British SUV companies Land Rover really like the family of Queen Elizabeth II, for which they received the nickname "blue-blooded SUVs." The company itself was originally part of the Rover company and appeared in the post-war years.
At that time, the British industry began to experience an urgent need for production resources and orders. The country's government decided to encourage the development of the automotive industry as an important branch of peaceful production.
For these purposes, the Rover company allocated a factory in Solihull (Solihull) for these purposes, during the war tanks and aircraft were produced there. However, the production of cars was limited to pre-war models, so the company's management decided to develop a new inexpensive model car.
In 1947, the number of military aircraft produced decreased significantly, and aluminum reserves were quite large, in addition, the government introduced strict quotas for steel. At this time, the brothers Spencer and Maurice Wilks were the managers of Rover. Maurice decided that a great option for a car in order to get through a difficult time is cheap car capable of off-road driving. Aluminum alloy for the body was chosen not only because of its low cost, but also because it is very resistant to corrosion. In addition, it is much easier to process than steel, and this reduces the cost of production and, as a result, the cost of the machine.
Land Rover. Prototype
sample for prototype production First Land Rover was taken by the army jeep Willis. The prototype was completed in the fall of 1947, and Maurice Wilks gave it a name some time later. The prefix Land directly indicated that the new car would have to “wander” overland. After all, initially the word rover meant not a vagabond or a wanderer, but a sea robber or a pirate.
Due to limited funds and in order to reduce the cost of the car, the supporting structure was welded from scrap steel. Thus, not only time and money were saved, but the frame itself turned out to be quite strong and reliable. The body of the first Land Rover consisted of three independent parts and was located on the frame with a ladder.
Many different tests were carried out, twenty-five prototypes were collected, and only after that a pre-production model was created, which was presented to the general public in Amsterdam in the spring of 1948. To the surprise of the Wilks brothers, the car caused a strong reaction from the audience at the car show, and already in 1948 the production of off-road vehicles of this brand caught up, and the next it overtook the scale of production of Rover sedans. In principle, this is not surprising. A power take-off shaft was installed on the car, attached agricultural equipment was connected to it. For this reason, the Land Rover fell under the preferential commercial category, avoided taxation, and cost only £450 (while the cheapest Rover sedan cost £800).
The full name of the prototype was Land Rover Center Steer. Its body was painted green with paint that was used to paint airplanes. The engine and transmission were from the sedan, and the steering wheel was located in the center so that there was no difference in control when driving on the right and on the left, but this arrangement brought more problems, and was subsequently abandoned.
The first SUVs were, to put it mildly, ascetic. There were no handles on the doors from the outside, the interior was not heated, and passengers were sheltered from the weather under a canvas awning. Under the hood was a 1.5-liter gasoline engine with a power of 50 Horse power. The frames of the very first machines were protected from electrochemical corrosion using galvanization, later, to simplify the procedure, galvanization was abandoned, and the frame began to be more carefully painted.
The cars of the first releases were equipped with all-wheel drive with an overrunning clutch in the front axle drive. When the car was moving in a straight line, both axles were driven, and during braking or turning, the clutch was released, and the front wheels rotated freely. The clutch could be blocked by force by pulling the ring (later it will be replaced by a lever with a yellow knob - yellow knob). This transmission does not need center differential but it is less durable.
Land Rover. Modernizations
The idea of the Wilkes brothers to create an "intermediate" model failed. Instead, they created a car that has ruled the hearts and minds of people for more than half a century.
