Royal rides: Super wheels in Malaysian King’s luxe garage

[KUALA LUMPUR] Malaysian King Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar’s immense passion for automobiles has thrust him back into the spotlight after he recently became the first owner of the Hongqi L5, a luxury limousine made in China that’s also used by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The ultra-luxury sedan in retro-modern design joins the new king’s stable of over 300 luxury cars, including a Bugatti Veyron and a replica wooden car inspired by The Flintstones cartoon.

The Business Times takes a closer look at six of the stand-out cars in his stable:

1. Hongqi L5 (2nd gen) – new-world technology in old-world luxury

The Hongqi L5, an ultra-luxury sedan with a retro-modern design, is produced by China’s oldest and most prestigious automotive brand, Hongqi (meaning red flag). It is currently the most expensive set of wheels in China and is estimated to cost around five million yuan (S$957,537). *see amendment note

The limousine was presented to Sultan Ibrahim on Apr 12, during a meeting with Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia Ouyang Yujing. Hongqi, owned by China-based FAW Group, has been making limousines for China’s political elite since the 1950s.

The L5, which was gifted to Sultan Ibrahim, is the second-generation version. It drew inspiration from the Hongqi CA770, a discontinued model that once served as the official state car in China, used by President Xi Jinping. This new L5 model is larger than its predecessor and is powered by a 4.0-litre turbocharged V8 engine.

The L5, designed to compete with other prestigious limousines namely the Bentley Mulsanne and the Rolls-Royce Ghost, is used by China’s top leaders for government and diplomatic events.

2. Rolls-Royce Phantom VI – a regal timeless classic

The Rolls-Royce Phantom VI is a British luxury limousine produced between 1968 and 1990. A total of 374 units were made during this period.

Queen Elizabeth II owned two Rolls-Royce Phantom VI limousines, which served as the primary state cars until the Bentley State Limousine was introduced in 2002.

Besides the Phantom VI, Sultan Ibrahim also owns several other Rolls-Royce models, including the Ghost, Cullinan, and Spectre.

3. Bugatti Veyron – iconic sports car

The Bugatti Veyron is a dream car for many automotive enthusiasts, renowned for its high performance, speed, power, and luxurious design. It holds the record as one of the fastest road-legal production cars, with a top speed of 407 km/h.

There are fewer than five Bugatti Veyrons in Malaysia, and Sultan Ibrahim’s white-on-neon blue Bugatti supercar is one of them.

The Bugatti Veyron costs about US$2.5 million, making it one of the most prestigious cars in the Sultan’s collection and a testament to his wealth and status as a member of the royal family.

4. Mack Super-Liner Sleeper – heavy duty

Built in Australia, the Mack Super-Liner Sleeper truck is touted as the most expensive of its kind, with a price tag of RM1.5 million (S$428,535).

Painted in the blue and red colours of the Johor flag, the truck reportedly took a year to build at the manufacturer’s Wacol headquarters in south-west Brisbane.

The truck features a range of high-end gadgets, including a six-camera CCTV system, two flat-screen TVs, a stovetop kitchen area, a double-decker bed, a barbecue pit, and seats embroidered with 72,000 stitches of gold thread. It also boasts a solid-gold tiger hood ornament.

5. Morgan sports car – a thrilling three-wheel roadster

The Morgan Three Wheeler is a sports car with a body design that resembles a World War II fighter plane and features three motorcycle-like tires.

This custom-made sports car, originally manufactured by the Morgan Motor Company in 1909 and reissued in 2011, is powered by a two-cylinder motorcycle engine and has a five-speed manual gearbox sourced from Mazda.

The Johor royal family imported three of these vintage classic vehicles, customised with the Johor royal crest and insignia on the exterior, each in a different colour.

In 2017, Sultan Ibrahim drove a bright lime-green two-passenger Morgan Three Wheeler while touring 10 districts in the Johor state.

6. Flintmobile – Yabba-dabba-doo!

The Johor ruler received a life-sized replica of Fred Flintstone’s wooden car in 2018 from the classic cartoon, a favourite of his.

The car model faithfully reproduces the original’s design, with a wood-like finish on the sides, a stone-like texture for the wheels, and a cloth roof.

However, unlike the Flintstone’s foot-powered vehicle, this replica has a modern twist – it comes equipped with a motor, so it does not require any running feet to get from one point to another.

Amendment note: Change has been made to reflect that Hongqi L5 is the most expensive car in China and not globally.