Beat the bombs in an armoured Cat

23 November 2005

  • Jaguar’s first-ever armoured car
  • Prices start from £199,000
  • Able to withstand high-velocity rifle rounds

XJD

If you're looking for a £200,000 Christmas present for the nice head-of-state who lives next door, Jaguar may have the answer.

The manufacturer has just launched an armoured version of its long-wheelbase XJ, its first-ever armoured car, with prices starting at £199,000.

For security reasons, many of the car’s details aren't being revealed, but it does have barosilicate glazing, which can withstand high velocity rounds from an assault rifle, and steel armouring for shrugging off explosions.

Kevlar armouring is used underneath, while the roof is made of specially treated titanium. Brakes, springs and shock absorbers are uprated to cope with the car's extra weight, while steering is also tuned for more aggressive, evasive driving styles.

All-in-all, the XJ meets European standard EN1063 for armoured cars, but not everything is covered by the enormous price tag.

You'll have to pay extra if you want a self-sealing fuel tank, tamper-proof exhaust or intercom system, for instance. Air-conditioning is, probably, standard.