Volvo has just announced that a special armoured version of its XC90 flagship has been launched in South Africa, giving clients the option of a safe but discreet form of transportation.
The cost of the specially-protected SUV is set at R2.5 million including VAT, bearing in mind that the car itself accounts for R1,808,000 of the final price tag.
Since the armouring process is 100% approved by Volvo, the car is also able to hold on to its standard 5-year/100,000km warranty and maintenance plan.
Safe travels
The Volvo XC90 has been afforded 360-degree ballistic protection in accordance with the NIJ-IIIA standard, which has not affected the vehicle’s comfort or performance in any way.
The SUV has been put through a ballistic certification test and has been held up to a VPAM BRV 2009 (B4) standard, which translates to being able to protect its occupants from all handgun fire up to a .44 Magnum in calibre.
The armour materials comprise various components from reinforced laminated glass to high-strength steel plating and specialized aramid composites – all of which are integrated into the car in such a way as to be discreet and give no immediately discernable indication that it is armoured, and thus not attract any unwanted attention.
A total of 300kg has been added to the Swedish car’s mass, leading to the chassis and brakes being re-optimized, but the fundamental driving components are largely unchanged so travelling in the armoured variant is almost indistinguishable from the standard car.
Importantly, all of the Volvo’s safety features are intact, so customers still have access to things like seven airbags, tyre-pressure monitoring, traffic sign recognition, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitors, adaptive cruise control, front and rear park distance control, and an all-round camera system.
“We’ve noted a rising demand for armoured vehicles both globally and here in South Africa, with the Volvo Cars Special Vehicles division having received numerous requests to develop an XC90 with ballistic protection over the past few years,” said Greg Maruszewski, the Managing Director of Volvo South Africa.
“The addition of this special derivative to our local range means we can now provide a factory-backed solution to select individuals who desire that extra layer of protection.”
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