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Transportation with the right armors is essential when security is your top priority. Carmakers are building vehicles that are indestructible to bombs, bullets, and other threats for VIPs all over the globe. For a long time, automakers have been creating bomb-proof and armored vehicles. Although it may not be well-known to the general public, this market grows year by year. The Compound Annual Growth Ratio of Armoured Vehicles will reach $21.97 Billion by 2026.
VIPs prefer armored vehicles in different fields, but their popularity is growing among the general public. You could show off your wealth by driving around in one of these bomb-proof vehicles.
Levels of Ballistic Protection
All armored vehicles offer different levels of protection. Ballistic protection levels are basic measures that can be used to determine the shield level of an armored vehicle. The EN 1063 standard, the European Committee for Standardization, has 7 levels. BR1 to HTML7.BR7
B1 and B2 Protection from 9mm bullets
B3 – Resists assault from handguns such as.357 Magnum or.44 Magnum, and sport rifles.
B5 – Vehicles equipped with B5 armors can withstand shots from AK-47s and have a steel thickness of around 7.5 mm.
B6 This level of security protects against armor-piercing bullets.
B7 The highest level of security that can stop bullets from sniper rifles and armor-piercing bullets is B7. Many civilian-grade vehicles can be protected with a level B7. Special purpose vehicles are protected with B7+ protection when used to patrol high-risk war zones or for other government purposes.
This article contains a list of 6 top armored vehicles in the world.
Mercedes-Maybach S650 Guard
The S 650 Guard is equipped with B7+ armor and the 2010 Explosion Proof vehicle rating. The car’s glass and body shell are reinforced to protect against explosives and bullets. A twin-turbo V12 engine of 6.0-liters powers Maybach. It can reach speeds up to 190 kmph and accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in just 4.7 seconds.
Mercedes built Maybach to withstand an explosion of 15kg TNT up to 2 meters. The windows are 4 inches thick and have a polycarbonate coating on the inside. The car’s underbody is also bomb-proof. The car windows measure four inches in thickness and are coated with polycarbonate. There is an emergency fresh air system for situations involving heavy smoke or toxic gases.
Maybach’s Michelin PAX flat tires can be used for wheels. They can travel up to 30km even after they have worn out. The self-sealing fuel container has an inbuilt fire extinguisher, similar to those used by the Boeing AH 64 Apache helicopters.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Special Protection Group has added the Mercedes Maybach S 650 guard to his official convoy.
Estimated Price: Rs 12 Crore
Jaguar XJ Sentinel
The Jaguar XJ Sentinel is used by the United Kingdom’s Prime Ministers, especially the long-wheelbase model. The XJ-Sentinel has advanced features such as night vision, a titanium frame and run-flat tires. The Sentinel, like the Maybach Pullman, is also resistant to high explosives at close range. It protects passengers from sniper or grenade attacks.
The Sentinel’s V-8 engine is 385 hp paired with an automatic six-speed transmission. It can accelerate from 0 to 100 kmph in 9.2 seconds. Although it is very similar to the XJ’s unarmoured version, Jaguar has strengthened The Sentinel by adding upgraded suspension, larger brakes, and run-flat tires to handle the extra weight of the vehicle’s mass.
Estimated Price: Rs 3.47 Crore
Cadillac One
The Presidential Vehicle is Cadillac One or The Beast in the United States of America. This vehicle is armored, and we kept guessing about the protection it offers. With the President’s safety at heart, the Secret Service keeps most top-end features secret. Cadillac One is the most trusted car among the world’s leaders. It has the highest level of armored protection of all cars.
The Beast features a military-grade armored body, bulletproof windows and a custom-built reinforced chassis. Night vision is powerful enough to drive in the dark without any illumination. It also has firepower, such as a pump-action shotgun or tear gas cannon.
Cadillac One’s 1800kg armor is powered by a Duramax Duramax V8 supercharged Diesel engine. You can achieve a maximum speed of 160 kmph using four tires and 80 kmph if you have all four tires on the road.
Estimated Price: Rs 2.28 Crore
BMW High Security
The BMW 7 Series 7 Series 760Li High Security was the first armored model launched. It is certified with VR7 level protection. BMW has strengthened the car’s suspension, chassis, and dampers to offset the increased weight due to the additional armor. Protective armor is also applied to the body, doors, roof, front footwell, and separation wall between the passenger and luggage compartments.
BMW 760Li features a 6.0-liter 12cylinder V12 engine with 8-speed manual transmission. Accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h takes only 6.2 seconds. This car is similar to high-security vehicles. It has run-flat tires and special plating to protect the underbody. There’s also an intercom inside with hidden microphones, alarms, fire extinguishers, temperature sensors, and an automatic ventilation shutdown system to protect against gas attacks.
It also features two machine guns at the center console. BMW has restricted access to this model to select customers who require discreet consultation, sales, and service. Service support is only available to these vehicles by specially trained technicians.
Estimated Price: Rs 8.7 Crore
Range Rover Sentinel
Range Rover’s Sentinel, an armored version of the brand’s Autobiography models, is its armored version. It offers equivalent protection to the BR6-7 level with a VR8 level of ballistic protection. This SUV was built by the Special Vehicle Operations Division, a company located in the UK. It can withstand even DM51 blasts.
Range Rover’s Sentinel has a range of emergency escape systems that can be used in times of crisis. This is in addition to the other high-security features offered by Sentinel rivals. It has an underbody that is STANAG 4569 certified, which is the most robust level of protection against an explosion.
The Sentinel gets an upgraded chassis, suspension, and brakes. It also has a powerful 380bhp supercharged V8 petrol engine.
Estimated Price: Rs 3.81 Crore
Audi A8 L Security
Audi’s armored sedan A8L Security was unveiled in 2020. It features VR10 ballistic protection and is similar in design to the standard A8. The A8 L Security also has bomb-proof armor and a 563-hp turbocharged V8 engine with 8-speed Tiptronic transmission.
It takes A8 L Security 6.3 seconds to travel from 0 to 100 km per hour. It can travel up to 80 km on flat tires at 80 kmph. Audi has also lowered the top speed to 210 km/h from the 250 kmph achieved by the A8 standard.
An intercom system can communicate outside the vehicle without opening any windows or doors. There are also fire suppression systems, emergency exit systems, and fresh air systems.
Estimated Price: Rs 9.15 Crore