The steady growth in sales of SUVs has brought not only profit, but also opportunities for further modernization of the car. So, in 1950, the all-wheel drive system underwent improvements. Now, with the help of a special lever, the driver could switch from all-wheel drive to rear and vice versa. There were several options for the length of the wheelbase and different types of bodies. The designation of SUV models was digital and corresponded to the length of the wheelbase in inches. From series to series, digital designations increased in model range: Land Rover 80, 86, 88, 90. Longer models began to be produced - Land Rover 109, 110 and 127. The volume and power of gasoline engines gradually increased, and in 1957, Land Rovers began to install and diesel units. Later, a closed aluminum body and an insulated roof. The spring suspension was replaced by a spring suspension. The classic Land Rover is still in production today. Since 1990, it has been marketed under the name Defender. Angelina Jolie drove one of these SUVs in the film about Lara Croft.
range rover
Simultaneously with the well-established production of the first ascetic SUVs, the company's engineers developed a car that could combine the cross-country ability of the new Land Rover and the comfort of sedans. One year after the company started Land issue Rover Center Steer appeared next model, Station Wagon, with closed body accommodating seven people. The model was equipped with leather seat upholstery and upholstered doors, a wiper with two brushes, an interior heater and a protective cap for a spare wheel. The body had a wooden frame and aluminum skin and was too expensive.
The next attempt to create such a car was made in the 1960s. As conceived by the inventors, the car was intended for suburban residents, who were to become the main buyers. New model received permanent all-wheel drive, Gas engine Buick V8, long stroke spring suspension and tailgate. The car was presented to the public in 1970 under the name range rover.
At first, motorists did not perceive the novelty as a serious SUV. However, after Major John Blashford-Snell, accompanied by a military team, drove several Range Rovers from Anchorage, Alaska to the Argentine city of Ushuaia, some changes took place in public opinion. During the run, the major and his comrades had to overcome the harsh Darien Gorge, which strengthened the reputation off-road qualities cars.
Range Rover is the only car brand whose representative got into the Louvre as an example of modern art.
Project Jay "Project Rookie" and Land Rover Discovery
In the 1980s, the company's engineers began work on a family version of the SUV. According to their plan, the new version should be cheaper than the Range Rover, but no less comfortable. So, on the basis of the Range Rover, but with a cheaper body, the Land Rover Discovery". In addition to the base, "Range" shared with "Discovery" windshield, engine shield, doorways. In addition, the aggregate base also switched to new car: and bridges, and gearbox, and transfer case. Only in addition to the V8 gasoline engine, a turbodiesel was added.
Every year, from 1990 to 1996, Discovery SUVs were required to take part in the Camel Trophy, an international automotive competition that took place from 1980 to 2000 on off-road or difficult terrain.
The all-new, third generation Discovery, with Range Rover styling, has been equipped with independent suspension. In addition, the center of gravity has been lowered by integrating the frame into the bodywork. In off-road conditions, the driver comes to the rescue electronic assistant Terrain Responce, focused on various types of coverage.
Freelander
Freelander - the smallest of the "Land Rovers" and the first with a monocoque body - was first released in 1997. Although at first they treated him with condescension, and even jokingly equated him with souvenirs produced by the plant. For the year, the sales volume reached 70 thousand cars a year. The first modification of Freelander came out in several versions: a five-door station wagon, a three-door equipped with a soft or removable rear section, and a commercial version. Current modifications are not so diverse.
Range Rover Sport
Based on the third generation Discovery developed the fastest Range Rover Sport. Although the model is less than 8.5 cm high and 17.5 cm long than the regular Range Rover, it is equipped with a five-liter supercharged V8 engine that accelerates the car to 100 km/h in less than 6 seconds. The debut of the car took place in 2005, in 2009 the model was updated. Outwardly, it is quite similar to the regular Range Rover, but the Sport is distinguished by a heavily inclined C-pillar.
Range Rover Evoque
Evoque is the most compact Range Rover, and the company promises that there will be no smaller car in their lineup. Its length is 4355 mm, width 1900 mm, height 1605. The new Ewok is equipped with a 2.0-liter gasoline engine with 240 hp. With. and a 2.2-liter turbodiesel, which, depending on the version, can develop 150 and 190 hp. With. Even though it is the most small SUV company, its clearance is 212 mm - 10 mm more than the Freelander2.
The Range Rover Evoque Concept was unveiled in Detroit in 2008 and entered production in 2011.
