You’re no Gary Oldman
And you’re no Jack Lowden, but BMW certainly has what it takes to be part of the secretive services with this Concept 7 Protection. BMW already makes factory-sold armoured vehicles, sold only to discreetly vetted clients, such as the BMW 7 Series Protection (protection level VR9, with VPAM 10 as an option) and the BMW X5 Protection VR6. The Concept 7 Protection is designed to expand that range with a different level of protection.
Read our BMW 7 Series reviews.
We’re going to need more details on what VR9 and the other ratings mean.
As someone in an Arnold Schwarzenegger film might say, this is the fun stuff. VR protection levels refer to how well-armoured a vehicle is against gunfire and explosive charges. The VR9 protection level of the 7 Series means it is designed to withstand repeated fire from a standard 7.62×51mm NATO rifle, even with armour-piercing ammunition. It should also be able to withstand the blast of 15kg of TNT at a specified distance. Meanwhile, the VR6 X5 can withstand the same 15kg TNT blast at a distance and is also protected against non-armour-piercing ammunition, such as the famous 7.62mm AK-47 round.
And VPAM 10?
VPAM 10 is a high level of ballistic protection for civilian vehicles and protects not only against armour-piercing ammunition, but also attacks from oblique angles and threats directed at the roof.
OK, so how does this apply to the Concept 7 Protection?
The Concept 7 Protection isn’t designed to cope with quite that much firepower. According to BMW: “Both the actual and perceived threat levels have increased in recent years. At the same time, different customer groups are becoming more aware of reliable protection solutions with transparent certification. BMW is addressing this development with a differentiated product approach: clearly defined scopes of protection, testing in line with defined standards, and full certification for the complete vehicle. The BMW Concept 7 Protection applies this requirement to a vehicle in which discretion, everyday usability, and the qualities of a BMW luxury sedan are particularly in focus. The lower scope of protection compared with the high-security vehicle represents a systematic focus on a different mission profile.”
In other words, the Concept 7 Protection is armoured to a lower level, so it’s more your everyday-use armoured car rather than the tank that you bring to parties. So to speak.
Any technical details?
The powertrain of the Concept 7 Protection is based on the M760e plug-in hybrid, so it uses a turbocharged 3.0-litre straight-six petrol engine with hybrid assistance, producing 612hp and 800Nm of torque. Inside, you wouldn’t think it was an armoured car, what with the Smoke White BMW Individual Merino Leather, interior trims in Alcantara and the BMW M Anthracite Alcantara headlining.
In the rear, the person most likely to need protection will be able to wait out an assault while using the wireless charging pad on the fold-away rear table and sipping chilled drinks from the built-in cool box. Needless to say, the chassis, brakes, steering and other components have all been tuned to cope with the Concept 7 Protection’s higher weight and ensurethat it’s still as agile as a 7 Series ought to be. After all, it’s better to be able to get out of danger than to sit there under fire.
What about the cool stuff, though?
We’re getting there. BMW says that the Concept 7 Protection has bulletproof glass that is substantially thicker than in the comparable series vehicle, while the doors feature a mixture of ballistic steel and fibre-reinforced composites to keep the bullets on the outside. There are also substantial overlaps between the doors, glazing and bodywork so that weapons fire can’t be directed through gaps between panels.
The rear triangle-shaped windows get extra armour protection, and the roof has an additional layer of steel and fibre-reinforced composites beneath the standard panoramic glass sunroof. From inside, occupants won’t have a conventional panoramic roof opening, but the glass panel is retained on the outside so that the Concept 7 Protection looks like any other standard 7 Series, making it harder for any assailant to pick out from the crowd.
The bulkhead and rear wall are also armoured. There’s an intercom system that allows you to speak to people outside the car, as well as an external attack alarm. And while those thick armoured windows can still be opened, they don’t open all the way. Probably for the best.
What does all that mean?
It means that even Dirty Harry would be wasting his time, as the Concept 7 Protection’s armour plate is designed to repel not only common handgun ammunition such as the ubiquitous 9mm pistol round, but also the mighty .44 Magnum round (‘do you feel lucky, punk?’ Well, you do if you’re in a Concept 7 Protection).
However, the Concept 7 Protection doesn’t get the heavy-duty blast protection that comes with the existing 7 Series Protection, so think of it more as an entry-level armoured car. As BMW puts it: “The protection concept is designed to address everyday, situational, or highly unpredictable risks. These include violent attacks, attacks during road travel, or hazardous situations while travelling and in regions with uncertain security situations. The BMW Concept 7 Protection offers protection from defined attack scenarios with handguns.”
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