Could this be the Australian Prime Minister’s next car?
A preview of the next generation of BMW’s armoured cars has been revealed, with the Concept 7 Protection showcasing what could be our PM’s new ride.
BMW has revealed the Concept 7 Protection as a look at what its next-gen armoured cars will look like, and potentially showing off the vehicle which will carry future Australian Prime Ministers.
Said to be “designed for private and corporate customers”, the Concept 7 Protection is based on the 7 Series, specifically the M760e xDrive, the plug-in hybrid variant of BMW’s large luxury sedan.
Centred around providing the occupants with as much security as possible, the 7 Series has been fitted with transparent and selected opaque sections of the passenger compartment, with bulletproof glass designed to stop any ingress into the cabin.
The doors too incorporate various types of ballistic steel and fibre-reinforced composites, with overlaps between the doors, glazing and bodywork aimed at reducing weak spots.
To negate attacks from above, there’s an additional layer of protection composed of steel and fibre-reinforced composites under the sedan’s panoramic glass sunroof, which remains permanently closed.
According to BMW, the “Concept 7 Protection complies with the new BayB standard”, and is designed to protect occupants from “particularly common handgun ammunition, such as 9x19 mm and .44 Magnum” rounds.
As you’d expect, there’s also an intercom system which can allow communication with people outside the car, while keeping those inside it safe.
Inside the cabin, BMW has gone all-out with Smoke White Merino Leather, Alcantara trims and BMW M Anthracite Alcantara headlining – not exactly what you’d expect from a car with a sole purpose to protect those in it, not keep them comfortable.
Being based on the M760e xDrive means the Concept 7 Series is powered by a twin-turbo 3.0-litre straight-six engine, which is mated to an electric motor to produce a total of 450kW and 800Nm.
To ensure quick getaways in all conditions, it’s all-wheel drive with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
According to BMW, it has made calibration tweaks to the chassis, brakes and drivetrain to ensure it’s able to cope with its hefty protection features.
A timeline for the start of production is yet to be announced, though one day we could eventually see the final version in Australia.
Currently, the Prime Minister’s ‘Commonwealth 1’ car is a BMW 7 Series High Security, based on the previous-generation version of the sedan, and is one of more than half a dozen examples operated locally.
