Jaguar Land Rover’s Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) division does not only build high-performance or one-off models. Its latest creation, the Range Rover Sentinel, is the first armored Land Rover to be fully engineered by SVO.
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Based on the standard wheelbase Range Rover Autobiography, the Sentinel version has VR8 level certification, confirming “impressive ballistic and blast resistance.” Debuting at Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) Show on September 15-18 in London, the Range Rover Sentinel is aimed primarily at export markets and built to special order with prices starting from €400,000 ($445,380) – excluding taxes.
Hand build by SVO at its Oxford Road facility, the Sentinel is designed to withstand penetration by 7.62mm high velocity, armor piercing incendiary bullets. It delivers lateral protection against up to 15kg Trinitrotoluene (TNT) blasts and defence against DM51 grenade explosions from both beneath the floor and above the roof.
That’s because the Range Rover Sentinel has a specially-developed six-piece armored passenger cell at its core, made of super-high-strength steel. The standard glass has been replaced by multi-laminated armor privacy glass of optical quality. Other special features include anti-tamper exhaust, a self-sealing fuel tank, auxiliary back-up battery, a split charging system and run flat inserts in the tyres which allow the vehicle to be driven even if the tyres are deflated.
There’s also a 100mm (3.93in) opening in the driver’s window for document delivery. Optional protection features include under floor and under bonnet fire suppression systems, a customer configurable siren system, emergency service lights and an external speaker system to address people outside the vehicle.
To cope with the added weight, the Sentinel has an uprated suspension, with Land Rover saying it delivers the same ride comfort, handling and off-road capability as non-armored Range Rovers. The brakes are also upgraded to 380mm front and 365mm rear ventilated discs with high-density pads.
The Range Rover Sentinel is powered by the 340PS (335hp) 3.0-liter V6 supercharged petrol engine mated to a specially-calibrated ZF 8-speed automatic transmission and looks almost identical to regular Range Rover Autobiography models.
The Sentinel will be available to order in the UK, Europe, South America, Africa and the Middle East from the beginning of September 2015.
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