Posted in car review

#3 Mercedes-Benz S600 Guard – For the security conscious

 Published Date: 03/23/2020


The Mercedes-Benz S600 Guard is a special protection model based on the S-Class. For years now the S Guard has remained a popular choice for high-profile people including government official, monarchy heads, mafia leaders and dictators. The Mercedes-Benz Guard range currently has models from the S, E, M and G-Class.

Mercedes-Benz S600 Guard

The latest member of the Guard family is the Mercedes-Benz S600 Guard. The Mercedes S Guard and other armoured versions of the three pointed star brand are used by nearly ninety percent of all government, world leaders and dignitaries. 

 

Normal Mercedes-Benz S600

Design
The Mercedes-Benz S600 Guard features the same design found on the basic S-Class. At the front of the large upright radiator grille features a distinctly three-dimensional in design. Traditional S-Class features such as a long bonnet, flowing curved roof line and the gently slanting rear end are visible on the ‘tank’. Surfaces and lines visible on the side of the on the Mercedes-Benz S600 Guard uplift the car’s stance as they flow into the rear end.

Luxurious interior coated with armour

Horizontal lines running from the boot lid to the bumper emphasise the car’s width when viewed from the rear. The upper area of the glass is rounded, lending the Mercedes-Benz S600 Guard a coupé-like character. The new-style taillights, which are completely encased by the car body, complete the design right down to the last detail. As the Mercedes-Benz S600 Guard is hardly recognisable as an armoured saloon, it meets a further important requirement for special protection vehicles; maximum discretion.

Top notch seating for rear occupants
Protection
Overlapping protective elements provide outstanding strength and stability to the Mercedes-Benz S600 Guard body structure. Protective components of special steel are integrated into the spaces between the body structure and the outer skin. The overlapping elements also provide comprehensive ballistic protection.

Thick glass protection from bullets and shrapnel

All the glasses used on the Mercedes-Benz S600 Guard are coated with a polycarbonate substance on the inside to offer protection against bullets. All components used in the armouring of the car provide the occupants with a highly effective protective space which not only includes ballistic protection, but also comprehensive protection against explosive devices. Basically one is assured of protection from for example hand grenades thrown at close range on either side.

 

Suitable for any head of state

Performance  
The Mercedes-Benz S600 Guard delivers great performance thanks to its V12 power unit.  The 390 kW (530 hp) from the V12 offers more pulling power than the engine of the preceding model. Thanks to 830 Nm of torque and the 7G-TRONIC automatic transmission, the S-Guard offers lower fuel consumption with impressive acceleration for a rapid escape from the danger zone when under threat. For weight reasons the top speed is electronically limited to 210 km/h.
 

Rear LED lights

Agility
The Mercedes-Benz S600 Guard offers its passengers outstanding ride comfort and excellent driving dynamics thanks to the reinforced AIRMATIC air suspension.  The reinforced suspension also works well with the reduced ground clearance caused by the underbody armour. The brakes of the S-Guard are considerably larger than those of the standard model, so that the extra weight can be safely handled. Standard equipment on the S600 Guard includes Michelin run-flat tyres, with an additional tyre pressure monitoring system, which allows an escape from the danger zone up to a distance of 30 km even with damaged tyres.
 

Added protection against threats

Fortress
The Mercedes-Benz S600 Guard has a generously spacious interior. Like the flagship S-Class model, the S600 Guard offers plenty of headroom and elbow room in the rear. In addition, the new S600 Guard is available both as a 4-seater and as a fully-fledged 5-seater. The ‘tank’ large 350-litre boot capacity offers plenty of space for a number of suitcases. Thanks to the intelligently integrated armouring, the Guard version retains the quality and luxury found in the normal S-Class.  
 

Wine chiller for those special functions on the move

Extras
Mercedes-Benz offers a customer with plenty of change to spare other additional features. These include opaque roller blinds all-round in the rear (for extra privacy), heated windscreen and side windows (for when the windows get all wet and misty), easily operated panic alarm system (to scare away potential threats and to seek attention), fire extinguisher system with automatic activation (to deal with petrol bombs or fire from explosions), hydraulic power for the heavy side windows (for some natural fresh air) and emergency fresh air system protecting occupants from of smoke or irritant gases. 
Looks, rides and feels like a normal S600
Verdict
The Mercedes-Benz S600 Guard offers any high profile individual a sense of security while on the move. The car would also come in handy for anyone who has made enemies on their journey to success. The extra protection provided by the Mercedes-Benz S600 Guard doesn’t come cheap. For those who can afford the car, it’s nice to know that any Mercedes-Benz service outlets worldwide are able to service, maintain or carry out any necessary repairs for the Guard models.