When you think of armored vehicles what comes to mind? Probably a big SUV with a 0-60 mph time measured in decades. U.S. Armor Group is turning that notion on its head by unveiling the “world’s fastest armored vehicle.” It’s based on the Lucid Air Sapphire and is designed to reset “preconceptions about armored luxury.” The car certainly does that as it has a tri-motor all-wheel drive system producing 1,234 hp. This enables the standard model to accelerate from 0-96 km/h in 1.89 seconds, hit a top speed of 330 km/h, and have an EPA range of 687 km.
U.S. Armor Group builds on that strong
base by adding lightweight ballistic windows that can withstand rounds from a
.44 Magnum. They’re accompanied by lightweight composite armor that is “10
times stronger than ballistic steel yet five times lighter.” All told, the
armoring only adds 175 kg of weight. That’s roughly the equivalent of
two passengers and the company said the model can still hit a top speed in
excess of 322 km/h.
Besides the armoring, the car has been
equipped with an “impenetrable internet/WiFi security package” that promises to
safeguard data from hacking attempts. The company also said the model has
“cutting-edge technology that continuously scans for nearby threats during
transport, gathering intelligence from over a million sources, including local
police and fire scanners.”
Pricing starts at US$ 475,000 which is nearly
twice as much as the Air Sapphire. However, customers can add beefier armor to
protect against grenades, explosive devices, and high-powered rifles. Customers
can also go the James Bond route and get electric-shock door handles, pepper
spray dispensers, and concealed gun ports – among other things.
