Fans of armored
Escalades are spoiled for choice these days, as many companies offer security
upgrades for Cadillac’s big luxury SUV. One of them is Canada’s Inkas Armored
Vehicle Manufacturing, which has just lifted the veil off a new armored
“Chairman Package” for the 2019 Escalade. As you’re about to see, the upgrade
is much more than making the popular SUV safer for its passengers.
While the truck
incorporates BR6-level, 360-degree ballistic armoring that provides protection
against 7.62mm, 308 Winchester FMJ ammunition, it also boasts a 102-mm raised roof because it’s loaded with so much stuff the Escalade’s cabin needed
an extension.
The folks from
Inkas say the Chairman Package offers a presidential level of comfort – and
it’s hard to argue with that when looking at the interior. The customized cabin
is lined with Alcantara and features exotic wood paneling as well as captain
style heated and cooled leather seats with massage systems.
The cabin also
features advanced multimedia and audio systems including a 4k Smart TV, 4G LTE
hotspot, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration and a premium surround
sound system. Passengers also benefit from a customized bar, an innovative
lighting system, and the discretion made possible by the partition between the
rear passengers’ area and the driver. The armored Escalade also comes with its
own 360-degree perimeter security CCTV, satellite TV and phone system, a
biometric gun safe, and much more.
Since the armoring
and all the stuff onboard add significant weight, Inkas upgraded the suspension
and braking components to ensure that the Escalade remains as close as possible
to its original driving charcteristics. The company says the upgrades contribute
to “maximal ride quality and control.”
The price for all
this can be considered presidential, too, given that the 2019 Escalade Chairman
Package ranges between US$ 300,000 and US$ 500,000, depending on equipment.