By Otsile Kadiege

Today, Volvo Car South Africa has announced that a special armoured version of the XC90 flagship SUV has joined its local line-up, offering select clients the option of ordering discreet ballistic protection directly from the Swedish luxury manufacturer.

The armoured XC90 – which forms part of Volvo’s broader global product offering – provides certified 360° ballistic protection according to the NIJ-IIIA standard, without compromising on either comfort or performance. According to Volvo Car SA, the ballistic certification test is carried out on the complete vehicle, based on the stringent NIJ-IIIA standard in combination with the VPAM BRV 2009 standard (B4). The armoured XC90 is thus rated to withstand handgun fire.

All armouring materials – from the reinforced laminated glass to the high-strength steel plating and special aramid composites – are discreetly integrated into the SUV’s existing design to protect the vehicle’s occupants, without ever being seen. Further under the skin, the XC90’s chassis as well as its braking system have been carefully optimised to support the added armouring weight (which comes in at approximately 300 kg), resulting in the SUV’s fundamental properties remaining largely unchanged compared with those of the standard car. In addition, all of Volvo’s numerous standard signature safety systems remain fully functional.

Since the armoured XC90 is fully approved by Volvo, the vehicle’s standard five-year/100 000 km manufacturer warranty, as well as maintenance plan, remain in place. Local pricing for the special protection version of the XC90 starts at R2,5 million (incl VAT).