Mercedes-Benz S 600 Guard to be launched in India on May 21, 2015

Being a chauffeur to an influential person is tricky business. Other than the occasional everyday driver hazards, there is the not so secure task of rescuing the boss from a potential kidnapping or assassination. The Mercedes-Benz S 600 Guard then aims to make this job easier and it hits Indian showrooms on May 21.

The car externally looks exactly the same as any S-Class you see on the road. The changes lie under that glossy coat of paint and body shell. The armour on the S 600 Guard offers VR9-level ballistics protection to its occupants, as per the BRV 2009 guidelines. This means that this tank like car can withstand 7.62 x 51mm rifle rounds on multiple areas of the body. Even projectiles being fired at the S 600 Guard won't harm the occupants since it's equipped with heat-resistant synthetic fibres.

The windows, several times thicker than the stock double-pane glass, are so heavy that each needs its own hydraulic lift to open and close. So what if you're enjoying a nice morning drive and fancy the cool morning breeze with the windows down and the bad guys decide to launch a gas attack on your luxurious tank? No fear. Just activate the oxygen system which seals all exterior vents and delivers clean air to you so that you can breathe without any problems regardless of the gas tragedy situation outside the car.

Your Michelin PAX run flat tyres will laugh at 0.45 pistols since they allow zero pressure driving even after being shot at for more than 36 kilometres. There also is armour on the underbody to prevent injury to the occupants from explosive devices.

Inside the car, the interiors are basically untouched and possess all the luxuries seen in the other S-Class cars. Which means you could enjoy a massage and blast music on your audio system in your backseat while your skilled chauffeur evades the goons to get you safely back to your villa.

Your chauffeur won't be disappointed behind the wheel since he has a 6.0-litre V12 engine which generates 530PS and 830Nm of torque mated to Mercedes' 7G-Tronic automatic gearbox. Top speed though is restricted to 210kmph which isn't a bad number when you take into consideration the sheer size and weight of this car.
So in short, only Batman behind the wheel of his Batmobile is what you should be worried about. For everything else, the S 600 Guard will suffice. As long as you're ready to break all your fixed deposits, that is.

Our Prime Minister is known to possess an armoured BMW 7 Series in his fleet. We wonder if he would be interested in changing loyalties and opting for the three-pointed star instead.

Also read:

Which car suits the country's ultimate seat of power?

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