India, Sept. 12 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping's arrival in Delhi for the BRICS summit has brought an unusual sight to the capital's roads: vehicles from his official convoy being transported under heavy black covers before the Chinese leader himself arrived in the city.

Images and videos of the wrapped cars have gone viral on social media, prompting curiosity over what exactly was being moved under the covers and why the vehicles were being kept out of sight.

At the centre of the intrigue is the Hongqi N701, the highly secretive, heavily armoured limousine used by Xi. The Chinese president's official vehicles are understood to have been transported to India ahead of his arrival, as is common with specially protected state cars during ...