- U.S. Armor Group has unveiled the world’s fastest armored vehicle.
- It’s based on the 1,234 hp Lucid Air Sapphire and can hit a top speed in excess of 200 mph.
- The standard armoring package can protect against .44 Magnum fire, but more extreme options are available.
When you think of armored vehicles what comes to mind? Probably a big SUV with a 0-60 mph time measured in decades.
U.S. Armor Group is turning that notion on its head by unveiling the “world’s fastest armored vehicle.” It’s based on the Lucid Air Sapphire and is designed to reset “preconceptions about armored luxury.”
More: Watch The Lucid Air Sapphire Become The World’s Quickest 1/4 Mile Production Sedan
The car certainly does that as it has a tri-motor all-wheel drive system producing 1,234 hp (920 kW / 1,251 PS). This enables the standard model to accelerate from 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in 1.89 seconds, hit a top speed of 205 mph (330 km/h), and have an EPA range of 427 miles (687 km).
U.S. Armor Group builds on that strong base by adding lightweight ballistic windows that can withstand rounds from a .44 Magnum. They’re accompanied by lightweight composite armor that is “10 times stronger than ballistic steel yet five times lighter.”
All told, the armoring only adds 385 lbs (175 kg) of weight. That’s roughly the equivalent of two passengers and the company said the model can still hit a top speed in excess of 200 mph (322 km/h).
Besides the armoring, the car has been equipped with an “impenetrable internet/WiFi security package” that promises to safeguard data from hacking attempts. The company also said the model has “cutting-edge technology that continuously scans for nearby threats during transport, gathering intelligence from over a million sources, including local police and fire scanners.”
Pricing starts at $475,000 which is nearly twice as much as the Air Sapphire. However, customers can add beefier armor to protect against grenades, explosive devices, and high-powered rifles. Customers can also go the James Bond route and get electric-shock door handles, pepper spray dispensers, and concealed gun ports – among other things.
