BMW has revealed the X5 Protection VR6, an armoured SUV, targeted for regions like South America, Africa, and Russia. As the name suggests, the X5 complies with VPAM‘s VR6 level of protection, meaning, it can withstand attacks from AK-47 bullets of size 7.62×39 mm.
While the X5 VR6 is barely distinguishable from a regular X5 visually, the passenger compartment is shielded from moulded components made from high-strength steel. There’s also an aluminium underbody splinter shield, armoured luggage compartment partition and security glazing.
The windscreen is made of multilayered safety glass with a thickness of approx. 33 mm, and so are the glasses for doors and luggage compartment partition wall; they’re fitted with an internal polycarbonate layer as additional splinter protection. In addition, the door gaps and panel gaps are protected by additional sealing to prevent penetration by bullets or fragments.
BMW says that the armoured passenger compartment withstands lateral blasts of up to 15 kg of TNT from a distance of 4 metres. The Post Blast Protective Technology for the security glazing ensures protection against secondary attacks. Even following a blast, all windows remain firmly in position, eliminating any formation of gaps between glazing and body.
The armour-plated floor offers protection against hand grenades of the type DM51. Enhanced underbody reinforcement comprising fibre composite materials, which also withstands attack by hand grenades of the type HG85, is an option. Another option is an extensively armoured roof with additional reinforcement comprising security steel and fibre composite materials, offering protection against drone attacks with explosive charges of the category DTG5, BMW said.
The X5 VR6 also gets a self-sealing fuel tank. A special sheathing protects the tank following an attack in order to prevent fuel spillage. Also included are runflat tyres with reinforced sidewalls. Options list also includes post-crash functions to ensure that the engine is not switched off after a collision and that the energy supply is not interrupted.
Another feature is an intercom and an attack alarm system. The intercom facilitates communication with people outside the vehicle without the need to open the doors or windows, thanks to the exterior mirror-integrated microphones, an external loudspeaker and a hands-free microphone, which is installed in the roof liner, as well as additional internal loudspeakers.
The attack alarm locks the doors automatically and the windows on the driver’s and passenger’s side are closed. Controls for the model-specific functions are installed in an additional switch panel in front of the gear selector lever.
In order to bear the additional weight, the suspension of the X5 VR6 had to be reinforced as well. The suspension comprises a double wishbone front axle and a five-arm rear axle as well as a specifically reinforced steel spring system and electronically controlled dampers. The SUV rides on 20-inch light-alloy wheels with mixed tyres, and stopping power comes from a sports brake system.
The X5 VR6 is powered by a 4.4-litre V8 twin-turbo, producing 390 kW (530 hp) at 5,500 – 6,000 rpm and 750 Nm of torque at 1,800 – 4,600 rpm. Despite being an armoured SUV, the X5 VR6 is claimed to accelerate from 0 – 100 km/h in 5.9 seconds, should such things still interest you. Top speed, however, is limited to 210 km/h.
Rest of the features are regular stuff, such as the Integral Active Steering, BMW Live Cockpit Professional, 4-zone automatic climate control, and Active Roll Stabilisation system.
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