Thanks to high cross and unpretentiousness, "Land Rovers" relished travelers, military, police and other emergency services. On its basis, a huge number of special vehicles were produced, including armored cars, artillery mounts, tracked all-terrain vehicles, fire trucks, Forward Control cab-over-engine trucks. Special cars were also produced for Queen Elizabeth and the Pope, which they used in official ceremonies.
Now that Land Rover sells vehicles in 142 countries, it's safe to say that the SUV has gone from a simple and utilitarian car of 1948 to an automotive legend. In the future, British SUVs are expected to use less fuel thanks to the extensive use of aluminum and the use of hybrid engines. So it will be or not, time will tell.
Alexander Khimik
How she lives and what she rides is interesting, without exaggeration, to everyone. Luxurious solemn processions with her presence are an unforgettable sight. What does Queen Elizabeth II drive?
During numerous ceremonial events, the Queen of Great Britain moves in ceremonial horse-drawn carriages. But for business and personal trips, he also uses cars. There are quite a few of them in Her Majesty's garage. Nine of them have state limousine status: one Bentley, three Daimlers and five Rolls-Royce Phantoms.
State limousines are painted in a special color, the so-called "royal maroon livery". The personal cars of Elizabeth II are painted in a color with an unusual name - British Racing Green ("British racing green").
royal cars
The Rolls-Royce brand is not accidentally considered royal. There is probably not one in the world royal family, in the garage of which there was at least one car of this brand. And since Rolls-Royce is a British brainchild, it is simply impossible to imagine the garage of the Queen of Great Britain without these cars.
Whenever Elizabeth II or other members of the royal family make official visits, their trips take place mainly in the Rolls-Royce showroom. Even during the queen's foreign voyages on board the royal yacht, one of the five Rolls-Royces is sure to travel with her in the ship's garage specially built for this purpose.
The oldest car with a figure of the goddess of Ecstasy on the hood, Rolls-Royce RR Phantom IV (1952), is equipped with a 5.76-liter inline-eight engine. The first royal Rolls-Royce was built in full accordance with the order of Princess Elizabeth and was the first to be decorated with her personal royal badge. From 1950 to 1956, only 18 Phantom IV limousines were produced, and all of them sold around the world to aristocratic families. In 1978, in honor of the silver jubilee of the Queen's reign, the English Society of Automobile Manufacturers presented her with a second Rolls-Royce Phantom VI.
This car, equipped with a 6.23-liter V8 engine with mechanical box gear, was also designed specifically for Her Majesty. The cabin of the Phantom VI, with an advanced air conditioning system, can easily accommodate eight passengers. The floor of the royal Rolls-Royce No. 2 is covered with handmade wool Burgundy carpets.
The royal garage also has a 1987 Rolls-Royce Phantom VI, as well as two Phantom Vs from the early 1960s, one of which was built specifically for the Queen Mother. Both are endowed with a folding roof. She is removed on especially solemn occasions so that Her Majesty's subjects can see their queen and those accompanying her with their own eyes.
Rolls-Royce supplied other members of the royal family with its cars. For example, the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII) had a Rolls-Royce Barker Limousine. He later became a big fan Rolls-Royce brands, resulting in a Phantom I and Phantom II in his royal garage. And the infamous Princess Margaret, who owned more Rolls-Royces than any other member of the royal family, literally forced the manufacturer to include the maximum number of new ideas in its design when ordering a new car.
The queen is not a driver
The royal cars do not have license plates, and the queen herself cannot be held liable, according to British law, in the event of an accident. Despite the fact that Elizabeth II was always very fond of driving, few people saw her driving. She carefully concealed her addiction. Perhaps because Her Majesty still does not have a driver's license.
For official trips of the Queen and her family members, only state limousines are used. These cars adorn the royal coat of arms and the royal standard. Elizabeth II herself has her own insignia designed by the artist Edward Seago. It includes a figurine of St. George on a horse, triumphantly towering over a defeated dragon. The royal badge is made of noble silver and, as required, can be freely transferred to any of the royal cars.
