Meet The Insanely Safe Mercedes-Maybach S 600 Guard

Mercedes-Maybach S 600 Guard (Credit: Daimler)

If you feel your life is in danger and you have a lot of money, the Mercedes-Maybach S 600 Guard could be a great next vehicle. Just revealed, the sedan features a VR10 ballistic protection rating, as certified by Ballistics Authority in Ulm. That means an assailant can fire hardened steel core bullets using an assault rifle, and the body/windows will withstand the attack. The company also claims “class-leading” blast protection with an ERV 2010 rating, just in case someone lobs a hand grenade at you.

Under the hood is a 530-horsepower twin-turbo V-12 engine. All that power is definitely necessary, considering the extra hardware the car’s packing.

Mercedes-Maybach S 600 Guard (Credit: Daimler)

Daimler is marketing the armored sedan to “politicians and heads of state.” Perhaps Hillary or Trump will get one, but not Bernie, because he flies coach.

Basically, you can’t get too much more protection without sitting in a military vehicle. Those aren’t nearly as nice-looking or luxurious, so that’s the appeal of the S 600 Guard.

The extra security goodies are actually integrated into the vehicle during factory production. That makes it different from aftermarket companies known for armoring cars and SUVs. Extra reinforcements are added at different seams, which are generally vulnerable to attacks. There’s even underbody armoring, guarding against explosives going off there.

Mercedes-Maybach S 600 Guard interior (Credit: Daimler)

Forget about rolling the windows down to get some fresh air, because they don’t budge. They’re several times thicker than what’s stock. A polycarbonate coating on the inside keeps any shards from flying into the car, just in case things get real.

Despite having an incredibly hardened exterior, the sedan looks quite normal. It’s not like you can exactly blend in and lay low in any Mercedes-Maybach model, but this one doesn’t call attention to the armoring.

If the Mercedes-Maybach S 600 Guard isn’t your thing or maybe is out of your budget, there are other vehicles in the Guard series. They include the S-Class, G-Class and GLE, but none of them offer the same VR ballistic protection rating.