New Volvo XC90 Armoured arrives for £450k
The new 4.49-tonne Volvo XC90 Armoured will be joined by light-armoured versions of the XC60 and XC90 in 2020
Volvo has unveiled new, armoured versions of its XC60 and XC90 SUVs, designed to offer a high level of protection and safety without compromising on comfort.
The first is a heavy armoured version of the XC90, based on the Inscription version of the T6 AWD model and called the XC90 Armoured. It’s equipped with 10mm-thick high-strength steel armour, while the glass in the windows can be up to 5mm-thick.
All of this armour adds about 1,400kg in weight, bringing the total mass of the XC90 Armoured up to 4.49 tonnes when five occupants are seated inside. To cope with the increased weight, new brakes and suspension have had to be fitted to the car.
The XC90 Armoured – which is designed to be as indistinguishable from a standard XC90 as possible in terms of looks – has a number of other special features, including a fire suppression system in the engine bay, and an escape hatch that allows occupants to climb out of the cabin via a hidden hatch and exit through the boot.
Additionally, Volvo has created light armoured variants of XC90 T6 AWD Inscription and XC60 T6 AWD Inscription. These offer a lower level of protection than the heavy armoured XC90, but only see their respective weights increase by around 250kg, meaning there is less of an impact on the fundamental properties of the cars.
The XC90 Armoured is on sale now, with prices starting at around £450,000 and first deliveries due at the end of 2019. It’s expected this model will be purchased by security services tasked with transporting high-profile individuals.
The light armoured XC60 and XC90, meanwhile, are intended for those who require a higher level of protection due to a geographical risk or a heightened personal threat. These two cars are still in development and are set to go on sale in the first half of 2020, with prices starting at around £35,000 more than the standard price of each model.
It’s worth noting that all three of these armoured cars are initially only set to be built in a left-hand drive format, as Volvo is still deciding whether to put right-hand drive versions into production.
Stephan Green, Marketing Director at Volvo Cars Special Vehicles, said: “We are proud to be able to offer these armoured cars.
“With our armoured cars, we can provide vehicles with a high level of personal security for individuals who require heightened protection.”
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