Also a Bentley
The luxurious Bentley State Limousine was presented to the Queen in 2002 in honor of the golden jubilee of her reign. The unique copy, made by the British automobile consortium Bentley Motors, has long been the first "Bentley" in a number of royal cars. It has been designed with the wishes of the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh and Her Majesty's Chief Chauffeur in mind. Although built on the basis Bentley Arnage the second series, in technical terms, this car is very different from its serial counterpart. The body of the State Limousine is a monocoque structure, which has increased inner space. The gearbox is located under the bottom and does not take up space in the cabin. However, the engineers and designers who worked on the first royal Bentley faced a very serious problem. This car has a very large glass area, which in the summer was the cause of unbearable heat, which exhausted the VIP passengers and the driver. Usually, such a problem is easily eliminated with the help of an air conditioner and dense tinting of glasses with a special thermal film. However, Elizabeth II wished that the "transparency" of her "crew" was maximum. In the end, it was decided to install laminated glass sandwich with a special thermal reflective coating and a 15% blackout, almost invisible from the inside. In addition, the State Limousine has air conditioning on board, with which you can easily cool several cabins of a small yacht. rear doors and the doorways of the Bentley State Limousine have been redesigned to make it easier for the queen to get on and off. The length of the car is 6220 mm, which is 800 mm longer than the standard Bentley Arnage II. The first official ride on the Bentley State Limousine took place on June 4, 2002 during the celebration of the golden jubilee of Elizabeth II.
Queen Elizabeth, being a long-liver, has gone through many generations of beautiful cars. And in 2015, there was a new replenishment of the royal garage - the Bentayga car, which costs almost 220,000 euros. According to the developers, this is the most powerful luxury sport utility vehicle in the world.
Daimler in the royal garage
The son of Queen Victoria, the Prince of Wales, was the first member of the royal family to once ride in a horseless carriage. It was Lord Montague's Daimler. After a very entertaining experiment and new impressions, the future King Edward VII ordered a Daimler Hooper car, equipped with a two-cylinder engine with a capacity of six "horses". By the time of his coronation, in 1902, there were already four cars in Edward's garage and they were all called Daimler. The royal family used this brand for many years. Especially popular Daimler's (by the way, having nothing to do with the German Daimler AG) were during the ceremonies. In 1937, they took King George VI to the coronation, and in 1953, his daughter, Queen Elizabeth II. cars and a sad fate: in the Daimler DS420 (1985), the royal family saw off Princess Diana on her last journey.
There are three Daimlers in the Elizabeth II garage. A special Daimler DS420 Limousine was presented to Her Majesty in 1974. It was built on the Jaguar 420 platform and remained in production from 1968 to 1992, positioning itself as a limousine for royal families, high-ranking government officials and officials.
Compared to Jaguar 420 wheelbase Daimler DS420 was increased by 51 cm. In addition, the car was equipped with a 3-speed automatic transmission, disc brakes on all wheels. Its maximum speed was 176 km/h. The royal family was so pleased with this car that they bought another DS420 in 1985. available in the garage and Daimler Jaguar XJ6. The V6 engine, invented by William Lyons and his talented team of engineers, was first made public in 1948. Similar, time-tested motors were used by Daimler for 44 years. The Daimler Jaguar XJ6 limousine (4.0 liter engine, 241 hp, top speed 232 km/h) is still regularly used by Queen Elizabeth.
When they say nearby that a woman cannot competently drive a car, I always remember our air regiment of "night witches" who flew bombers AT NIGHT (a dozen sorties per night), or one respected English grandmother, God bless her health. I never wedged in, because a person covers his complexes in this way, and to convince him is not to respect himself.
So that's about the venerable grandmother, and her love for cars.
Elizabeth II, Queen of Great Britain, has been driving since the age of 19.
How much does it get? She's been driving for 70 years! If we had 7 times we would have to change the rights, horror! I will soon change the second time, and I am already mentally preparing.
