR, a subdivision of the Department of Finance. The vehicle is often referred to in the media and the community as "C1", which is the number plate that the car displays (meaning "Commonwealth 1"). The Australian flag is centrally mounted on the bonnet of the vehicle.
Prime ministerial vehicles are transported and used wherever the prime minister travels. The vehicle is stored at Parliament House, the Lodge, Kirribilli House or an allocated COMCAR facility. While COMCAR administers the vehicles, they are driven by Australian Federal Police officers. Tony Abbott was the first prime minister to use the BMW 7 Series. The past model of prime ministerial limousine, the Holden Caprice, was first used by Bob Hawke, replacing the Ford LTDs that had been used in the 1980s.
The prime ministerial fleet was updated in 2014, replacing the Holden Caprice fleet with a suite of armoured BMW 7 Series models. The $6.3 million (AUD) fleet of BMW 7 Series were purchased initially by the Australian Government to protect visiting dignitaries for the 2014 G20 summit in Brisbane, and were later commissioned as the official prime ministerial fleet.[2] The limousine, manufactured in Germany, has undergone extensive mechanical and protection-based modifications including armour and bulletproofing.[3] The prime ministerial state car and a supporting armoured BMW X5 is administered by COMCAR, a division of the Australian Government's Department of Finance, and driven by trained officers of the Australian Federal Police.[4][5]
Protection specificationsEdit
The vehicle has the same visual appearance as a regular BMW 7 Series. However, it has been subject to extensive modifications. The limousine has been fitted with bullet-proofed doors and windows as well as armour on the floor of the vehicle. On top of this, the vehicle has a protected fuel tank that does not explode when damaged and can withstand a roadside bomb. The off-the-shelf replacements for the older Holden Caprice vehicles offer greater protection and better value for money.[6] A BAE and GM-Holden Consortium also unsuccessfully bid for the contract.[7]
^Terlato, Peter (15 January 2015). "Tony Abbott's New $500,000 Armoured Ride Can Stop AK-47 Rounds And Deter Bomb Blasts". Business Insider Australia. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
^Maiden, Samantha (30 August 2014). "PM snubs Holden to buy $6.2m fleet of BMWs that can withstand terror attacks". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
^Ministerial and Parliamentary Services, Department of Finance (1 January 2018). "COMCAR". Guidance to Senators and Members on the resources provided to them as a Parliamentarian. Government of Australia. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
^Benson, Simon (11 December 2013). "Bomb-proof BMWs will replace the Prime Minister's Holden fleet of limousines". The Daily Telegraph. Australia. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
^Kenny, Mark (13 December 2013). "Holden angered by media reports it did not submit bid to supply 'blast-proof' vehicles for Australian government VIPs". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
External linksEdit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Automobiles of heads of government of Australia.
COMCAR website
Rocky road for PM's fleet of limos – The Australian, 6 August 2005
Julia Gillard's clunker limo has windows that won't wind down – News.com.au, 10 March 2013
Five Australian Prime Ministerial cars through history – carsales.com.au, 5 August 2020
October 19, 2023
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This article is about the car used by the Prime Minister of Australia For the British equivalent see Prime Ministerial Car This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Prime Ministerial Limousine news newspapers books scholar JSTOR February 2011 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Prime Ministerial Limousine is the official state car used by the prime minister of Australia The current vehicle is a white BMW 7 Series The prime ministerial and other ministerial limousines are maintained by COMCAR a subdivision of the Department of Finance The vehicle is often referred to in the media and the community as C1 which is the number plate that the car displays meaning Commonwealth 1 The Australian flag is centrally mounted on the bonnet of the vehicle Prime Ministerial LimousineA similar BMW 7 Series 1 OverviewTypeBMW 7 SeriesManufacturerBMWAlso calledC1 Commonwealth One Body and chassisClassFull size luxury car F Body style4 door sedanChronologyPredecessorHolden CapricePrime ministerial vehicles are transported and used wherever the prime minister travels The vehicle is stored at Parliament House the Lodge Kirribilli House or an allocated COMCAR facility While COMCAR administers the vehicles they are driven by Australian Federal Police officers Tony Abbott was the first prime minister to use the BMW 7 Series The past model of prime ministerial limousine the Holden Caprice was first used by Bob Hawke replacing the Ford LTDs that had been used in the 1980s Contents 1 Current vehicle 1 1 Protection specifications 2 Previous prime ministerial limousines 3 Gallery 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksCurrent vehicle EditThe prime ministerial fleet was updated in 2014 replacing the Holden Caprice fleet with a suite of armoured BMW 7 Series models The 6 3 million AUD fleet of BMW 7 Series were purchased initially by the Australian Government to protect visiting dignitaries for the 2014 G20 summit in Brisbane and were later commissioned as the official prime ministerial fleet 2 The limousine manufactured in Germany has undergone extensive mechanical and protection based modifications including armour and bulletproofing 3 The prime ministerial state car and a supporting armoured BMW X5 is administered by COMCAR a division of the Australian Government s Department of Finance and driven by trained officers of the Australian Federal Police 4 5 Protection specifications Edit The vehicle has the same visual appearance as a regular BMW 7 Series However it has been subject to extensive modifications The limousine has been fitted with bullet proofed doors and windows as well as armour on the floor of the vehicle On top of this the vehicle has a protected fuel tank that does not explode when damaged and can withstand a roadside bomb The off the shelf replacements for the older Holden Caprice vehicles offer greater protection and better value for money 6 A BAE and GM Holden Consortium also unsuccessfully bid for the contract 7 Previous prime ministerial limousines EditHolden Caprice Ford LTD Australia Mercedes Benz 450SEL Bentley S3Gallery Edit nbsp Holden Caprice of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd April 2008 nbsp Australian Federal Police escort vehicle to the left of the Holden Caprice nbsp The prime ministerial Holden Caprice is on the left nbsp Current Commonwealth 1 as used by the Australian prime minister August 2022 See also EditOfficial state car Air transports of heads of state and government Royal Australian Air Force VIP aircraft Ford Fairlane Australia discontinued announced May 2007 Australian VIP transportReferences Edit but not the prime minister s actual car Terlato Peter 15 January 2015 Tony Abbott s New 500 000 Armoured Ride Can Stop AK 47 Rounds And Deter Bomb Blasts Business Insider Australia Retrieved 28 August 2018 Maiden Samantha 30 August 2014 PM snubs Holden to buy 6 2m fleet of BMWs that can withstand terror attacks The Daily Telegraph Retrieved 28 August 2018 Australian Department of Finance 2017 Part Four Travel 4 4 Car Transport Ministers of State Entitlements current to 31 December 2017 Government of Australia Retrieved 28 August 2018 Ministerial and Parliamentary Services Department of Finance 1 January 2018 COMCAR Guidance to Senators and Members on the resources provided to them as a Parliamentarian Government of Australia Retrieved 28 August 2018 Benson Simon 11 December 2013 Bomb proof BMWs will replace the Prime Minister s Holden fleet of limousines The Daily Telegraph Australia Retrieved 11 December 2013 Kenny Mark 13 December 2013 Holden angered by media reports it did not submit bid to supply blast proof vehicles for Australian government VIPs The Sydney Morning Herald Retrieved 28 August 2018 External links Edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Automobiles of heads of government of Australia COMCAR website Rocky road for PM s fleet of limos The Australian 6 August 2005 Julia Gillard s clunker limo has windows that won t wind down News com au 10 March 2013 Five Australian Prime Ministerial cars through history carsales com au 5 August 2020 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Prime Ministerial Limousine amp oldid 1157039735, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
