10 Best Armored Cars For Heads Of State

Jan 27, 2024

Bulletproof cars ensure the safe transport of world leaders and top dignitaries, and there is nothing to stop a rich person from buying one.

The fortification level of highly customized security-grade cars is astounding. Vehicles must be built to withstand specific types of attacks in order to be certified. Instead of crash tests, automobile manufacturers must submit the car to ballistic testing. The car must be secure enough to shield dummy passengers from damage. Ballistic situations range from gunfire, machine gun fire, and grenade bombs.

These bulletproof cars conceal reinforced steel, Kevlar, and specialized glass. They’re heavy, but VIP passengers stay safe. Owning an armored car is as simple as putting the money down. Surprisingly, there are no restrictions. Now, check out these rolling fortifications.

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German Chancellor Olaf Scholz came to office following Angela Merkel's lengthy tenure. Her Audi A8 L Security had seen better days, so the incoming Chancellor chose the Mercedes S680 Guard. Good pick. This fortified palace on wheels meets the highest level of anti-ballistic protection for civilians. A crash test saw all dummies survive a 300 bullet assault. It has back-up oxygen, two tons of armor, and is fully VR10 (Vehicle Resistance) compliant, achieved by the successful bullet test with dummies. It can withstand both grenades and machine gun fire. Mercedes-Benz has been making special protection cars since 1928, and it was the first company to do so.

The starting price for a Mercedes-Benz S 680 Guard is $586,000, but the armored official state car cost about five times as much. The 8,000-lb S-Class is put into motion with a V12 6.0-liter engine. It makes 612 horsepower supplying a 4Matic all-wheel drive, a first for this vehicle model.

This Range Rover chauffeured Boris Johnson and Liz Truss. Presumably it will be Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's transport of choice. This British beast has a 335-hp 3.0-liter V6 supercharged engine.

The luxurious Range Rover Abio Sentinel is a badass SUV in itself, but the one armored for securely delivering a British PM to scheduled meetings is astoundingly safe and luxurious. The Abio Sentinel can withstand machine gun fire and 15 kg of TNT or grenade blasts.

According to Land Rover media communications, the Range Rover Sentinel mitigates ballistic threats, meeting the British VR8 standard. Kevlar, titanium and multi-laminate glass ensures the structure is bulletproof. The PM's seat is protected by a six-piece armored safe spot, similar to a roll cage frame that protects NASCAR drivers. The vehicle can survive almost any threat. The luxury land cruiser also has anti-tamper exhaust, full back-up to power, and a self-sealed fuel tank. Tires will never go flat; they transform into run-flat tires. Best of all, it hides a secret escape hatch. Land Rover partners with Special Operations Vehicles (SVO) for engineering protection.

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The Mercedes-Maybach S600 Pullman Guard limousine is bulletproof, classy, and powerful. It meets VR9 protection. It weighs 11,200 lbs as it is protected by reinforced steel on all sides, even the undercarriage. With a V12 engine, the car can handle the weight of the armory. Yet, with just over 500 horsepower on a 21-foot tank-like vehicle, the S600 Pullman Guard limo doesn't set any track records.

But it is safe and anti-ballistic compliant. When Kim Jong-un rolled out to a meeting in Russia with Vladimir Putin in a Mercedes-Maybach S600 Pullman Guard, the world took notice. Not for his swanky showing, but the fact that he had one. Under EU and US embargoes, he would be barred from even purchasing the armored limo. DaimlerChrysler was quick to say they had not sold any Mercedes-Benz cars to the North Korean dictator. As such, we don't know the year of Kim's bombproof limo.

President Emmanuel Macron went with a jet black DS 7 Crossback Élysée, trading in his DS 7 Crossback Presidentiel. The French president's new deluxe DS 7 Crossback Élysée is exclusive and was unveiled to him at an Armistice Day event in 2021. It was available several months later. Macron's newest ride, however, is hardly similar to those at dealerships.

DS Automobiles uprated the French president's car with luxury and security modifications, including full armoring, costing over $100,000. The DS 7 crossover SUV was stretched to nearly 16 feet, adding rear captain's seats. The vehicle remains a plug-in electric hybrid. Flag holders and flashing grille lights were also added.

DS Automobiles were hush-hush about specific armored features, except to say "built-in armour plating" was used. The company did share high-tech options that all DS 7 models offer. One is DS Connected Pilot, a self-driving driving feature. Another is a windshield-mounted camera that scans the road for imperfections and auto-adjusts the suspension.

This image, tweeted by the Secret Service, announced the new presidential limousines. Called "the Beast," this vehicle is not really a Cadillac, and certainly not a factory car. It's a tank with Cadillac amulets. The styling harks back to the Cadillac CT6, and each cost $1.57 million to make. That may seem pricey, but we don't bat an eye when the Pentagon shells out $6.1 million for one tank. In France, a tank costs $12.6 million. And, to the point, this one is for POTUS. The 2018 Beast is well-worth the investment. President Joe Biden took the mobile fortress with him to Europe, at least once already.