But it’s easier for the queen, she doesn’t have a driver’s license at all, such a unique case. No, maybe originally, when she was a princess, they were, like a passport, but all documents in the UK are issued in the name of the Queen, so the queen herself lives without them.
The first thorough acquaintance of Elizabeth with the car happened during the war. In February 1945, she joined the "Auxiliary Territorial Service" (ATS - "Auxillary Territorial Service") - women's self-defense units. After special courses, she became an ambulance driver. And not just a car, Elizabeth is a certified mechanic with the right to drive a truck. 
Then the war ended, the princess got married, later became queen, but she continued to drive, and often unaccompanied. 
Photo of 1957 - it shows Elizabeth II with her children - Prince Charles and Princess Anne, leaving the family estate of Windsor (Berkshire)
As a true patriot, the queen prefers domestic car brands - Bentley, Range Rover, Jaguar. More often these are off-road vehicles, since the queen manages to ride in plenty only on vacation in the Balmoral estate. The Queen's favorite car is "Land Rover Defender». 
Photo 2013
The Queen is not a fan of wearing seat belts while driving. Violation of course, but she is forgiven. :) 
By the way, do you know what kind of progressive monarch the recently deceased King of Saudi Arabia Abdullah ibn Abdulaziz Al Saud was? He sent students en masse to study in Western countries, opened the first technical university with co-education of boys and girls (!), allowed women to vote in municipal elections, created a constitutional court, and even met with the Pope. But Abdullah could not allow Saudi women to drive cars. In this regard, one recalls a story related to two monarchs, told by an English diplomat, Sir Sherard Cowper-Collse, former ambassador UK in Saudi Arabia.
In September 1998, Abdullah, being in the status of crown prince, arrived in Foggy Albion and, according to the protocol, was invited to Balmoral Castle for dinner with the queen. It should be noted that after the stroke of his brother, King Fahd, in 1995, Abdullah was already the de facto ruler of the country. 
After lunch, the seventy-six-year-old queen invited the prince to tour the estate. Unaware of the trick, Abdullah, of course, agreed, and the whole procession headed for the line of Land Rovers that stood opposite the front wing of the castle. The king sat in the front passenger seat on the left, and behind him was an interpreter. Much to the surprise of the guests, the queen herself got behind the wheel.
The Saudi's nervousness intensified even more after Elizabeth high speed rushed through the winding Scottish streets, not forgetting to actively maintain a conversation. Soon, the crown prince, through an interpreter, began to literally beg the queen to slow down and, in general, concentrate on the road. The Queen relented and slowed down. Taught a lesson.
It is a pity that the prince did not change his decision. :)
But he had political reasons, but ours, why are our women being slandered? ;)
Queen Elizabeth II at the wheel. Photo 2014.
It is difficult to find a person who does not know Elizabeth II. The Queen of Great Britain is already 91 years old, but she still drives a car herself. The review presents iconic cars, which are in the garage of the British monarch.
1. Austin K2/Y (1945)
In 1945, 18-year-old Elizabeth, Princess of York, trained as an ambulance driver and got behind the wheel of a military truck. The girl enrolled in the "Auxiliary Territorial Service" - a self-defense unit recruited from female volunteers.
2. Rolls-Royce Phantom IV (1950)
In 1949, Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, husband of Elizabeth II, ordered a new Rolls-Royce luxury car. Next year green car with an 8-cylinder engine was delivered to the High Customer. When Elizabeth ascended the throne, the car was moved to the royal garage and repainted in the official black and maroon color.
Even decades later, the Rolls-Royce Phantom IV is still in service. In 2011, the car took part in wedding procession Prince William and Catherine Middleton.
For 6 years, 18 copies of the Rolls-Royce Phantom IV were built, the owners of which are known to millions of people. Among them are Princess Margaret, Princess Marina, Francisco Franco, King of Iraq, Prince of Saudi Arabia, Sheikh of Kuwait, Shah of Iran.
