The New BMW X5 Protection VR6 Will Take A Bullet For You

BMW has the perfect SUV for anyone in need of an armored vehicle but not wanting to be chauffeured around in a car that attracts a lot of unwanted attention. Dubbed the BMW X5 Protection VR6, the German car manufacturer says it could be particularly useful for customers in South America, Africa, and Russia.

The SUV has been designed to meet all the requirements of resistance class VR6. What this basically means is that it can withstand shots from weapons like the AK-47 as well as lateral blasts of up to 15 kg of TNT from a distance of four meters. Additionally, the X5 VR6 features an armor-plated floor that offers protection against hand grenades and blasts from up to 200 grams of C4.

Also Read: New BMW X5 Gets Consumer Reports’ Seal Of Approval And Then Some

Ensuring that the vehicle’s exterior is so resistant to gunfire and blasts is high-strength steel across the doors, side frame, roof, and front wall. There is also an aluminum underbody splinter shield, multi-layered safety glass that is approximately 33 mm thick for the windscreen, and doors with an internal polycarbonate layer that adds protection against possible splinters from bullets or bombs.

BMW hasn’t said how much the car weighs but is keen to point out that it has been designed to be just as fast and agile as a regular X5. Power comes courtesy of the company’s 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine delivering 530 hp between 5500 rpm and 6000 rpm and 553 lb-ft (750 Nm) of torque between 1800 rpm and 4600 rpm. The X5 Protection VR6 can hit 100 km/h (62 mph) in a respectable 5.9 seconds and continue through to an electronically limited top speed of 210 km/h (155 mph).

Other interesting features of the vehicle are an intercom, attack alarm system, 4-zone automatic climate control, and a plethora of options available on regular, consumer-grade X5s. These include BMW Laser Light headlights, active seat ventilation with a massage function, and a reversing camera with surround view.