Mercedes-Maybach S 600 Guard launched in India at Rs 10.50 crore
The demand for armoured cars is ever increasing in our country, case being the number of launches by luxury car makers. Mercedes-Benz recently launched the S 600 Guard, we even drove it and came back impressed with the tech laden machine . The car was the first offering in India to meet VR9 ballistic protection levels. The S-Class has always been one of the best luxury cars in the world and the Guard variant made it one of the safest too.
The Stuttgart-based carmaker however has taken occupant protection and luxury to another level. The Mercedes-Maybach S 600 Guard has now been launched in India barely months after its world debut. The car is based on the Mercedes-Maybach S 600, so it offers added luxury and the extra length making it an armoured luxury limo. The highlight however is the VR10 certification (a rating standard of up to what calibre of bullet the car can repel). This makes it the first vehicle to be certified with the highest ballistic protection level for civilian vehicles. These guidelines require the bodywork and windows to withstand hard steel core bullets repeatedly fired from an assault rifle. The VR6 rating (E-Guard) for example can handle an AK47 attack and the VR9 (S-Guard), dual grenade attacks.
The Maybach badge means the car is larger than the regular S-Class saloon. The rear passengers get a lot more room since the wheelbase has grown as well.
Mercedes-Benz have been producing armoured cars for over 85 years. The Mercedes-Maybach S 600 Guard takes armour technology to an all-new level. The base structure is reinforced and integrated into the body shell at the production stage. The body shell gets protective components made of special steel and integrated between the body structure and outer skin. The windows meanwhile are coated with polycarbonate on the inside for splinter protection. The glass is much more thicker than a standard window (over an inch almost) but still offers a clear view. The windshield is as much thick too and hence the vision distorts around the edges.
These additions not only offer ballistic protection but also protection from explosive devices. Also, all these features need the car to be super light on its feet. For this, Mercedes-Benz have used the 6.0-litre V12 motor that is currently used in the Maybach S600. The motor makes 530PS of power and pulls the 4.7-tonne vehicle from 0-100kmph in a claimed 7.9s. The top speed is just shy of 200kmph.
The Mercedes-Maybach S 600 Guard is priced at Rs 10.5crore ex-Delhi. This makes it the most premium armoured car currently sold in India. Considering the car gets a VR10 rating and Maybach luxury, it's a seriously good deal too.