What does it take to fend off a bullet? Power from within – courtesy of an armoured BMW. Our cars have always been synonymous with sheer driving pleasure and superlative safety, and for the last 45 years or more, we have been providing special protection for at-risk individuals as well, with superior armoured vehicles. Here’s an overview of the armoured cars and special training programmes for professional drivers available from BMW, the premium brand.

The story of BMW Protection Vehicles started in the late 1970s. Back then we made it our mission to safeguard high-ranking individuals such as politicians and other public figures from ever more sophisticated threats. Our first armoured vehicle was based on the BMW 7 Series and marked the beginning of a new era, in 1978, of high security on the roads.

BMW has been expanding its expertise in the field of armoured cars ever since – from ballistic glass to vehicles that can even withstand explosions. In 2003 the BMW 7 Series High Security was launched, featuring all the latest armouring technologies. A year later the BMW X5 Security heralded the advent of the first generation of armoured Sports Activity Vehicles (SAV). In 2008 BMW added the BMW X5 Security and the BMW X5 Security Plus to its range: as the founding model of the Security Plus generation, this BMW X5 offers its VR6-category protection. With the introduction of the BMW 7 SERIES HIGH SECURITY in 2009, BMW became the first carmaker to obtain BRV 2009 certification. The latest addition to the family of BMW Protection Vehicles came five years ago with the BMW X5 Protection VR6.

To this day, our tradition of ensuring superlative safety and security remains palpable in every detail of our latest BMW Protection Vehicles. For more on what sets the current BMW Protection Vehicles apart, read on.

BMW Protection Vehicles protect high-risk individuals from attacks with firearms and explosive charges. There are currently three such BMW models on the market, all with special safety-relevant features: the BMW 7 Series Protection*, the all-electric BMWi7 Protection** and the BMW X5 Protection VR6***.

The BMW 7 Protection and zero-local-emissions BMW i7 Protection bring together BMW’s hallmark quality and aesthetics with superlative safety. Their features are the product of 45 years of experience in the field of armoured vehicles. The unique BMW Protection Core offers outstanding security, with a body support structure made entirely of military steel for the very first time. Its three-dimensional components are made of particularly resistant, hot-formed steel alloys. The BMW Protection Core forms a self-supporting protective cell and is further enhanced with protective doors, underbody armouring and security glazing.

Special armouring in the roof and underfloor of both sedans ensures maximum occupant protection from explosive charges, including from drones, and from shrapnel released by hand grenades, for instance. Standard safety equipment in the BMW 7 Protection also includes a leak-protected fuel tank. This has a special coating that also ensures the tank self-seals after coming under fire to prevent fuel from escaping.

But these vehicles remain uncompromising in their comfort as well: the BMW 7 Protection and BMW i7 Protection get their unique characteristics from the structural safety concept of the BMW Protection Core. From the outside, they barely look different from a regular BMW 7 Series Sedan with the M Sport package, so their discreetness and largely inconspicuous look on public roads offer an additional layer of security for occupants.

Thanks to the way it is engineered, the BMW Protection Core also enhances interior comfort. Because of its fully integrated safety concept, the BMW 7 Protection and its fully electric counterpart offer near-identical space and seating comfort front and rear to the conventional BMW 7 Series Sedan. In addition, the innovative security concept allows for optimised weight distribution compared with previous models – an advance that not only means a far greater permissible payload but also enhances driving dynamics.

In combination with the increased rigidity of the body – again courtesy of the BMW Protection Core – the optimised weight of the BMW 7 Protection and BMW i7 Protection makes for unique overall agility. This is evidenced by their particularly tight handling, dynamism on bends and outstanding acceleration and top speed.

Unprecedented safety is also what the BMW X5 Protection VR6 is about. The armouring of the passenger cell is made of high-strength steel mouldings. Combined with the armoured luggage compartment partition which comes as standard, this offers protection from attacks with long and handguns with a calibre of up to 7.62 x 39 mm – which is the calibre of weapons such as the Kalashnikov AK-47, used around the world. The BMW X5 Protection VR6 also features what’s known as post-blast protection. This offers special protection from secondary attacks by keeping the windscreen and all other security-glazed windows in place even after an attack. This prevents openings from occurring between the glass and body that could be used in a further attack. The leak-protected fuel tank and underfloor shrapnel protection also offer all-round protection for occupants at all times.

In addition the armoured passenger cell withstands lateral blasts with 15 kg of TNT from four metres away. The optional reinforced roof provides additional protection from explosive charges. The externally fitted aluminium underbody armouring offers comprehensive protection from pressure waves and from shrapnel impacts from hand grenade attacks. It can also be additionally reinforced with fibre composites to withstand even stronger explosive charges.

In combination, the powerful eight-cylinder M TwinPower Turbo petrol engine, latest-generation BMW xDrive and the chassis – which has been specially adapted to handle the increased weight of the car – deliver BMW’s hallmark driving dynamics. And if the driver ever needs to react quickly, the 4.4-litre V8 will deliver up to 390 kW (530 hp) for a quick getaway from danger. Two turbochargers, coupled with the double VANOS and High-Precision Injection, deliver impressive torque of up to 750 Nm at engine speeds of 1,800-4,600 rpm. The eight-speed Steptronic Sport transmission – standard in this vehicle – supports fuel efficiency. With its finely tuned gears, it further enhances comfort as well, allowing optimum power development from the eight-cylinder M TwinPower Turbo petrol engine and outstanding acceleration, which also contributes to the extreme agility of the car.

For us at BMW, safety is about more than just the car. That’s why, in addition to our armoured vehicles, we offer driver safety training for professionals. This includes special emergency response training and effective preparation for extreme situations. Participants are familiarised with the key capabilities of the vehicles and how to use their potential to the best possible effect – from an understanding of tactical matters to the physics of driving. During the training, they get to practise responding and handling the kind of dangerous situations we hope will never happen.

For more on BMW armoured vehicles, click here.

* WLTP combined (provisional data): energy consumption 14.6 l/100 km; CO₂ emissions: 328 g/km; CO₂ Class G.
** WLTP combined (provisional data): energy consumption 30.0 kWh/100 km; CO₂ emissions: 0 g/km; CO₂ Class A.
*** WLTP combined (provisional data): energy consumption 13.4 l/100 km; CO₂ emissions: 305 g/km; CO₂ Class G.