RUSSIAN CARMAKER SEEKS LUXURY MARKET

MOSCOW : A new state owned Russian carmaker launched Wednesday a Soviet-influenced luxury vehicle it hopes will lure the domestic super rich away from brands such as Rolls Royce.

A glitzy presentation at  a  Moscow motor show saw Russian Trade Minister Denis Manturov help unveil two models from the new ''Aurus'' brand - the Senat limousine and a smaller Senar sedan.

Putin at his inauguration for a fourth presidential term this May rode to the Kremlin in a boxy black Aurus limousine with a huge front grill.

This marked return to the Soviet-era practice of leaders riding in domestically made ceremonial cars. In previous years, Putin had opted for a Mercedes instead.

The new design are influenced by Soviet-era cars from produced only for top officials, the carmakers said, and the Kremlin has already received a number of the vehicles.

Chief designer Vadim Perevevezev told AFP that market research among Russians showed ''there is a demand for high-tech quality product made in our country, in particular for a car of such a class.''

''Consumers of such cars, you could say they are tired of  Rolls Royces, Mercedes and Maybachs,'' said Pereverzev, who has worked with Italian brands including Fiat. [AFP]