Mercedes-Benz
S600 Guard
At
a glance, Mercedes S600 Guard looks
identical to a normal S-Class. Essentially, it's a bullet- and bomb-proof
Mercedes. It's based on the latest generation of Mercedes S-Class, with a
rather delightful 6.0-litre V12 engine up front developing an even more lovely
525 bhp and 612 lb-ft of torque. This
car's top speed is 130 mph, 25 mph shy of the limited S600. But, of course, there is a lot of security on
board. The bodyshell has had protective steel integrated between the structure
and outer skin, there's ‘splinter' protection, and thick glass coated with
polycarbonate on the inside. It rides on Michelin PAX run-flat tyres which can
travel up to a distance of 19 miles even when damaged.
Then
there's armour covering the entire underbody for the first time, providing
extensive protection against subterranean IEDS. All in, this new S600 Guard has
been certified for the highest level of ballistic protection, which is VR9.
VR9,
if you're wondering, means armour designed to resist rifle-fire from military
weapons, a velocity twice that of handgun bullets, and resistance to splinters
from hand grenades and explosive charges.
Other
features include AIRMATIC suspension, DISTRONIC PLUS with Stop & Go Pilot, BAS
PLUS Brake, Active Blind Spot Assist and Active Lane Keeping Assist, PRE-SAFE
Brake with pedestrian recognition and ESP, Night View Assist Plus, LED
Intelligent Light System, 360° camera. The Guard treatment also adds a panic
alarm system, automatic fire extinguisher, and fresh air system.
