The April Fool Archive

Russian President’s Nuclear-Proof Limousine    (April Fool's Day - 2009)

The Moscow Times revealed details of the new limousine used to transport President Dmitry Medvedev. It was said to be far more secure than the "The Beast" (the nickname of the limousine used to transport U.S. President Obama).

The Russian car has a 12-centimeter-thick titanium plated roof that is so strong a T-72 tank can drive over it without causing any real damage, the sources said. Its windows are made of glass that will withstand a direct hit from a rocket-propelled grenade, while its wheels automatically turn into caterpillar tracks when going over rough terrain, they said...
Officials at the factory where Medvedev's limousine was assembled were so confident in the level of safety provided by the vehicle that they placed the designers inside the car while soldiers shot rocket-propelled grenades at it -- a tradition that dates back to the Stalin era.
The Kremlin official noted that the car's occupants could survive a small nuclear attack, but only if the wind was blowing in a certain direction. He declined to elaborate, saying reporters would be allowed to ask Medvedev questions on April 1.

A number of news outlets reported the story as fact, including The Guardian. Der Spiegel and three media outlets in South Korea contacted The Moscow Times seeking more details.

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