BMW recently gave a select group of VIP customers the chance to get behind the wheel of its armored vehicles and see how they compare with the brand’s regular, non-armored models in the Czech Republic.
The German automaker invited around 67 customers from eight European countries to a special driving event at BMW’s development center in Sokolov, where professional instructors guided them through a series of demanding tests.
Armored BMWs Put To The Test
Guests experienced how BMW’s armored models respond in critical situations, including hard braking from high speed while cornering and carrying out sharp evasive maneuvers.
The program also included off-road exercises for the X5, such as reversing down a slope and tackling a winding route over rough terrain.
BMW used the event to showcase some of the protective hardware fitted to these vehicles, including a BMW door panel that had been hit by gunfire, along with other components that demonstrated the level of defense its armored cars can offer against attacks.
BMW currently sells armored versions of the 7 Series and X5, and the event was clearly designed to show that these models can still feel close to their standard counterparts on the move, despite the extra weight added by their protection systems.
To make that comparison clearer, the armored cars were driven alongside regular models including the BMW 740d, BMW 750e, X5 50e, X5 40d, and X5 M.
BMW introduced the current 7 Series Protection and X5 Protection models in 2023.
The X5 Protection comes with VR6 ballistic protection, while the 7 Series Protection steps up to a higher VR9 rating, giving it stronger resistance against gunfire and explosive threats.
The armored 7 Series uses a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 with mild-hybrid technology, producing 523 hp and 750 Nm of torque. BMW also offers an electric i7 Protection version based on the M70 xDrive.
BMW Also Shows Its Police Fleet
The event was not only about armored cars. BMW also displayed a specially prepared BMW M5 Touring police car and a BMW R 1250 RT police motorcycle, both equipped to meet the needs of the Czech Republic Police.
These vehicles appeared as part of BMW’s official-use lineup, fitted with practical equipment suited for patrol work and rapid response dutie
