What do the President, Columbia's largest exporter of cocaine, and the Pope all have in common?  They all need protection.

Sure, they could all drive around in M1 Abrams tanks, but protection isn't enough.  Prominent officials (and drug dealers) want more than just protection, they want protection and luxury.

Thankfully, Mercedes has heard their pleas, announcing today they will be offering an armored version of the S600, dubbed the S600 Guard, beginning in 2006.

According to the press release, the S600 Guard meets the specification of the B6/B7 protection standard, which is the maximum level. Highlights include being able to withstand military-grade small arms fire (as well as hand grenade shrapnel and explosive devices), run-flat tires, a self-sealing gas tank, and an alarm system for endangered occupants.

Mercedes also states that despite the modifications to the S600 Guard, interior space, handling properties, and ride quality will remain virtually unchanged from a standard S600.

I must say that I'm not currently in the market for the S600 Guard, but if I lived in the Middle East, I know what I'd be asking Santa for this Christmas.

For more info, you can check out the full press release below.


OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE


New Mercedes S-Class Fitted As S-Guard Special Protection Vehicle Before Leaving The Plant

Stuttgart, Nov 09, 2005

Mercedes-Benz is rounding out the new S-Class series with an armoured special protection version. Because the new S-Guard's protective features are integrated into the vehicle before it leaves the production plant, it offers an unsurpassed level of protection against terrorist attacks and the threat of violent crime. Such top-quality protection is impossible to provide by retrofitting a vehicle with armour. Customers will be able to purchase the new model — the Mercedes-Benz S 600 Guard with a 12-cylinder engine — beginning in 2006.

With the new S-Guard, Mercedes-Benz is continuing an uninterrupted tradition of developing special protection vehicles that stretches back almost 80 years. Following the principle of integrated special protection, specialists with many years of experience in protection technology will be producing the new top model in the Guard family of vehicles in Sindelfingen. In accordance with this principle, the protective elements for the doors, rear wall, side components, roof lining and bulkhead are not installed in a vehicle after it rolls off the production line; they are integrated into the vehicle’s body right from the start in a separate production process. This also makes it possible to include all the protective reinforcements in the body structure from the start. The higher weight of these protective elements ensures that the body will have the same high quality that is a hallmark of Mercedes-Benz series models. This results in the highest degree of comprehensive protection while maintaining the characteristic Mercedes standards of production quality, even in parts of the vehicle that would be nearly impossible to access afterwards.

Outstanding comfort and superior performance

The integration of the protective elements causes virtually no reduction of the new S-Class’ interior space, which provides all passengers with first-class luxury, outstanding comfort and superior performance. The generous dimensions of the chassis components and brakes ensure that the Mercedes-Benz S-Guard saloon displays handling properties almost identical to series models so that the driver always enjoys an optimal driving experience. In addition, the chassis design ensures that the level of comfort typical of Mercedes-Benz is undiminished, despite the higher weight.

The Mercedes-Benz S 600 Guard’s enhanced 12-cylinder biturbo engine (380 kW/517 hp) offers dynamic power reserves, giving the luxury saloon the sports car-like performance needed to escape any dangerous situation as quickly as possible.

The Mercedes-Benz S 600 Guard provides protection that meets the specifications of the B6/B7 protection standard, which is the maximum level. Military-grade small arms fire cannot penetrate the vehicle’s armour, which also protects occupants from hand grenade shrapnel and other explosive devices. Additional security features include tyres with run-flat properties, a self-sealing fuel tank and an alarm system for endangered occupants.

A look at the exterior of the new special protection saloon gives hardly any indication of its impressive security features. That is because discretion is a top priority, in addition to confidentiality, reliability and quality. And prominent figures all over the world value the ability to travel incognito, which they also can enjoy in the new Mercedes-Benz S-Guard.

With all the pioneering developments of the new S-Class

The Mercedes-Benz S 600 Guard is equipped with the same technological innovations that make the Mercedes flagship model the standard-setting vehicle for all passenger car development and the world’s best-selling luxury saloon. These innovations include important new developments such as Brake Assist PLUS in combination with DISTRONIC PLUS with radar sensors, the new COMAND-APS and the preventive PRE-SAFE®-occupant protection with additional functions. In addition, the S-Guard’s agile handling and maximum level of comfort guarantee unsurpassed driving performance.

Copyright © 2005, DaimlerChrysler AG