BMW’s latest “Protection” offering delivers the opulence of a 7 Series alongside the grit of an armoured cash-in-transit vehicle. Despite its twin-turbo V8 or EV powertrain, the added weight makes its spriting abilities slightly more lethargic.
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The armoured 7 Series is presented in two flavours: the 760i xDrive and the i7 xDrive60. This is not a standard Bavarian sedan fitted with some bullet-resistant bits but rather a bespoke car with the styling of a 7 Series. Below the exorbitant amount of metal is a supporting structure comprised entirely of armour steel that extends as far as the engine mounts in the petrol-powered derivative.
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“Protection-spec” doors, armoured safety glass and an armoured underbody and roofs serve as accompaniments to the protective shell. In terms of resistance, the Protection Core models are capable of withstanding rounds from an AK47, SVD sniper rifles with armour-piercing rounds and even rounds from general-purpose machine guns like the PKM! Additional safety features include a self-sealing fuel tank, 20-inch allow wheels wrapped in PAX run-flat tyres, a fresh-air supply system, a fire extinguisher that can be automatically discharged, flashing lights, and radio transceivers. All the goodies fit for a king, or erm… dictator?
BMW hasn’t revealed how much weight has been added to the 7 Series frame, but they have included some sprint times. In the 760i configuration lives a twin-turbo V8 gifted with a new turbocharger system, blow-off valve, indirect charge air cooling and a cross-bank exhaust manifold. This setup affords the tank-like sedan to move from a standstill to 100km/h in 4,7 seconds instead of the bare model’s 3,6-second sprint.
As for the firm’s first-ever armoured electric vehicle, which supposedly borrows components from higher-strung i7 M70 xDrive, retains its standard 400 kW/745 N.m power output, but its 0-100km/h time now stands at 9,0 seconds instead of the standard model’s 4,7-second sprint. Aiding in drivability is the added Integral Active Steering system affixed to the rear wheels, which reduces the turning circle and seemingly improves the ride comfort for passengers in the rear seats.
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Contrasting its attack-ready physique is the plush interior. The Protection models are equipped with a 28-speak Bowers&Wilkins sound system, motorised assistance for opening and closing doors, an intercom system that allows you to communicate with people outside of the vehicle and model-specific rear window sunblinds.
“To be able to develop a standard looking armoured vehicle to VR10 specification to stop armour-piercing rounds fired from the feared Dragunov 7.62×54 mm is no small feat. Saying that, the armoured 7-series can be compared to a rally car where the front and rear lights (and the shape of the vehicle) is recognisable but everything in-between is bespoke. I expect the mass to be around 4 000 kg with the price equally eye-watering. Reserved for presidents, it is unlikely to be available for private individuals locally as the highest level allowed without special permits is B6 to stop ball-round ammunition from AK47, R1 and R5 assault rifles” – Nicol Louw, Business Development Director at SVI
Make no mistake, these are not production series vehicles. The BMW 7 series Protection models are more akin to entry-level military armaments than most road-going cars.