3. Land Rover Series I (1953)
Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain can be called one of the few still living people on Earth who drove the very first Land model Rover. In 1948, the 100th Land Rover off the production line was presented to her father, King George VI. Five years later, Elizabeth herself bought a military SUV. Since then, the queen has been seen driving this car more than once.
4 Land Rover Defender (2002)
Land Rover SUVs seem to be entrenched in the garage of Windsor Castle for a long time. In recent years, Queen Elizabeth II has been seen more than once Driving Land Rover Defender 110 2002 with diesel engine.
5 Range Rover (1970)
In 1970 Land Rover start release luxury SUVs Range Rover. Not surprisingly, the royal family began to actively use these cars.
6. Rolls-Royce Phantom VI (1978)
For the 25th anniversary of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II in 1977, the British Automobile Manufacturers Society made a gift: a new Rolls-Royce Phantom VI. The car is still in public service. In 2011, a luxury limousine served the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.
7. Range Rover Laundaulet (2015)
One of the latest car "new things" of Queen Elizabeth II is a luxurious Range Rover in a rare landole body. The car has a roof that retracts only over the rear row of seats.
SUV Range Rover Laundaulet has become a technological "novelty" in the royal garage: it is a car with a hybrid power plant.
8 Rover 75 (2003)
The British automaker Rover is little known in Russia, but in the UK this brand of cars was popular until 2005, when the company went bankrupt. It is known that in the 2000s, one of the Rover 75 business class sedans was driven by Prince Andrew, the second son of Queen Elizabeth II.
9. 1969 Aston Martin DB6 (1969)
In 1969, Queen Elizabeth gave her 21-year-old son Prince Charles a blue Aston Martin DB6 Volante. Only 140 cars of this model were built, but the car for the prince was special, as it ran on ethanol (alcohol). The classic roadster is still kept in the royal family's garage.
10. 1999 Volkswagen Golf (1999)
In 1999, Prince William was given new Volkswagen Golf IV. In one of the best-selling cars in Europe, he can travel incognito.
11. Bentley State Limousine (2002)
The British Royal Garage uses quite a few unique custom-made cars. Two of them are Bentley Arnage R limousines converted to run on biofuel.
12. Audi A4 Cabriolet (1994)
This car bears little resemblance to other cars from the royal fleet, but it has its own history. When Princess Diana separated from her husband Prince Charles in 1992, she received a gift - an A4 convertible from Audi UK. In July 2017, the car was sold for $75,000.
13 Bentley Mulsanne (2012)
In 2012, to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth's ascension to the throne, Bentley produced 60 copies of the Mulsanne sedan in the Diamond Jubilee special edition. One of these cars ended up in the hands of the queen herself, becoming one of her private cars. Despite attractive design and luxurious Bentley interior, the queen did not use it for long. In April 2016, the car was sold for $285,000.
14 Bentley Bentayga (2015)
Bentley has spent several years and billions of dollars developing the ultra-luxurious Bentayga crossover. In 2015, the first copy rolled off the assembly line, which ended up in the Queen's garage. The dark green car is in Scotland, where it is used for hunting.
15. Audi A5
Over the past years, the Windsors have worked closely with the Volkswagen Auto Group. After studying at modest Volkswagen, Princes William and Harry got behind the wheel of an Audi A5. The family William owns several A5 Sportback sedans, while the younger Harry drives a dynamic S5.
Let there be a post on the "boyish" theme on the eve of the holiday. No, girls now too ... quite and completely, but the boys still savor the auto-theme more. And that is great!
I propose to admire the cars of some monarchs, read about engine sizes, body kits, seconds, cylinders ...
So, 10 cars from the royal garages...
Horses and carriages in the royal "stables" have long been complemented by four-wheeled vehicles, among which there are truly unique specimens. So, Prince Charles owns an environmentally friendly Aston Martin convertible, the engine of which runs on bioethanol (for the monarch’s car, it is obtained from recycled wine). But the Sultan of Brunei takes the number of his cars: there are legends about the garage of Haji Bolkiah, and the number of cars in it is in the thousands. Among other things, the Sultan owns a unique Ferrari Mythos concept car, Bentley Donimator SUVs, as well as a collection of racing cars Formula 1. The garages of other monarchs are much more modest, but they also have something to see.
