'armored vehicle'

A Jaguar with nine lives

Safety is always a priority for manufacturers, but Jaguar's XJ Sentinel goes to extremes. The luxury sedan can withstand B7 grade weaponry such as an AK-74 and up to 15 kilograms (33 pounds) of exposives detonated within close proximity.

The bulletproof Sentinel will debut at the 2010 Moscow International Motor Show, but don't expect to be blown away (couldn't resist)--its exterior is indistinguishable from the standard long-wheelbase XJ models. The difference is in the chassis that's been constructed from specialized high-strength steels with Kevlar backing.

The standard XJ has a 3,909-pound curb weight, while … Read more

Mercedes reveals an armored limo for dignitaries, dictators

Let's say you're a powerful dictator dignitary of a nation in turmoil. You obviously want to ride in style, and you probably won't be driving yourself around; but security is paramount, being a dictator dignitary and all, and you may occasionally find yourself the target of assassination attempts. So what's an iron-fisted ruler to drive? Well Mercedes-Benz may have the answer for you with the company's newly unveiled S600 Pullman Guard limousine.

The S600 Pullman is the latest in Mercedes' 80-year tradition of armored vehicles and is essentially a stretched wheelbase version of the of … Read more

Pentagon wants faster delivery of mine-resistant vehicles

The military-industrial complex is moving double-time to get tough new vehicles to troops in Iraq.

The MRAP (Mine Resistant Armored Protection) vehicles are on a mission to provide a better shield against roadside bombs. They achieve that protection in part through a V-shaped undercarriage that rides high off the ground. In terms of overall strength, they fall somewhere between up-armored Humvees (which were never intended to provide much in the way of armor) and the thicker-skinned M2 Bradley fighting vehicle.

While they can't defend against all types of explosives, they have proven effective against shaped charges designed to pierce … Read more