New Made-in-America BMW X5 Protection VR6 Can Stop AK-47 Bullets, Doesn’t Show It

Just like until now, the new iteration of the bullet-resisting SUV is called X5 Protection VR6. It comes, as per BMW, with an "extensive update covering the areas of design, powertrain and digitalization," and we’ll be able to see it traveling the roads of our cities carrying important people from February 2024.

A quick look at the new armored Bimmer will in no way reveal that it's anything other than the regular and new X5. The same design and styling are present on the car, and one can be had in pretty much all the colors available for the existing range, including the ones wearing the signature of BMW Individual.

But this SUV is VR6-rated, and in the world where armored vehicles are needed, that stands for something. More to the point, VR6 generally means the body and glasswork of the vehicle are more than capable of taking fire from an AK-47, and perhaps even small grenades, without allowing any harm to come to the occupants.

It can do that because underneath the otherwise normal-looking body BMW has fitted steel sections and bulletproof glass. Specially designed to be adapted into the X5, the extra steel has been distributed in the car's most vulnerable areas, meaning the doors, side frame, and roof. The luggage area too is protected by an armored partition, while the underside is shielded by an aluminum splinter guard.

Making sure bullets don't get into the SUV's habitat was not the only focus of the German carmaker. Just like the versions before it, the new X5 Protection comes with a self-healing fuel tank that once it repairs itself to stop fuel from leaking.

The vehicle is hailed by BMW as the most powerful of its kind, and that is of course owed to the powertrain. In this case, we're talking about a 4.4-liter V8 that works with a crankshaft-mounted starter generator.

The engine is controlled by means of an eight-speed Steptronic transmission that hides in itself an electric motor boosting the total power of the engine by 12 hp and 200 Nm of torque.

It may not seem like much at first, but the boost brings the total output of the SUV to an impressive 530 hp and 750 NM of torque. That's more than enough to allow people to escape bad situations fast.

How fast? Well, the X5 Protection can accelerate to 62 mph from a perfect standstill in 5.9 seconds, and tops at 130 mph (210 kph). It's not such a great overall top speed, but considering the added weight BMW thought it best to electronically cap the figure at that level.

The armored bits of the SUV, and also its innate capabilities, would be nothing in case it needs to get away fast without the help of extra gear to make the best of them. That's why the Protection comes with an adaptive M suspension Professional - meaning M Sport differential, active steering, and active roll stabilization.

As for the interior, the Protection can accommodate a total of four people in sport seats, and provides them with the "same amount of space and seating comfort as in the standard version of the BMW X5." The luggage space is generous as well, capping off at 500 liters.

All of the above is what the X5 can offer in standard guise. Because armored vehicles are used for specific activities, many of them of the official nature, the SUV can be further personalized with the addition of flashing LED lights in the radiator grille or at the rear, roof-mounted light beacons and acoustic systems, a roof antenna complete with an additional receiver, and flag poles, if the SUV is supposed to carry some important statesmen on official business.

Of course, says BMW, that's only the beginning, as "accommodating specific customer requests when it comes to equipping their vehicle with additional protection and/or convenience features" is something the carmaker is more than willing to do.

As stated earlier, the new BMW X5 Protection VR6 will be available for order starting February of next year, for prices that have not been disclosed. Before it gets to do that, though, the armored Bimmer will be shown at the IAA Mobility 2023 auto show in Munich in the early days of September. It will be accompanied on the floor there by the new versions of the i7 Protection and 7 Series Protection.

Just like the version for civilians, the SUV will be put together at BMW's facility in Spartanburg, South Carolina.