Mercedes Won't Sell An Armored S-Class To Just Anyone: 'What Is The Need?'
If you want the armored version of the Mercedes S-Class, good luck getting one
THE BREAKDOWN
- Mercedes says it won't sell the S-Class Guard to Americans.
- There is a special background check to get one.
- They won't release pricing or units built.
If you’re in the market for an armored Mercedes-Benz S-Class—and frankly, who isn’t—there's good news: the company recently announced the new S-Class Guard, an armored version of its flagship sedan. It comes with bulletproof glass, strengthened body panels—the works. But if you’re thinking about buying one, good luck. Mercedes has a long list of people whom they can and can’t sell them to, and you’re probably on the "can’t" list.
We spoke to S-Class Guard Communications Officer, Saša Zejnić, in Hamburg at the first drive of the standard S-Class and asked him about what the process is for buying an S-Class Guard. First off: if you’re in the US or China, you’ve already been taken off the list. Zejnic says they won’t sell to two of the world's biggest superpowers, nor any country (or person) under an embargo.
'For one of those cars, we would have to do a background check with the embargoes and sanctions behind it. And if that’s clear, we can talk about purchasing and building a car.'
2027 Mercedes S-Class S680 Guard
Zejnić wouldn't say what the background check consists of, but we assume they'll be making sure you use the Guard for good, given that the S-Class has a long and illustrious history with some not-so-fondly remembered political figures. But, say you’ve passed the test and you are worthy of an S-Class guard, what now?
The build process is where you can really get wild. There's no options list for everything that's available on an S-Class Guard; most of it is top secret. But Zejnić does tell us about some of the options that can be equipped.
'What is the purpose of the car? What is the need? So you have a quite civilian car, but you can also have a big authority car, with blue lights and flashlights and that, et cetera, et cetera.'
Keeping The Details Secret
The S-Class Guard is currently the only model in the facelifted S-Class fleet that uses a V12, which is another feature that normal people can't get. How much is it? Good luck getting a number.
Zejnić wouldn't give us any pricing information, how many units they plan on producing, or the "process" by which they produce them. Part of this is due to how customized the cars can get, with each one being different, and therefore making the price of each car different.
There is still a lot we do not actually know about the S-Class Guard. Mercedes is keeping some of the technical stuff close to its chest, and we doubt that information will come to light anytime soon. But, if you still want a Guard, at least you now know moving to a different country might be the requirement.
Gallery: 2027 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Motor1's Take: We do wish the S-Class Guard would be sold in the US, but with rising political tensions across the globe, we understand why Mercedes wants to be extra careful with who they sell these cars to. That being said, if we were in the space to hypothetically buy one of these, we probably would, lights and sirens included.
The Latest From Mercedes
RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
Sorry, Internet—The 2027 Mercedes S-Class Is Still A Proper S-Class: Review
Man Goes To AutoZone. Then He Notices Something Suspicious In The Parking Lot: 'Taking Over'
Mercedes Explains Where The V12 Survives And Where It's Dead
BMW Alpina Debuts Its First Concept Car—Previewing A Future Production Model
The New Maybach S-Class Keeps The V12 Engine, But Not Everywhere
Best-Selling Cars Of 2026: The Top 15 Ranked
You Can Buy The New Mercedes S-Class Without Leather