Are you a warlord or colourful underworld figure with the need for speed? Boy, do we have a car for you.
US Armor Group has taken one of the world’s quickest production cars and made it bulletproof, creating what it calls the “world’s fastest armoured vehicle”.
It’s taken the Lucid Air Sapphire, which packs 895kW of power and hits 100km/h in less than 2.0 seconds from standstill, and fitted transparent lightweight armour capable of stopping a round from a .44 magnum handgun in place of the windows.
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Inside the Sapphire
There’s lightweight composite armour on the doors that US Armor claims is 10 times stronger, and five times lighter than conventional ballistic steel.
Electric shock door handles, pepper spray canisters, and enough armour to quell an RPG attack are also on offer.
Inside, the armoured EV has a few extra features to better protect its occupants. There’s a unique Wi-Fi security package in a bid to keep hackers at bay, and scanners allowing the driver to tap into Police and Fire Department frequencies.
In a real pinch, you can connect directly with US Armor Group using a dedicated communications system.
“With the armoured Air Sapphire, our company has taken one of the world’s fastest production vehicles ever built and transformed it into the fastest armoured car on the planet,” said US Armor Group founder and CEO, Jeffrey Engen.
“While the original vehicle was already exceptional, we’ve further enhanced it for clients looking for modern day security solutions.
“Armouring is important, but for our clients, digital security is also an integral part of their modern-day needs as c-suite executives and business owners.”
None of this comes cheap; the armoured Air will set you back close to US$500,000 – equivalent to around $740,000 in Australia.
Air Sapphire
The idea of taking an existing car and making it much tougher to protect high-value (or high-risk) passengers isn’t new – brands like BMW are gearing up to evolve that offering into the electric age.
The BMW i7 Protection marks the first time the German carmaker has offered an armoured all-electric car, albeit for the European market only.
As part of the certification process, BMW claims the “special protection elements” have to demonstrate their ability to resist attack by “undergoing a demanding procedure”.
Experts from an independent testing institute also conduct firearms and explosive tests on the vehicle.
It’s powered by a version of the dual-motor all-wheel drive setup in the i7 M70 xDrive, with system outputs of 400kW and 745Nm.
It’s claimed this model can do the 0-100km/h sprint in 9.0 seconds, which is 5.3 seconds slower than the actual i7 M70 xDrive. Top speed is electronically limited to 160km/h.
