Designed to withstand attack from 7.62mm high-velocity rounds, 15kg TNT blasts and grenade explosions, this fortress on wheels is the Range Rover Sentinel - the first luxury armoured vehicle to be engineered and hand-built by Land Rover's Special Vehicle Operations (SVO).
Exterior
You might be looking at it and thinking it looks like a standard Range Rover. Well, that's the point - people who need armoured cars don't want that fact advertising. Therefore, the Sentinel is based on a standard-wheelbase Range Rover Autobiography. However, the Autobiography can't withstand 7.62mm high velocity, armour-piercing incendiary bullets, nor offer lateral protection against 15kg of TNT, or defence against DM51 grenade explosions beneath the floor or above the roof. A Sentinel can do all of this.
That's because the Sentinel features a specially developed six-piece armoured passenger cell, made of super-high-strength steel. For the windows, multi-laminated armour privacy glass allows the occupants to see out without bullets getting in. So tough is this fortified Rangie that Qinetiq certifies it to VR8 standard against ballistic threats.
Interior
While the interior still offers the space and comfort of an Autobiography - a full range of colours and trims is on offer, while there's enough space in the rear for two full-sized adults - the Sentinel has plenty of tricks up its leather-lined sleeve here. A payload of 650kg can be carried, thanks to revised Dynamic Stability Control and Ride Stability Control systems. The Command Driving Position remains intact, useful for the driver to be able to see all round while trying to drive away from an attack.
There's a 100mm opening in the driver's window for documents to be passed through, while the boot has anti-smash protective glass to keep things secure. If the main doors are blocked during an accident or threat, occupants can still get out of the car thanks to the Emergency Escape System behind the rear seats - despite this addition, though, the split-level tailgate of a standard Range Rover is retained.
Options include under-floor and under-bonnet fire suppression systems, a customer-configurable siren system, emergency service lights and even an external speaker system so that, from the safe comfort of the Sentinel, you can address your assailants outside and tell them that their attack on the Range Rover is doomed to fail.
Blind Spot Monitoring, Closing Vehicle Sensing and Surround Camera are all fitted to the Sentinel, not just helping with humdrum driving duties as on normal Range Rovers but adding another dimension of capability for the armoured car.
Mechanicals
The Sentinel has a 340hp supercharged V6 petrol, coupled to a specially-calibrated ZF eight-speed automatic transmission. Run-flat tyres on 20-inch split rims, 380-/365mm front/rear ventilated brake discs with high-density pads and uprated suspension are all added to ensure the Rangie can always escape, while it is said to be just as good off-road as any other of the company's products. Further additions here are an anti-tamper exhaust (no chance of shoving a spud up here, then), a self-sealing fuel tank, auxiliary battery back-up and a split charging system. A full driver training programme is provided with every car; to ensure the chauffeurs transporting these high-risk people about can handle the vehicle to 'maximum effect in the most challenging circumstances'.
Anything else?
John Edwards, managing director of Jaguar Land Rover's Special Operations, said: "The Range Rover Sentinel is one of the most extraordinary Range Rovers ever produced. It has been expertly engineered by SVO to provide class-leading levels of protection to occupants against extreme attack, while retaining the Range Rover's luxury and refinement with off-road capability."
EU homologated, the Range Rover Sentinel is available in Europe, the UK, South America, Africa and the Middle East with VR8 certification. Order books are open now and the car will cost in the region of €400,000, coming with a three-year, 50,000-mile warranty. Potential customers should visit http://www.landrover.com/fleet-and-business/specialist-sales.html to register their interest.
Have a look at the features of the Range Rover Sentiel in this video.