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Updated Aurus Senat for 48.5 Million Rubles — Priced Like a Rolls-Royce Ghost: What Changed
Autopapyrus
On October 16, 2026, Aurus opened pre-orders for the updated Senat, unveiled at a private showing in the Special Purpose Garage Museum at VDNKh in Moscow. Prices start at 48.5 million rubles, and the average final price is expected to be 51–52 million. That is roughly what a new Rolls-Royce Ghost costs in Russia when it is brought in through grey imports. Here is what changed in the Senat for that money and what stayed the same.
Price and the obvious comparison
The prices came from Aurus commercial director Artem Yusupov: from 48.5 million rubles, with an average final price of 51–52 million. The company does not disclose production volumes or sales targets; Yusupov spoke of "dozens, hundreds of cars". He gave his own benchmark: in its best year in Russia, 2021, Rolls-Royce sold 314 cars there.
The new Rolls-Royce Ghost Series II is not officially sold in Russia. Grey-import listings put it at roughly 49.5 to 70 million rubles, depending on version and seller. So the updated Senat now costs about as much as a Ghost, even though the two cars come from very different classes and histories.
Exterior: lights, grille and an aluminium bonnet
The silhouette is unchanged; the details are new. The headline item is a pair of matrix LED headlights with L-shaped daytime running lights. They adapt to ambient light, greet the owner with a welcome animation, and the high beam can switch off individual segments so it does not dazzle oncoming drivers.
The grille has new geometry and the bonnet is now aluminium. The tail lights are full LED with sequential turn signals. The alloy wheels have a new design, and there are three new paint colours: Shadow Rock, Rainy Cloud and Mystic Aventurine.
Interior: big screen, voice assistant and a "pyramid" instead of a lever
The updated Senat gets a new infotainment interface with a large touchscreen and a voice assistant. The steering wheel is new, with a revised button layout, and can be trimmed in the interior colour. The centre tunnel has two USB Type-C ports and a wireless charging pad.
The mechanical gear lever is gone, replaced by a push-button selector Aurus describes as a "concave pyramid". The seat controls have moved to the door panels, and the rear armrest now has a touch panel for climate, audio and seat position.
The electronics it was missing
The list of new systems is short but matters for a car at this level:
- night vision, shown on the digital instrument cluster;
- surround-view cameras;
- a digital rear-view mirror that shows the camera feed;
- driver fatigue monitoring.
Rivals such as Rolls-Royce and Mercedes-Maybach have offered all of this for years, so here the Senat is catching up.
What stayed the same: the hybrid V8
The mechanicals are unchanged. Under the bonnet is a 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 with 598 hp and 880 Nm, paired with a 62 hp electric motor, a domestically built 9-speed automatic and all-wheel drive. Aurus quotes 0–100 km/h in 6 seconds and a top speed of 250 km/h. Kerb weight is 3,235 kg and ground clearance 200 mm.
Aurus Senat vs Rolls-Royce Ghost in numbers
| Aurus Senat | Rolls-Royce Ghost Series II | |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 4.4 L twin-turbo V8 + electric motor | 6.75 L twin-turbo V12 |
| Power | 598 hp + 62 hp electric motor | 571 PS |
| Torque | 880 Nm | 850 Nm |
| Gearbox and drive | 9-speed automatic, AWD | 8-speed automatic, AWD |
| Length | 5,653 mm | approx. 5,546 mm |
| Price in Russia | from RUB 48.5m (official) | approx. RUB 49.5–70m (grey import) |
On paper the Senat is more powerful and longer. The Ghost has more than a century of brand history behind it, while the Senat has its own argument: an official warranty and service network in Russia. The Ghost only reaches the country through grey imports.
Our verdict
It is a careful update. Aurus left the Senat's restrained look alone and added what it genuinely lacked: modern lighting, new electronics and simpler controls inside. The powertrain stays the same. The price is now at Rolls-Royce level, and the real question is whether buyers will choose the Russian flagship over the British one for the same money.
Sources: Aurus press release of October 23, 2026 and the model page on aurusmotors.com, the "AURUS Senat restyling" brochure, statements by Aurus commercial director Artem Yusupov at the October 16 showing (Interfax), Rolls-Royce Motor Cars press releases. Ghost prices in Russia are based on grey-import listings. Photos: Aurus.
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