VIP guests recently had the chance to test out BMW’s armored vehicles. BMW sells armored versions of the X5 SUV and the 7-Series sedan. Drivers were able to compare the armored models to standard BMWs. While many people often associate building the finest armored cars with third-party specialists, BMW itself has spent more than four decades creating its own. Building vehicles like this is a niche within a niche, and yet it seems the German brand spares no expense to ensure its armored vehicles are up to the task. BMW currently offers strengthened versions of the 7-Series and the X5, and last month, it invited 67 participants from eight European countries to put these vehicles through their paces. While we’re a little disappointed that we didn’t get an invitation, it seems these participants were exclusively from the private sector and were actually looking to buy an armored BMW or a fleet of them. Read: BMW’s New X5 Protection VR6 Is A Subtle Yet Effective Armored Beast It seems the automaker was particularly keen to demonstrate to attendees just how well its armored 7-Series and X5s perform, despite them weighing significantly more than the standard cars they’re based on. To put this to the test, they were driven alongside regular 740d and 750e models, as well as the X5 50e, X5 40d, and X5 M. A Bimmer, But Different Participants were also offered the chance to see how the models handle emergency braking in a corner, while dedicated off-road areas were used to test the limits of the X5. The event was held at BMW’s development center in Sokolov and included trained instructors from Germany and the Czech Republic. BMW launched its current 7-Series and X5 Protection models back in 2023. The X5 offers VR6 ballistic protection, while the 7-Series achieves a higher VR9 rating, allowing it to deal with sustained attacks from firearms and explosives. It’s equipped with BMW’s mild-hybrid 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 with 523 hp and 553 lb-ft (750 Nm) of torque, although it is also available in i7 guise, based on the M70 xDrive model.
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