British manufactured cars have always been used as prime ministerial cars by the prime ministers of the United Kingdom. The cars currently used are armoured, custom built Jaguar XJ Sentinel supercharged 5.0 litre V8 models. The cars used by the prime minister are the long wheelbase models of the Jaguar XJ. Prime ministerial and ministerial limousines are operated and administered by the Government Car Service, an executive agency of the Department for Transport, and stored and maintained at 10 Downing Street. The cars are driven by officers from the Metropolitan Police Royalty & Specialist Protection branch, skilled in protection convoy, anti hijack and evasive driving skills. They are escorted by 3 to 4 unmarked Land Rovers or Ford Galaxy and at least 9 to 10 RaSP officers, with the ability to utilise motorcycle outriders from the Metropolitan Police Special Escort Group to aid in the swift travel and protection of the motorcade. The current model fleet was first seen in use on 13 May 2010, when newly appointed Prime Minister David Cameron arrived at 10 Downing Street. On 12 August 2011, one of the fleet was damaged when its driver dented the car on a high kerb in Salford, although the car was able to be driven away. On 17 June 2020, Boris Johnson was in one of the vehicles when a crash occurred due to a protester running in front of the motorcade.
General specifications
Many details are classified, but the current Jaguar models are estimated to have cost up to £300,000. They feature a number of security features, including a 13 mm explosive resistant steel plate underneath the body, titanium and Kevlar lined cabins, armoured windows with bullet resistant polycarbonatetoughened glass, and run flat tyres. The cars are also equipped with an independent, self contained oxygen supply, to protect the Prime Minister and other passengers against chemical or biological attack. The vehicle can also release tear gas and other crowd dispersants. The car features state of the art communication and conferencing systems, high definition televisions, night vision, as well as adjustable, heated and cooled rear massage seats, and a Bowers & Wilkins 1200 watt, twenty speaker Dolby 7.1 surround sound system. The vehicle used to be classed as B7 level but under the new system is classed as VPAM9, and is understood to be capable of withstanding the blast of 15 kg equivalent TNT, and sustained attack by a variety of other armour piercing weapons. The car has a 5.0 litre supercharged petrol engine producing 503 bhp, with a top speed of, and is capable of reaching from stationary in 9.4 seconds, slower than the original due to the substantially greater weight of the vehicle.
