PHOTOS: President Pranab Mukherjee's swanky Mercedes

After becoming the 13th President of India, Pranab Mukherjee will not only have a change in designation and address, but also in his mode of transport. In place of his favourite bulletproof Ambassador, Mukherjee will get a swanky Mercedes Benz limousine to go around.

Mukherjee, who has always officially travelled in the defence ministry registered white Ambassador car, will now occupy the black S600L 'Pullman' luxury saloon, which is the official carrier of the head of the nation.

But what makes this car so very special? 

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The Mercedes-Benz S 600 Pullman Guard offers its demanding passengers effective protection from terrorist attacks.

Its armour resists military-standard small-arms projectiles and provides protection against fragments from hand grenades and other explosive charges

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Two infrared head-lamps illuminate the road, significantly extending the driver's range of vision when on low beam. An infrared camera mounted on the inside of the windscreen picks up the reflected image of the road ahead and displays this in the instrument cluster.

Additional safety features include run-flat tyres, a self-sealing fuel tank and a fire-extinguishing system.

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It is powered by a superbly smooth twelve-cylinder biturbo engine with a displacement of 5513 cubic centimetres and an output of 380 kW/517 hp with an impressive 830 Nm of torque.

As these figures suggest, the S 600 Guard Pullman can call on effortlessly superior power delivery, allowing it to get out of a danger zone rapidly, should the need arise.

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Measures to reinforce the vehicle structure were therefore included right from the design stage. 

Along with the armour steel in the protective cell, high-alloyed special steels are used in the sidewalls and floor assembly. These measures provide a sound structural basis for the installation of the heavy special-protection element

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The vehicle owes its spacious interior to its 4315mm wheelbase, which is 115 cm longer than that of the long version of the special-protection S-Class.

With an overall length of 6356 mm, the vehicle has a space for discreet meetings and is equipped with state of the art communications and entertainment systems.

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The S 600 Pullman Guard is fitted with the full complement of airbags as well as a new window bag which was specially developed for the Pullman in order to protect all the passengers in the extended rear compartment.

Keeping in view the President's need to interact with state guests and other high-level dignitaries while on the move, the seating has been designed to enable passengers to sit facing each other.

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This high-level limousine is factory-equipped with an electroluminescent partition that can become opaque by the flick of a button.

A rear air-conditioning system is standard, as is a 19-inch monitor and a rear seat arrangement consisting of four seats placed in a face-to-face position. Even the refrigerator is included.

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