Mercedes are reputed to be true battle tanks. Never has this expression been so literal as it is now. Meet the Mercedes S-Class Guard, the top-of-the-range armored version of the German brand.
The Mercedes S-Class Guard is the latest member of the German brand's armored car family. Mercedes' Guard series includes models such as the E, S, M and G-Class – all of them with varying degrees of armor. But the hardest nut to crack is really the new S-Class Guard, which has just started production at the Sindelfingen factory.
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On the outside, only the high-profile tires and thick side windows reveal a model designed not to attract too much attention. It's in its guts that the differences emerge: the S-Class Guard is the first factory-certified car with a VR9 level armor class (the highest ever established).
The Mercedes S-Class Guard uses a special type of steel 5 cm thick, in all the free spaces between the structure and the bodywork, aramid fiber and polyethylene together with the external panels and glass using polycarbonate. The windshield, for example, is 10 cm thick and weighs a massive 135 kg.
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All this armor results in an ability to "survive" high-caliber rounds of ammunition and grenade explosions. In addition to this anti-ballistic equipment, this true luxury tank is also equipped with an autonomous system to supply fresh air to the interior (in case of bombs or chemical weapons use), fire extinguisher and windshield and windows sides with heating.
Available only in association with the S600 version, this model comes equipped with a 530hp V12 engine, which due to the high weight of the set has a maximum speed limited to 210km/h. This real rolling fortress will cost around half a million euros. A value that should not be an obstacle for individuals interested in this type of vehicle.