For example...
King of Jordan Abdullah II - Mercedes-Benz 300SL
The royal family of Jordan for their travels, among other things, uses a real retro car - Mercedes 300SL. It was the first post-war sports car from the German automaker to be shown to the public at the 1954 New York Auto Show. The car was a success for the Stuttgart people, and among its buyers were such celebrities as Sophia Loren, Pablo Picasso, Elvis Presley, and King Hussein I of Jordan. The monarch was a passionate car enthusiast and simply could not help adding such an instance to his collection. Mercedes 300 SL became the first in history stock car equipped with a direct injection engine. And besides this, among the "civilian" cars on both sides of the Atlantic, the Mercedes 300SL remained the fastest for quite a long time.
Queen Margrethe of Denmark - Rolls Royce Silver 1958 Wraith
Queen Margrethe of Denmark is a monarch with 40 years of experience, as well as the owner of about 50 cars. One of the flagships of Her Majesty's garage is the rare 1958 Rolls Royce Silver Wraith: only 25 similar cars were produced that year. The car was purchased by Margrethe's father - King Frederick IX - especially for official trips, as well as meeting important guests. It is still used for the same purpose today. Despite its solid size, Rolls Royce Silver Wraith can be called fast car even by today's standards. Thanks to the 4.8-liter engine, the car can accelerate to 190 km/h. By the way, it is not at all difficult to recognize the car of the Danish queen on the road. Firstly, on the license plate of her car, the numbers are replaced by the image of the crown, and secondly, according to the protocol, Her Majesty must be alone in the car (except for the driver). 
Former King of Spain Juan Carlos I - 1939 Mercedes-Benz G4
Former King of Spain Juan Carlos I is known for his love of good cars. Moreover, he himself is not averse to sitting behind the wheel of some of them. The monarch was repeatedly fined for speeding, and in the 1990s, while driving his Porsche, he even had an accident. The exact number of cars in the king's garage is unknown, but we are talking about several dozen rather rare specimens. One of them is a rare three-axle Mercedes-Benz G4 of 1939, which was restored several years ago at the request of the monarch. There are only three such cars left in the world, and a copy of Juan Carlos belonged to General Franco, who received the car as a gift from Hitler himself. The Mercedes-Benz G4 was produced in the 30s of the last century and was a heavy open-top SUV. It never went on sale, as it was originally created for the needs of the top leadership of Nazi Germany. 
Emir of Qatar Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani - Pagani Zonda Uno
Eastern monarchs are famous for their car collections. Of course, the Emir of Qatar is far from the Sultan of Brunei with his garage of several thousand cars, but, nevertheless, he also has rare vehicles. One of them is the exclusive sports car Pagani Zonda Uno. The car for the monarch was created in a single copy Italian manufacturer Pagani Automobili S.p.A., which specializes in the production of carbon fiber supercars. sports coupe with an engine capacity of 7.3 liters and a power of 690 hp. completely made of carbon and capable of accelerating to speeds in excess of 300 km/h. In addition, the sports car is painted in turquoise, which is the signature color for all cars of the royal family of Qatar. They say that one of the emir's sons, Prince Tamim al-Thani, loves to drive the unique Pagani Zonda Uno. 
King of Saudi Arabia Abdullah bin Abdulaziz - BMW M5 E60
The car of the 88-year-old king of Saudi Arabia Abdullah ibn Abdulaziz is one of the fastest royal cars. The German atelier Lumma, which has been tuning luxury vehicles for more than 20 years, helped to “pump” the royal car. After processing, the studio gives the cars new names, so King Abdullah's car is also known as alphanumeric designation BMW CLR 730 RS. After visiting the Lumma studio, the sedan of the royal person turned into a real sports car, the body kit of which, as well as the hood and trunk lid, are made of carbon fiber. The maximum speed of the car is 367 km / h, and BMW accelerates to “hundreds” in 4.2 seconds. 
