Aurus is using SPIEF 2026 in St. Petersburg to bring the updated Senat family back into public view, and the stretched Senat Long may be the more interesting part of the story.
The redesigned Senat was first seen during Vladimir Putin’s May 2024 inauguration, when the focus was naturally on the presidential limousine. The regular sedan was still shown only in virtual form at that stage, leaving the production version waiting for a fuller public debut.
That moment is now arriving at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, which runs from June 3 to 6. Alongside the standard updated Senat, Aurus is preparing to show the revised Senat Long, a stretched version that appears to have received more than a normal facelift.
The key change is not just lighting, trim, or a new grille. The Senat Long has been reworked so the body looks less like an extended sedan and more like a purpose-built long-wheelbase luxury car.
The Senat Long Gets A Cleaner Side Profile
The most important change is visible from the side. Earlier stretched versions of the Senat Long used an inserted extension section between the front and rear doors. That approach gave the car the length it needed, but it also made the stretch easier to spot.
The updated Senat Long reportedly drops that central insert and uses larger rear doors instead. The result is a cleaner profile, a more integrated limousine shape, and easier access to the rear compartment.
The side glass treatment also appears more cohesive than before, reinforcing the impression that Aurus has done more than simply extend the standard sedan. For a car designed around rear-seat use, the larger rear doors are more than a styling fix. They also make the car look and function more like a proper chauffeured limousine.
Compared with the standard Senat, the Long version has therefore received the more meaningful body change. The update makes the stretched car look less improvised and gives it a more formal side profile.
The Exterior Follows The Updated Senat Design
The rest of the exterior follows the wider Senat modernization program. The updated model receives a revised front and rear design, a reinterpreted grille, new lighting, and a lightweight aluminum-alloy hood.
The lighting changes are especially important for a luxury sedan that has to look formal without appearing dated. Reports on the updated Senat describe adaptive matrix headlights and revised LED rear lights, while the broader design keeps the upright, official-car character that defines the Aurus brand.
That balance matters because the Senat is not a conventional luxury sedan in the global market. It is closely tied to Russia’s state vehicle program and positioned as a domestic alternative to established ultra-luxury sedans.
For that reason, the update has symbolic weight beyond the normal product cycle. The Senat is a passenger car, but it is also a status object, and the Long version makes that role even clearer.
The Cabin Has Also Been Reworked
Inside the extended limousine, Aurus keeps the partition between the driver’s area and the rear passenger compartment. Rear legroom has also been increased, which fits the car’s chauffeured purpose.
The cabin update follows the redesigned standard Senat, with a revised control layout, updated ergonomics, and a newer version of the NAMI MM-System multimedia setup. The multimedia screen is larger, while the separate rotary controller has been removed.
Aurus has also reduced the number of physical buttons on the center console. That gives the cabin a cleaner and more modern layout, although the car still keeps the traditional luxury focus on privacy, passenger space, and rear-seat comfort.
The formula is not about chasing a sporty image or a futuristic EV cabin. The Senat Long is still built around the old luxury priorities: space, quietness, separation from the driver, and a rear compartment designed for people who are being driven rather than driving themselves.
The Hybrid V8 System Remains Familiar
Aurus says the wider modernization program included updates to systems such as braking, suspension, fuel supply, and the automatic transmission. The basic hybrid powertrain, however, remains familiar.
The Senat uses a 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 hybrid system rated at 598 horsepower and 880 Nm of torque, or about 649 lb-ft. The gasoline engine is paired with a KATE nine-speed automatic transmission, with a 46 kW electric motor integrated into the drivetrain.
The all-wheel-drive system uses a transfer case with a chain drive and an electronically controlled clutch to engage the front axle.
That setup keeps the Senat aligned with its previous technical formula. It remains a large, heavy, all-wheel-drive luxury sedan with hybrid assistance rather than a fully electric flagship.
Production Timing Is Still Unclear
Earlier reporting pointed to the updated Senat entering serial production earlier than it ultimately did. Aurus is still describing the current cars in terms of pre-production work, testing, and preparation rather than a normal sales launch.
Company representatives have said the updated Senat models have completed mandatory technical testing, while development of pre-production vehicles is continuing.
Aurus has also been preparing its Yelabuga production base for the updated lineup. For now, however, the exact sales launch date and pricing remain undisclosed.
The SPIEF appearance should bring the redesigned Senat and Senat Long back into the spotlight. The bigger question is what happens after the show floor. Aurus still has to confirm when the updated sedans will actually reach customers, and the Senat Long’s deeper body changes make that timing especially worth watching.
This article was originally published by Autorepublika.com and is republished with permission. It has been reviewed and edited by Guessing Headlights.