The X5 Protection VR6 was designed for state officials, celebrities, and private citizens who lead interesting lives in challenging locations.
We know what you want out of your luxury crossover. You want comfort. You want performance. You want protection against anti-infantry hand grenades. Well, BMW has the ride for you!
Although it looks like the standard model, the new X5 Protection VR6‘s armor-plated bodywork protects against attacks by handguns and firearms, including AK-47s. The armored passenger compartment withstands blasts of up to 15 kilograms of TNT from a distance of 13 feet, and its Post Blast Protective Technology protects against secondary attacks; even following a blast, all windows remain firmly in position.
BMW claims that, even this beefed up, the armored crossover will still drive like a BMW, thanks to its specially calibrated suspension and brakes that take into account the increased weight compared with that of the production model. BMW’s 4.4-liter twin-turbo V-8, with 523 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque, should provide enough power for a quick getaway. The X5 Protection VR6 has a claimed zero-to-62-mph time of 5.9 seconds and a top speed electronically limited to 131 mph.
The armored X5 will be built in Spartanburg, South Carolina, alongside the other X5 models. How much will it cost? BMW hasn’t released pricing. But for rough-comparison purposes, a similarly equipped vehicle, the AddArmor Cadillac Executive Escalade B6, goes for $350,000.
