BMW Making Bulletproof 5-Series

[komodo]

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...cleId=107110#1

The BMW "Security" Edition

BMW to Offer Bulletproof 5 Series

MUNICH, Germany — BMW will introduce a surprising new trim line for the 5 Series sedan at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Dubbed the Security, it is an armored conversion for the executive sedan.

It will be offered for the eight-cylinder 550i and the six-cylinder 530i models.

BMW has catered to the upper segment with vehicles such as the X5 and the 7 Series sedan. But increasing pressure from customers and the rising number of kidnappings and carjackings prompted this — practical? — step.

According to the German automaker, the converted 5 Series sedan is in the "B4 category." That means it can withstand a 0.44-caliber Magnum and other handguns. Special steel and other materials, including aramid fibers — as in bulletproof vests — were used to strengthen the exterior and underneath. Side windows are now nearly an inch thick.

I could see how this might sell very well in some parts of the world...

[Chris]

cool, but i do know a little bit about weight and such... and one inch thick glass all the way around, and armour inside the doors, etc. means more weight..... a 530 security would be WAYYYYY underpowered... i could see the 550 (HINT! IS THIS THE POSSIBLE 5.0 THEYR'E GOING TO SUE TO PUT IN THE 3 TO BRIDGE TO THE NEW M3!??!?!?!!)... but a bulletproof 530 would be like a 7er being powered by the engine from a 120d... yea...NO

[zeaq328i]

I think it will be famous among Malaysian chinese businessmen or Indonesian gangster.Haha

[Yatti]

Kool...

[nick_318is]

The cartels might want some of these.

[Longhairedhippy]

i've been to places where i wished where i'e had one of these. has anyone seen "city of god"? when you go to that place in real life, you want 1-inch thick glass.

[xsperf]

im not that gangsta, yet