New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi now has the Mercedes-Maybach S650 armoured vehicle as a part of his convoy—upgraded from Range Rover Vogue and Toyota Land Cruiser, according to a report.
The report on the carandbike portal said PM Modi was recently seen in the new Maybach 650 armoured first at Hyderabad House when he met Russian President Vladimir Putin on his short visit to India. The vehicle was spotted again in the Prime Minister’s convoy
Mercedes-Maybach S650 Guard is the latest facelifted model with VR10 level protection— the highest-ever provided in a production car. According to reports, Mercedes-Maybach launched the S600 Guard in India last year for ₹10.5 crore and the S650 can cost more than ₹12 crore.
The Special Protection Group or SPG, responsible for protecting the head of state of the country, usually submits the request for a new car. The SPG identifies security requirements and determines whether the person they are protecting needs a new vehicle. Since decoys are used, the SPG ask for the same model of vehicle.
Mercedes-Maybach S650 Guard is powered by a 6.0-litre twin-turbo V12 engine that produces 516bhp and a peak torque of approximately 900Nm. The maximum speed is limited to 160kmph.
The S650 Guard body and the windows can withstand hardened steel core bullets. It has received a 2010 Explosion Proof Vehicle (ERV) rating and occupants are protected from a 15kg TNT explosion from a distance of only 2 meters. The interior of the window is coated with polycarbonate and the vehicle’s lower part is heavily armoured to protect the occupants from direct explosions. The cabin also receives a separate air supply in case of a gas attack.
The fuel tank of the Mercedes-Maybach S650 Guard is coated with a special material that seals the holes automatically after a hit. It is made up of the same material that Boeing uses for its AH-64 Apache tank attack helicopters. It also runs on special run-flat tires that continue to function in case of damage or flat tires to ensure a quick escape.
The car has a luxurious interior with a seat massager and the rear seats are repositioned to allow the passengers to sit further back in the car and increase the legroom.
As the Gujarat chief minister, PM Modi travelled in a bulletproof Mahindra Scorpio. After taking over as the Prime Minister in 2014, he used BMW 7 Series High-Security Edition.
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