Absolute protection, style, luxury, power and cool factor all come standard with our top picks for the world’s best armoured cars

 

There are very bad people in this world and many of them are heavily armed. Like it or not, this reality has created a robust market for armoured vehicles. But driving an armoured car doesn’t have to be like piloting a city bus. Our favorite armoured cars share all the qualities you’ve come to love about fine automobiles: style, luxury, speed, beauty—and they’ll repel an RPG attack. Read on and become invincible.

Best Armoured Limousines: For those who like to take the back seat

Maybach 62S armoured by Rijck – German Uberluxe

Swiss company, Rijck, specializes in creating armoured limousines. Their masterpiece is their fully armoured Maybach 62S. Rijck provides B6 protection on their Maybach, which means it will shrug off an attack from a high powered sniper rifle fired from 10 meters. Somehow, they manage to create a perfectly protective cell without changing the exterior or interior appearance of the Maybach. In other words, you’ll be able to drive through a heavily armed ambush without spilling a drop of that 1972 Chateau Lafite you’re enjoying in the hand-polished 925 sterling silver champagne flutes by Robbe & Berking that come standard with the 62S.

Maybach 62S specs:

Engine: AMG V12 Biturbo 5980cc 620hp gasoline
0-60mph: 5.2 secs
Top Speed: 155mph
Special Features: State of the art audio/visual system by Bose, Nappa leather seats designed for private jets, trunk-mounted Dunhill umbrella
Price: starting at $352,000

 

Bentley Mulliner Division Armoured Mulsanne – The Royal Treatment

Maybachs may be truly fine automobiles, but let’s face it, there’s something about a Bentley that epitomizes class. Enter the Bentley Mulsanne, lovingly armoured by their Mulliner Division, the same folks that build armoured cars for Queen Elizabeth. This car is one tough mutha. Built to withstand high powered arms fire, explosives attacks from above or below, and chemical weapons the Mulsanne will keep you secure. In addition, this car really flies. It’s a luxury tank that can go 0-60 in 5.1 seconds and tops out at 184mph. (Before armouring. Post armour stats weren’t yet available, but Mulliner’s armoured Arnage was able to get to 60mph in 5.8 seconds.) In fact, you may be tempted to give your chauffeur the day off and drive this beauty yourself.

Bentley Mulsanne Specs:

Engine: Twin Turbocharged 6.7L V8 505hp gasoline
0-60mph: 5.1 seconds
Top speed: 184mph
Special Features: Impressive multimedia system driven by 40GB hard disk. An absolutely gorgeous handmade interior.
Price: $400,000

 

Cadillac One – Hail to the Chief

If you live in the Western Hemisphere and think limousine, you think Cadillac. Every US President since Woodrow Wilson has ridden in a Cadillac limousine. In 2009, General Motors built a brand new Cadillac limo for President Barak Obama. When Obama flies it’s on Air Force One or Marine One, but when it’s time for the run flat rubber to hit road, it’s in the new “Cadillac One.” This armoured limo is so amazing, the details are classified. Let’s just assume it can withstand a direct hit from a nuclear warhead and has a really, really good multi-media system.

Cadillac One specs:

Engine: V8 6.6L turbo 300hp diesel
0-60mph: Slow enough so Secret Service can jog alongside
Top Speed: 60mph
Special Features: CIA trained driver comes standard. Supply of Pres. Obama’s blood on board just in case. 8 inch thick armour plating, including 5 inches underneath the car.
Price: $300,000

 

Best Sedans: For those who like to hide their armour in plain sight

BMW 7 Series High Security – Like James Bond’s only better

BMW has built a 7 Series that is completely armoured and yet looks exactly like a standard 7 Series Beemer. Furthermore, the Germans claim that despite the increase in weight, you will experience no difference in handling, acceleration or breaking. This is due, of course, to their ‘superior’ engineering skills—and implies that you can get a lot more from your standard 7 Series if you know who to call in Stuttgart. The High Security will repel high velocity projectiles, protects against explosives and chemical attacks and even comes with a gas tank that will re-seal itself every time it’s punctured by a pesky bullet. It definitely recalls the scene in Tomorrow Never Dies where the bad guy says, “Bring out the sledge hammers.” Those hammers didn’t even scratch the glass—Bond must have been driving a High Security.

BMW 7 Series High Security Specs:

Engine: V12 6.0L 535hp gasoline
0-60mph: 6.1 seconds
Top speed: Electronically limited to 131mph
Special Features: Gun case in center console made to fit two submachine guns. Comes with driver training courses to teach you what to do when the Scheisse hits the fan.
Price: starting at $350,000

 

Audi A8 Security – When you need a Transporter

Audi’s A8 Security is a truly sweet ride. Like its cousin the BMW 760il, the Audi A8 Security doesn’t appear much different from a standard A8. Again, don’t let appearances fool you. This A8 comes completely wrapped in steel, titanium and Kevlar making it impervious to weapons fire. It also has fire control systems, and chemical attack protection. But what makes this Audi really protective is its ability to get out of harm’s way. Equipped with Quattro all-wheel drive and a powerful W12 engine, this heavily armoured vehicle gets from 0-100km in “a few seconds.” Just ask Jason Stratham who drove one in the Transporter films.

