The Mazana II is a boxy and utilitarian six-seat 4×4 built around the diesel drivetrain of the Citroen Berlingo, sitting in a twin-rail chassis topped with a body made of reinforced polyester resin. The Mazana II went on sale in 2016, and the firm created an open-air version for the visit of Pope Francis in 2019.
Interestingly, the socialist state-run Karenjy factory first produced a popemobile in 1989, when John Paul II visited. The firm was mothballed in 1993 before being restarted 15 years later.
Toyota Mirai
One of the latest additions to the Vatican car fleet is the Toyota Mirai popemobile. Two similar cars were prepared by Toyota for Pope Francis’s Japanese tour in 2019, based on the world’s first serial-production hydrogen fuel cell-powered car, which went on limited sale in certain markets, including the UK, back in 2014.
The Toyota conversion follows the familiar theme with customised rear bodywork aimed at maximising the pope’s visibility, but the angular metal framework of the open rear compartment looks quite incongruously clunky compared with the futuristic front end. One of the pair of cars now resides at the Vatican, having been presented to His Holiness by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Japan.
Mercedes-Benz G580 with EQ technology
The name is a bit of a mouthful, but there’s undeniably a theme here – the Vatican loves a Merc. The latest popemobile is another G-Class, but this one has a green conscience, because it’s the first ever electric car to officially carry His Holiness.
Pope Francis will be able to travel emissions-free (stop giggling) for the 2025 Jubilee, or Jubilee of Hope – a celebration that only happens every 25 years, and will see millions of pilgrims come together in Rome. The ‘G-Wagen’ has been adapted for the Pope’s use, as you’d expect, with a bespoke coachbuilt rear-end, but intriguingly so too has the powertrain. The G580’s four near-wheel electric motors have been recalibrated to allow the car to travel slowly at public appearances.
Now read our list of the top 25 coolest cars in the world…
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