Mercedes S-Class Guard: The bullet-proof flagship

To look at it, it looks like any other Mercedes S-Class, with the sinuous lines and elegance typical of the Stuttgart flagship. To reveal its true design, one would have to take a gun out and aim - for example - at the windows. Perhaps you would get a small chip and nothing more.

Yes, because what you see in the photo is the Mercedes S-Class Guard, the most armoured version of the Mercedes there is, destined for heads of state, politicians or public figures who fear for their safety and want to be able to drive around surrounded by a very high degree of security. 

Unveiled in 2021, we had the chance to see it up close (and get on board as passengers) at a Mercedes event in the Alps.

For what really matters

The slogan that accompanies the Mercedes S-Class Guard, full name Mercedes S 680 GUARD 4MATIC, leaves no room for doubt: the aim is to protect against (almost) any kind of attack, while at the same time offering the ultimate in comfort that the folks of the Star are capable of. 

It is protection certified at VPAM VR10,which is the highest level of ballistic testing reserved for civil vehicles. This means that the armoured Mercedes S-Class can withstand rifle shots and explosions (with 12.5 kg bombs detonated just a few metres from the car), scoring the best results ever for a car of this kind, with top, bottom and side protection.

Tests were carried out using special biofidelic dummies, i.e. similar to the human body not only in appearance but also in composition, with aluminium powder, epoxy resin, silicone and acrylic to perfectly replicate bones and internal organs.

Mercedes S-Class Guard

But how does the S-Class Guard manage to be so tough? At its heart is the Integrated Safety System (iSS), with a modified and strengthened body and shell that offers far greater resistance than the S-Class Guard of the past.

The windows have also been modified: they are 10 cm thick with a sandwich structure and polycarbonate splinter protection. Like most of the other elements of the Guard visually they are in every way similar to those of the regular S-Class, but they protect against shots from various firearms without any problems. Even the tyres are special: they are Michelin PAX run-flat and allow up to 18 miles after a puncture.

S-Class Guard doors during testing

As safety increases, however, so does the weight - which stands at 4.5 tonnes - and for this reason numerous modifications have been made, such as the windows (weighing 70 kg each) which are not electrically operated but pneumatically operated, which also guarantees operation in the event of a failure of the on-board electronics. Then there are the doors, weighing 200 kg, with opening and closing (capable with one hand) supported by a hydraulic system that allows you to get on board even if you park the car on a hill.

Transmission, trim, steering and more have also been recalibrated to offer the driver the same driving comfort as in the unarmoured version of the S-Class.

The ultimate in comfort

And being the Mercedes S-Class, there is no shortage of aspects that make it one of the most comfortable cars in the world. In addition to the dashboard stuffed with large monitors, there are two screens anchored to the front seats, a rear mini fridge, a two- or three-seat rear bench and other optional extras available on the official Mercedes price list.

The controls on the centre console differ from model to model

Dedicated to the Guard are the interior clean air bottle (which is automatically activated if the system detects gas or poison in the passenger compartment), the fire alarm system, sirens, flashing lights and front flag accommodations. The centre console, on the other hand, houses a series of controls that can be customised. Some of these allow talking to people outside the car thanks to a system of amplifiers and microphones without rolling down the window.

Under the bonnet of the Mercedes S-Class Guard is the 6-litre twin-turbo V12 mated for the first time to the 4Matic all-wheel drive system, capable of 612 PS and 830 Nm of torque (31 per cent front axle and 69 per cent rear axle) for a claimed top speed of 118 mph. If you really want to know, fuel consumption is 14 mpg in the WLTP cycle. 

Born from afar

The history of armoured Mercedes is not a recent one: already with the Nürburg 460 model of 1928, the then Daimler-Benz was the first company to equip its cars with special protection devices to defend its occupants from gunfire and explosive attacks. Then came other historic models such as the 'Big Mercedes' Type 770 (delivered in 1935 to the Japanese Emperor Hiroito) and the Type 500.

From 1965 onwards, Mercedes increased its range of armoured models: the Mercedes 600 saloon and Pullman and the S-Class 280 SEL 3.5, the 350 SE/SEL and 450 SE/SEL, 380 SE/SEL up to the 560 SEL, and then the 2016 Mercedes-Maybach S 600 Guard.

Armoured protection:

BMW 330i Security (E46): There used to be an armoured 3 Series!

Skoda Kodiaq Armoured debuts in UK: Resistance to grenades, 2,000 litres of boot

The 1,251 PS Lucid Air becomes a bulletproof hypercar

The DS 7 is now bulletproof

17