Audi A8 Security Specs:

Engine: W12 450bhp gasoline
0-100km/h: less than 5 seconds
Top Speed: electronically limited to 155mph
Special Features: Overlapping, reinforced seams and joints. Complete high-tech mobile office for gadget lovers. Doors can be blown off from inside with explosive bolts like a NASA space capsule.
Price: $685,000 to $1,000,000

 

Mercedes Benz S-Guard 600 — When money is no object

This Super Merc is more expensive than the Maybach! For anyone who loves cars, the reason is obvious. This fully armoured tank can get to 60mph in 4.5 seconds. That is ridiculously fast folks and certainly faster than any other ground vehicle that may be launching an assault. (I don’t think too many terrorists use Ferraris or Lamborghinis as attack vehicles.) Yet, despite its speed, the S-Guard can withstand high velocity projectiles, rocket propelled grenades, and close range sniper fire. It also has a fresh air system to withstand chemical attack. In a word, it’s completely secure. It’s also pure luxury within—it should be for this price.

Mercedes Benz S-Guard 600 Specs:

Engine: twin-turbocharged 5.5L V12 517hp gasoline
0-60mph: 4.5s
Top Speed: electronically controlled 130mph
Special Features: Infrared night vision headlights & camera which display the road on a screen in the instrument cluster allows you to go dark.
Price: $1.4 million

 

Amoured SUVs — Go ahead, make my day

Conquest Vehicles’ Knight XV—The Hummer Killer

The Conquest Knight XV is meticulously hand-built to exacting specifications. The build takes over 4000 hours to complete and only 100 models are produced each year. This is a mean looking vehicle. And it’s even tougher than it looks. Built of hardened steel, it’s wrapped with Kevlar-fiberglass fenders and bumpers. The wheels are practically indestructible, made of forged 6061 aluminum and equipped with run flat tires. It looks like a vehicle straight from a science fiction movie, built to kick ass in a far away galaxy. The interior completes the spacecraft feeling. All black leather, suede and high end electronics this SUV may be the most masculine vehicle ever made. (It includes a wet bar, a humidor, a Playstation3 or Xbox360 and a beer cooler.)

Knight XV Specs:

Engine: GM V8 6.0L 325hp gasoline or Cummins ISB 6.7L diesel (biodiesel option available)
0-60mph: not available (probably a hair faster than Cadillac One)
Top Speed: 153mph
Special Features: 26” Flat Screen TV and a Playstation3 allows you to play BlackOps while real live villains shoot at your mobile fortress.
Price: starts at $310,000

 

Dartz Kombat T98—Heavy Soviet Mettle

Russian company Dartz has created the Kombat which could be the bastard child of a Maybach and a Soviet T-90 tank. This very tough and capable SUV is designed for the super rich and is popular among Russian oligarchs and certain European princes. It brings plenty of power from GM’s giant Vortec 8.1 liter power plant and is well appointed with all the fineries of a luxury vehicle. The leather interior is sourced from Maybach and the sound system is by Bose. Looking at this car, it reminds me a lot of a Hummer—albeit a very Russian version. None the less, if you are looking for a unique, fully armoured luxury SUV, the Kombat will certainly fit the bill. Also, despite what you may have heard about the Kombat, the leather interior is not made from a whale’s penis.

Dartz Kombat Stats:

Engine: GM Vortec 8.1L V8 400hp
0-60mph: (not available)
Top Speed: 112mph
Special features: It’s absolutely the best car on earth in which to blast hardcore rap music.
Price: $225,000

 

Armoured Wish List—it doesn’t matter how rich you are. Keep dreaming!

Dark Knight’s Tumber—Comically Cool

Ok, so the latest version of the Batmobile doesn’t really exist. That doesn’t make it any less cool. I mean, it breaks down into a motorcycle! I’m just waiting for some crazy coachbuilder to bring this vehicle to market. Are you guys at Dartz listening? This vehicle was armoured, had autocannons mounted in the nose and you drive it while lying on your stomach. It’s powered by a GM 5.0L Vauxhall engine and it has an additional jet engine for boosts and jumps. You can use it to ram other vehicles, or disable them by dropping caltrops (nasty spiky jacks). And if you are upended by a super villain’s RPG, you can take off on the Batpod, a kick ass motorbike, while your car blows up the bad guy!

Tumber Specs:

Engine: GM Vauxhall 5.0L V8 500hp and a jet engine
0-60mph: 5.6 seconds
Top speed: it can fly for short distances
Special Features: Self destruct mode. Front wheels can break into motorcycle for quick escape. You get to wear a Batman costume.
Price: You build it and we’ll buy it

 

World’s Coolest Armoured Luxury Vehicle – Popemobile

Ok, I’ll grant that the Popemobile is not the most beautiful of the cars profiled here. But you have to admit, it must be pretty cool to be the Pope. It doesn’t matter how rich you are, you can’t have the popemobile. Well, you can buy a used one, but that won’t make you Pope. This car may look funny, but it’s a fine piece of German engineering. It’s completely bulletproof. It has a chemical and biological attack foiling filtration system and run flat tires up to 70mph. This car is no joke. Did I mention it has a throne for a back seat?

Popemobile Stats:

Engine: Mercedes Benz V8 5.0L gasoline
0-60mph: 6.0 seconds
Top Speed: 160mph
Special Features: God’s blessing
Price: $311,000