How’s This For An Option Upgrade For Your Mercedes?
The Mercedes S600 guard is the flagship of the Mercedes-Benz Guard range.
At first and even second glance, it appears that you’re just looking at just another S600.
This inconspicuous look is mainly due to the fact that the armoring was integrated in the vehicle production process and not as an “afterthought”.
In fact, Mercedes engineers began studying this design consideration more than 2 years before the first non-armored production car came off the line.
Powered by a 5.5 liter, v12, biturbo engine that produces 512hp and 830nm of torque, the S600 Guards’ top speed is electronically regulated at 150mph.
Not too shabby considering its curb weight of 8455lbs.
This is 3000lbs. heavier than the regular S600 whose top speed is 155mph and yet has the same v12 engine.
Again the fact that the armoring was incorporated into the production process rather than after enabled Mercedes engineers to tweak the engine in order to properly and efficiently handle the additional 3000lbs.
In addition, the engineers also redesigned the chassis again to cope with the extra weight and maintain the “exceptional level of comfort that Mercedes cars are renowned for”.
The following were the primary focuses of the redesign:
• Reinforcement of the links between the chassis components and the body shell ;
• Specifically targeted modification of the chassis components themselves;
• An additional steel spring on the rear axle to support the air suspension;
• Larger twin-caliper front brake discs, for outstanding deceleration whenever and wherever required;
• Electronic Stability Program-to compensate for the additional/extra weight and requirements of an armored vehicle.
ESP by the way is basically a system that assists the driver remain/regain control of the car when it gets into a skid.
What it does is that it gathers data from the steering wheel, ABS and the gyroscope then either/or activates the brakes in the front or rear wheels in order to stabilize the car when cornering, accelerating or decelerating.
