Prime Minister’s Jaguar could be replaced with a German BMW or Mercedes after car-maker halted production during the Covid pandemic
- Jaguar halted production of XJ Sentinel after demand fell during the pandemic
- PM’s fleet of Jaguars has been depleted by crashes and breakdowns since 2010
- This means Mr Johnson may have to resort to German-made BMW or Mercedes
- If so, it would be the first time in history the ministerial car has not been British
Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Jaguar could be replaced with a German BMW or Mercedes after the car-maker halted production during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Metropolitan Police, who are responsible for the Prime Minister’s cars, is due to replace the fleet of Jaguar XJ Sentinels but cannot replace them like-for-like after the company stopped production of the current model.
According to the Daily Telegraph, the fleet of Jaguars has been depleted by breakdowns and crashes since they were purchased under David Cameron in 2010.
The Prime Minister’s Jaguar XJ Sentinel (pictured) may be replaced by a German car such as BMW after Jaguar halted production of the model when demand fell during the pandemic
BMWs are used by the Home Office but could become the new Prime Ministerial cars after Jaguar halted production of the current model. Pictured: The BMW-7 series luxury limousine
Winston Churchill was the first Prime Minister to have a chauffeured vehicle and opted for the Humber Super Snipe (pictured)
One such crash occurred on June 17, last year, when a protestor ran in front of the motorcade in Westminster.
The vehicles reportedly feature special bullet and bomb-proof security armour, run-flat tyres, bullet proof glass and even a self-contained oxygen supply.
The cars have a 5.0-litre supercharged petrol engine which produces 503hp and a top speed of 165mph. In comparison, a standard showroom XJ produces 385hp.
Jaguar is expected to launch a new version of the vehicle next year after it halted production due to a fall in demand during the pandemic.
The newspaper reports that Boris Johnson may have to resort to a German-made BMW or Mercedes as his armoured vehicle of choice to attend events which would be the first non-British ministerial car in history.
It would also be the first non-Jaguar car since Margaret Thatcher’s tenure.
Former home secretary Theresa May was said to have preferred the BMW but was escorted in Jaguars when she became Prime Minister in 2016. Pictured: Mrs May’s Jaguar in Downing St
Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher opted for this Daimler – a Jaguar company – when she served
Pictured: John Major’s car Jaguar sits behind US General Colin Powell’s limo in Downing Street
Any car that is bought in to replace the Jaguar XJs will be placed by the Met. The force also provides specialist officers to escort the Prime Minister when he attends events in the vehicle.
It is understood Boris Johnson also has access to a fleet of armoured Range Rovers and a source told the Telegraph the Prime Minister prefers the extra space when compared to the Jaguars.