An official state car is a vehicle used by a government to transport its head of state or head of government in an official capacity, which may also be used occasionally to transport other members of the government or visiting dignitaries from other countries. A few countries bring their own official state car for state visits to other countries, for instance, the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, South Korea, Germany and Japan. It also may serve as an automotive symbol of the head of state and their country. An official state car must have adequate security, capability and stateliness for its duty. A limousine or other high-end vehicle is usually selected.
The Rolls-Royce Phantom VI used as the ceremonial state car by the governor-general of Australia.
The Australian prime minister's BMW 7 Series, January 2017.
King Philippe in a BMW 7 Series
Dilma Rousseff rides in the ceremonial state car, the Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith during the Independence Day parade.
A limousine, or limo for short, is a large, chauffeur-driven luxury vehicle with a partition between the driver compartment and the passenger compartment which can be operated mechanically by hand or by a button electronically. A luxury sedan with a very long wheelbase and driven by a professional driver is called a stretch limousine.
1908 Studebaker limousine with an open driver's compartment
1953 Rolls-Royce Phantom IV (coachwork by Hooper)
The type of limousine hood or roof described in the text (1912 Vauxhall)
Diagram showing an exposed driver's seat