Mercedes has just revealed the S 600 Guard in India at Rs 8.9 crore (ex-showroom, Delhi). It is the armoured variant of the S-class, and offers high levels of protection along with the luxury quotient.
In 2012, the S Guard was first unveiled. This new S 600 Guard joins two other Guard Mercs India; the the E-Guard and M-Guard. All these armoured cars are made by Mercedes off its assembly lines, and not retrofitted with protective panels. The S 600 Guard uses protective components made of special steel to reinforce the body structure and outer shell; there are also heat-resistant synthetic fibres to protect passengers from projectiles.
The S 600 Guard offers VR9-level ballistics protection to its occupants. The VR9 certification, one of the highest levels for civilians, signifies that the car can withstand 7.62x51mm rifle rounds on multiple areas of the body from various angles. Other features include an automatic fire suppression system and an emergency fresh air system in case of ingress of smoke, and hydraulic-actuated side windows. These windows are made of thick laminated glass with polycarbonate coating to provide better protection if fired upon. The underbody is also armoured to prevent injury to the occupants from explosive devices.
All this armour and protection systems do weigh the car down, so the mechanicals have been tweaked with too. The air suspension system has been recalibrated with stiffer and reinforced dampers, the brakes are larger, and the tyres are Michelin-run flats with a tyre pressure monitoring system. Powering this fortress is the top-of-the-line 6.0-litre V12 engine that makes a mammoth 530bhp and 84.63kgm of torque, mated to Mercedes’ 7G-TRONIC automatic gearbox. It has a limited top speed of 210kmph.
Inside, the S 600 Guard provides all the features and luxuries of the regular S-class and comes with an option of a four- or a five-seat layout.