Mercedes puts armor on the newest S-Class

Guard, the armoring subdivision of Mercedes, calls this Mercedes-Benz S 680 Guard 4Matic the most protected light passenger vehicle on today’s market.

The car comes equipped with VR10-grade ballistic armor, making it superior even to the previous-gen S-Class and the newest Audi A8 Security, both of which are VR9 with select VR10 areas.

The multi-layered side glass is now 10 millimeters (0.39”) thick instead of 6 mm (0.23”), necessitating hydraulic power windows instead of the usual airlifted ones. The body is essentially rebuilt from scratch, too, and comes based on a new frame. The suspension is heavy-duty, and the tires let you make 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) running flat.

Compared to the previous model, the new one weighs 100 kg (220 lbs) more at 4.3 metric tons (a touch under 9,500 lbs). Considering the amount of plating all around, chances are good that lightweight ceramic armor padding is more actively used in the new version – but quite a bit of steel is used as well.

The car has a long wheelbase and offers either four or five seats. Options are basically the same as for the regular S-Class (see video), some of the additions being a fire extinguishing system, an oxygen tank, and an intercom system. Flag holders and special blinker lights are available at a premium. Note also that the door handles are standard, rather than slide-out.

Power comes from a 6.0-liter twin-turbo Maybach V12 rated at 612 PS (603 hp / 450 kW) and 830 Nm (612 lb-ft) of torque. For the first time on record, the armored S-Class has four driven wheels and tops out at 190 km/h (118 mph).

Prices in Germany start at €547,000.