Fans of armored Escalades are spoiled for choice these days, as many companies offer security upgrades for Cadillac’s big luxury SUV.
One of them is Canada’s Inkas Armored Vehicle Manufacturing, which has just lifted the veil off a new armored “Chairman Package” for the 2019 Escalade. As you’re about to see, the upgrade is much more than making the popular SUV safer for its passengers.
While the truck incorporates BR6-level, 360-degree ballistic armoring that provides protection against 7.62mm, 308 Winchester FMJ ammunition, it also boasts a 4-inch (102-mm) raised roof because it’s loaded with so much stuff the Escalade’s cabin needed an extension.
The folks from Inkas say the Chairman Package offers a presidential level of comfort – and it’s hard to argue with that when looking at the interior. The customized cabin is lined with Alcantara and features exotic wood paneling as well as captain style heated and cooled leather seats with massage systems.
The cabin also features advanced multimedia and audio systems including a 4k Smart TV, 4G LTE hotspot, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration and a premium surround sound system. Passengers also benefit from a customized bar, an innovative lighting system, and the discretion made possible by the partition between the rear passengers’ area and the driver. The armored Escalade also comes with its own 360-degree perimeter security CCTV, satellite TV and phone system, a biometric gun safe, and much more.
Since the armoring and all the stuff onboard add significant weight, Inkas upgraded the suspension and braking components to ensure that the Escalade remains as close as possible to its original driving characteristics. The company says the upgrades contribute to “maximal ride quality and control.”
The price for all this can be considered presidential, too, given that the 2019 Escalade Chairman Package ranges between $300,000 and $500,000, depending on equipment.