Based on a "TopKick" chassis with a diesel Duramax V8 engine, similar to a General Motors medium duty truck, this car does not have acceleration or maneuverability. It's 18-feet-long and weighs 16,000 lbs, and 0-60 mph takes 15 seconds. But it packs more secret weaponry than a 007 spy vehicle.

GM built The Beast to the highest security specifications possible. There is an oil slick from the rear, smoke screens, and pump-action shotguns to deter attack from behind. An electric shock system arms door handles from break-ins. Rocket grenades and tear gas are also part of the inventory. Night vision, too. Eight-inch thick armor plates can withstand a bomb attack. Under the chassis are 5 inches of armor. Windows are impenetrable, naturally, with 5-inch-thick specialized glass. All other details are top secret.

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The Toyota Century Royal is the very top of the line for Toyota. The exclusive "Century" model celebrates 100 years of Japanese engineering by honoring Sakichi Toyoda, Toyota's founder.

The ultra-luxurious limousine is armored with bulletproof windows and steel armor. It is a 5.0-liter V8 hybrid with two electric motors and 425 horsepower. It is based on the Lexus LS. Even though it's made of reinforced steel and weighs a ton, it gets 32 mpg and rides like a dream on air suspension. Most of its high security features are secret. Commissioned by the royal family, Emperor Naruhito debuted the Toyota Century Royal at his 2019 coronation.

The vehicle is totally handmade, even the phoenix hood ornament was hand carved. The interior features traditional wool cloth and every indulgence. Everything about the car is custom-made for Japan's monarchs and other elites.

Presented to Vladimir Putin in 2018, the Aurus Senat, developed by Russian state research agency called NAMI, was unveiled officially at the Moscow International Auto Show. It is Russia's answer to luxury lines like other world leaders ride in. The ultra-luxury Aurus Senat fortress is a nearly 22-foot stretch limousine.

About a year after Putin's limo was announced, Russian oligarchs could purchase an Aurus Senat, starting at $160,000. Putin's armed limo cost much more. It has a 4.4-liter hybrid V8 engine and more than 600 horsepower. Power goes to all four wheels. It's bombproof, protected against chemical weapons, and some say it can withstand being submerged. Exact security details of Putin's car are unknown. It is likely airtight and stocked with piped-in oxygen, like other security vehicles. The Beast, for example, is even stocked with a back-up blood bank, matching the U.S. president's blood type. Certainly, Putin is likewise secured.

The Audi A8 L Security takes 400 hours to convert to fully armored, sending the price of a regular Audi A8 L significantly higher. It meets VR9 and can withstand most attacks. The glass meets VR10 anti-ballistic requirements. The A8 L Security has run-flat tires (that last 50 miles), auto-triggered fire extinguishers, back-up oxygen, and a self-sealing gas tank designed for closing up any bullet holes. This car was bulletproofed by Armormax, for secure traveling through conflict zones.

This Audi Security limo has a 4.0-liter V8 with twin-turbo. It can hit a top speed of 130 mpg and can get from 0-60 mph in 6.3 seconds. Remarkable, since it weighs 9,000 lbs. Not bad. The Audi A8 L Security stands its ground on the track too. This was the bulletproof security car Angela Merkel trusted for official state transport.

During her reign, Queen Elizabeth II showed a penchant for bulletproof Bentley sedans. She rode in a specially custom-armored 2002 Bentley Arnage R. The elite motor car company said it was built to protect Her Majesty from "all eventualities." Today, any dignitary who doesn't mind a flashy entrance can ride in a bulletproof Bentley.

A Bentley Bentayga, fully armored by INKAS Armored in Canada but not associated with Bentley, is virtually impenetrable. This high-class car can survive simultaneous attack from two grenades and the spray of an AK47. Upgrade options include smoke screen protection, engine area fire suppression, and electric shock door handles on entry. For even more sensitive dignitaries or crime bosses, chemical or nuclear protection systems, signal jamming equipment, and firearm detection are available.

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It is opulence on wheels. This armored Rolls-Royce Phantom has a 6.75-liter twin-turbocharged V12. It costs $3.3 million, reflecting the price after it is bulletproofed. Also, it takes six months to have it securely customized.

Armored, it meets V9 protection, while every luxury is preserved. It won't be found at Rolls-Royce. This vehicle is armored by Klassen, a German military-level tuning company. Literally, anybody with a couple million dollars can visit these anti-ballistic tuners to secure any vehicle they want. Stateside, The Armored Group can bulletproof your Rolls-Royce Phantom. Call them, they’ll give you a quote.

This author was drawn to media as a news writer. With aspirations to be that investigative reporter who rips the lid off a government scandal, she began writing for a local Huntington Beach newspaper. Later, as a staff writer at ABIILTY Magazine, she moved toward pop culture writing.