Prince Albert II of Monaco - Lexus LS 600h L
Prince Albert II of Monaco is known for his great attention to protection environment, so he chose an environmentally friendly car. On the day of his marriage to Charlene Wittstock, the prince and his beloved drove through the streets of Monaco on hybrid Lexus LS 600h L. For most of the trip, the car was driven by an electric motor, which made it possible to reduce the emission of harmful substances to nothing. The Lexus LS 600h L was designed for the prince individual project: a special environmentally friendly water-based paint was even selected for it, which was applied by hand. In addition, a special transparent roof was also installed on the car. The wedding Lexus is not the only car of this brand in the garage of Albert II, because it is Japanese manufacturer the prince chose official supplier royal house of Monaco. 
Mandatasin Jadeya, grandson of the Maharaja of Rajkot - 1934 Rolls Royce Star of India
Two years ago, news broke the news that an exclusive 1934 Rolls Royce Star of India had been sold for a record low $850,000, even though the deal was predicted to be one of the biggest ever. The happy buyer of the rare car was Mandatasin Jadeya, the grandson of the Maharaja of Rajkot, for whom this car was created. A distinctive feature of the "Star of India" was its color: Rolls Royce was painted in dark orange paint with an admixture of ocher - such a shade in India symbolizes pristine purity. And on the doors of the car was a monogram, denoting the following: "The first duty of the ruler is to serve his citizens." 
Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf - Volvo C30
In April 2011, during his official visit to Sweden, Vladimir Putin met with the country's King, Carl XVI Gustaf. Then the attention of journalists was attracted by the car of the Swedish monarch: the king arrived at the meeting driving a modest Volvo C30. Of course, the Swedish-made hatchback isn't the only vehicle in Carl XVI Gustaf's garage. But recently, under the influence of the public, urging the monarch to think about protecting the environment, the king decided to change to a more environmentally friendly and modest car. Prior to this, Carl XVI Gustav rode much more powerful Ford Mustang, Porsche 911 Carrera and Ferrari 456. It is worth noting that the Swedish king does not use flashing lights to move around the city, and roads are not blocked for his passage. Instead, the king stands in traffic jams on a par with his subjects. 
Japanese Emperor Akihito - Toyota Century Royal
In 2006, Japanese Emperor Akihito and his wife Michiko decided to change their nissan car Prince Royal, who served them for 30 years. as new vehicle car was also chosen Japanese made, but this time from Toyota. Imperial limousine Century Royal was created on an individual project. The car was equipped with a 5-liter engine with 350 hp, as well as strong armor. The highlight of the interior of the limousine were special curtains on the windows made of rice paper, as well as a ceiling made in the style of Japanese shoji screens. It’s easy to recognize the imperial Toyota Century Royal on the road: it’s the only car in a country that travels without license plates. Instead, the car is adorned with a gilded image of a chrysanthemum, which is the official emblem of the imperial house. 
Queen Elizabeth II - Bentley Arnage Red Label
On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II on the throne, Bentley, which since 1998 has been part of Volkswagen Group, gave her a Red Label as a gift. But do not think that we are talking about a modest bottle of whiskey. This was the name of the model of a luxurious limousine, the body of which was painted in a noble red-burgundy color. The creation of the car and its manual assembly took almost two years. The Royal Bentley Arnage Red Label was equipped with a 6.75-liter engine with 400 hp, which allows the car to accelerate to 210 km / h. You can fill the car with liquefied gas, which significantly reduces the emission of harmful substances. The first official departure of Elizabeth II and her husband the Duke of Edinburgh Philip on the Bentley Arnage Red Label took place on July 4, 2002, and then the Queen used a limousine during her anniversary tour.
Bentley Arnage Red Label Queen Elizabeth II
