North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has recently been spotted in a flood-stricken area riding in a luxury SUV, the Lexus LX600, drawing international media attention. This came as a surprise to many as the Lexus LX600 is a new model, and the United Nations has imposed sanctions on North Korea, including a ban on the sale of luxury goods such as luxury vehicles, to pressure the country to give up its nuclear weapons program.
However, this is not the first time Kim Jong-un has made headlines for his expensive taste in cars. He is known to have a collection of luxury and supercar brands, including Maybach, Mercedes-Benz, and Rolls-Royce. Here is a glimpse into the North Korean leader’s automotive collection:
Mercedes-Benz S600 Pullman Guard
Kim Jong-un’s preferred choice for foreign trips, the Mercedes-Benz S600 Pullman Guard, is an armored limousine stretching over 6 meters in length. This ultra-luxurious vehicle offers bulletproof protection and is often used by world leaders and dignitaries.
“We have no idea how these vehicles were delivered to North Korea,” said Silke Mockert, a spokesperson for Daimler, when asked about the presence of their high-end cars in the country back in 2019.
In addition to the armored Mercedes-Benz S600 Pullman Guard, Kim Jong-un also owns a convertible version of the same model, a unique variation unseen elsewhere in the world. This car is typically used to receive foreign dignitaries visiting North Korea, most recently hosting Xi Jinping and Putin.
Kim Jong-un’s Mercedes-Maybach S600 Pullman is powered by a V12 engine with a displacement of 6.0 liters, producing 530 horsepower and 830 Nm of torque. This armored limousine can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 5 seconds and has a top speed of 250 km/h.
Maybach 62S
Accompanying the Mercedes-Benz S600 Pullman Guard on foreign trips is the Maybach 62S, another ultra-luxurious car with a private rear cabin featuring glass partitions. This model is popular among billionaires and collectors worldwide.
Mercedes-Benz S600 Pullman Guard and Maybach 62S
The Maybach 62S is equipped with a 5.5-liter V12 engine, tuned by AMG to deliver 612 horsepower and 1,000 Nm of torque. Coupled with a 5-speed automatic transmission, it can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds and reach a top speed of 250 km/h.
Rolls-Royce Phantom
In 2018, when US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visited North Korea, Kim Jong-un arrived at the meeting venue in a black luxury car, later identified as a Rolls-Royce Phantom, either from the Series VII or the latest Series VIII.
The Rolls-Royce Phantom is one of the most expensive luxury cars in the world, rivaling the Maybach 62S, and Kim Jong-un owns one of each.
Powered by a 6.75-liter V12 engine, the Rolls-Royce Phantom produces 453 horsepower at 5,350 rpm and 720 Nm of torque at 3,500 rpm, coupled with a 6-speed automatic transmission.
Lexus LX600
Most recently, Kim Jong-un has added the Lexus LX600 to his collection, a beautiful, powerful, and expensive SUV that any car enthusiast would admire. The Lexus LX600 accompanied the North Korean leader during his flood assessment trip.
The Lexus LX600 is finished in glossy black paint, and interestingly, the Lexus logo has been removed, unlike his other luxury cars. Under the hood, the Lexus LX600 is powered by a turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine, generating 409 horsepower and 650 Nm of torque. The engine is paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, offering driving modes such as Normal, ECO, Comfort, Sport S, Sport S+, and Customize.
Additionally, Kim Jong-un was gifted an Aurus Senat Limousine by Russian President Vladimir Putin. This car has been dubbed the “Russian Rolls-Royce Phantom.” The Aurus Senat Limousine features a hybrid powertrain, combining a turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 engine with a 40-horsepower electric motor. The total output is 598 horsepower and 880 Nm of torque, delivered to all four wheels through a 9-speed automatic transmission.
[CAR REVIEW] Lexus LX600: The epitome of power and luxury
The all-new generation of Lexus LX600 has undergone comprehensive improvements: from interior and exterior design, chassis-suspension-engine system, to the addition of modern technologies to ensure both safety and comfort while still maintaining optimal off-road capabilities; worthy of the iconic status that a luxury SUV model possesses.
STORIES ABOUT 3 JAPANESE LUXURY CAR BRANDS (PART 2)
In the 1970s and 1980s, the idea of “luxury Japanese cars” was still unfamiliar to Americans. However, just a decade later, Americans had to change their perception of manufacturers from the “land of the rising sun.”
ZIS-101 – The First Luxury Car of the Soviet Union
Join us on a food journey like no other as we navigate the bustling streets, bustling markets, and bustling stalls of Saigon. Immerse yourself in the sights, sounds, and smells of Vietnam as you taste your way through the city’s culinary delights. Whether you’re a food lover, a history buff, or a curious traveler, our food tours are sure to leave you with a satisfied palate and a deeper appreciation for Vietnamese cuisine.
The Most Expensive Rolls-Royce Models Revealed
If supercars represent power and speed, then Rolls Royce cars are the epitome of luxury, a work of art that can glide on the road and provide the ultimate experience for its occupants.
Rolls-Royce celebrates its brand’s “top-notch” products
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has added another chapter to its long and illustrious history with the commemorative celebration of the 118th anniversary of the first meeting between its two founders, Henry Royce and Charles Stewart Rolls, at the Midland Hotel in Manchester, United Kingdom in 1904.
