Land Rover has introduced the Range Rover Sentinel, the first fully armored model engineered by the car maker’s Special Operations Division.
Based on the existing short-wheelbase Autobiography model, the Sentinel is built around a six-piece passenger cell that’s crafted out of super-high-strength steel. It meets the strict VR 8 standards, meaning it can withstand 7.62-millimeter high-velocity bullets designed to pierce through armor, DM51 grenades and a 33-pound charge of TNT, even if it’s placed on the roof.
Other life-saving devices designed to thwart even the most determined attackers include an anti-tamper exhaust system, a self-sealing gas tank, a backup battery and an emergency escape system that lets the occupants escape through the trunk if the doors are blocked in on both sides. In spite of the upgrades, the Sentinel is nearly identical to a stock Range Rover when viewed from the outside, which ensures the occupants keep a low profile.
The list of options includes a fire suppression system for the cabin and the engine bay, a loud speaker and a configurable siren. The cabin can be personalized by choosing from a wide range of fabric and trim options.
Power comes from a 3.0-liter supercharged V6 engine that sends 335 horsepower to all four wheels via a specially calibrated eight-speed automatic transmission manufactured by ZF. Land Rover hasn’t revealed what effect the extra weight added by the armor has on performance, but it promises the Sentinel is as capable off the beaten path as a stock Range Rover.
The Land Rover Range Rover Sentinel is hand-built in Oxford, England. On sale now, it carries a base price of approximately 400,000 euros, a sum that converts to nearly $450,000. It is available across Europe, in Africa, in the Middle East and in South America, but Land Rover has not indicated it’s interested in selling the armored Range Rover in the United States.