The demand for armored private vehicles has grown significantly all over the world, and the supply is happy to keep up. Exec Armor has seen a rise in sales, as the market expands and Canadian-made luxury armored vehicles gain in popularity.
Another thing that the armored vehicle market is seeing is an emergence of a new category of supply; the manufacturer-made armored car. The armored Audi A8 L Security is one such example. It was introduced at the Frankfurt auto show, and exhibits qualities to make the German flagship sedan proud. It can take punishment from an AK-47 firing 7.62mm rounds of any type, including armor piercing. It can also resist explosive charges from hand grenades and hand-held rocket launchers. The windows can be lowered almost fully despite being made of a special multilayer glass with an anti-splinter layer which makes it extra thick.
The Audi A8 L Security meets the VR 9 ballistic protection standard, two grades up from the VR 7 level reached by their last model. If there was any more need for proof that an armored car doesn’t have to be the size of a tank to be safe, there you have it.
With the brakes, pneumatic struts, connecting points and wheels having gone through a complete overhaul, the vehicle’s road efficiency is unquestionable. The tires can handle 50 mph speeds while completely deflated. In addition to this, the vehicle’s relatively light weight and the famous A8 Audi engine combined with the exceptional armor, make it a really good choice for an armored fleet or a private owner who wants a manufacturer-armored car.
Gadgetry and Features
In addition to having all the must-have features of a luxury sedan, such as massaging ventilated seats, back-seat refrigerator, and drinks cabinet, the car also has several optional safety features and gadgets. When under fire, the passenger or driver have at their disposal an armored box with communication equipment, a fire extinguisher, emergency fresh air system and emergency exit mechanism that will blow the door open even if it was jammed shut.
There is also a set of exterior microphones and speakers that allow the passenger to hold communication with whoever is outside the car without opening the car even a crack. Apart from the fact that the communication equipment is stored in the luggage compartment (which might make it less accessible), those features seem very prudent to have. Most of them are optional, and will not be included in the basic model, but the option is there should you decide to get them.
The Pros and Cons
While we applaud the feat of engineering and obviously impressive result of the German manufacturer, there are advantages and disadvantages in buying a manufacturer-armored vehicle. Among the advantages is that the manufacturer obviously knows the vehicles better than anyone else, and can design the car to handle the extra weight that armor adds. In this case, the car’s chassis and all-wheel drive setup were specifically designed to meet the high requirements of the Security class vehicle.
The disadvantage of this choice, one which turns many buyers in the direction of custom-made armored vehicles, is that the car has a specific set of features that you can choose from… and that’s about it. The potential for customization of a custom-made armored car is practically limitless, with the buyer getting pretty much any whim and desire built into the vehicle.
While you wait for Audi to start the delivery of their vehicle (this spring), you might want to take a look at our own showroom and the luxury armored car options already available there.