Russia's only sports car maker, Marussia Motors, has won the 18.4 billion roubles contract to design and produce a new presidential limousine and cortège cars.

      The government will finance about 60 percent of the project expected to cut dependence on foreign makes and boost the prestige of the domestic automobile industry.

      The Kremlin wants to get part of the investment back by selling the cars on the market, with the highest price tag standing at 6 million roubles, or $200,000.