If cars would support the Second Amendment, then this Cadillac Escalade would have it airbrushed on the tailgate, bragging that it can withstand shots fired by an AK-47, and laughing in the face of 308 Winchester FMJ ammunition.
The entire passenger compartment has been armored, and it has a BR6 certification. You are looking at bulletproof windows, and thick metal plates keeping the occupants safe in the event of something bad happening, and protection for the battery and electronic control module.
Since the doors are much heavier than stock, the hinges have been reinforced, together with what Klassen, the company behind the modifications, says to be “other critical structure points.” There is a heavy-duty suspension too, upgraded brakes, and heavy-duty wheels wrapped in run-flat tires to ensure quick getaways. Emergency lights, intercom, fire-suppression system, and security system are on deck as well.
A highly-customized interior is another highlight of this Cadillac Escalade, which features a 4-inch (102-mm) raised roof. Heated and ventilated captain’s chairs with massaging, custom bar, innovative lighting system, advanced multimedia, and a partition wall separating the driver from the rear passenger compartment, which comprises a hide-away TV screen, are some of the things that users will find inside.
Photo: Klassen
These add up to a plethora of comfort and technology gizmos that came straight from the Arlington factory in Texas, where the previous generation Cadillac Escalade used to come to life, as this is a fourth-gen model, albeit one with only the delivery miles on the clock. It uses the stock 6.2-liter V8, rated at 420 horsepower, working in conjunction with an automatic transmission, and four-wheel drive. The average fuel consumption, according to Klassen, is 7.6 mpg US (13.1 l/100 km), and the armored machine is said to emit 310 g/km of CO2.
If you haven’t figured it out yet, this very special Cadillac Escalade is for sale. Klassen has it listed on its official website, with pricing available on request, and if you have to ask how much it costs, then you likely can’t afford it. Then again, if you are truly in the market for an armored vehicle, with all the bells and whistles of a modern ride, then chances are that money is the least of your concerns, and safety obviously comes first. On the other hand, you might want to try a different line of work, you know, one that doesn’t involve being shot at.
Besides armoring all sorts of high-end machines, Klassen can also turn an average van, like the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, into a luxury home away from home. And they did so to one example, which is still listed for grabs. We dedicated an entire story to it about a month ago, and in case you missed it, then you should check it out here, after scrolling back up and viewing the images of the Escalade in our gallery.
After a series of unfortunate events put an end to Cristian's dream of entering a custom built & tuned old-school Dacia into a rally competition, he moved on to drive press cars and write for a living. He's worked for several automotive online journals and now he's back at autoevolution after his first tour in the mid-2000s. Full profile
Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?
Google News