Prime Minister Narendra Modi's convoy has now got the Mercedes-Maybach S650 armored that can withstand blasts and hardened steel core bullets, according to a report in carandbike portal. The prime minister's convoy has been upgraded from Range Rover Vogue and Toyota Land Cruiser.
PM Modi was recently seen in the new Maybach 650 armored at Hyderabad House while welcoming Russian President Putin.
Mercedes-Maybach S650 armored vehicle is the new facelifted model that came out in 2019. It has the VR10 protection level which is the highest-ever protection provided in a production car. Mercedes-Maybach launched the S600 Guard in India last year with a price tag of ₹10.5 crore and the S650 can cost more than ₹12 crore. It has a 6.0-litre twin-turbo V12 engine that produces 516bhp and a peak torque of approximately 900Nm. The maximum speed is limited to 160kmph.
Maybach S650 armored vehicle has the highest protection offered in any civilian vehicle around the world. It also offers VR10 protection level which means that the body and the windows can withstand hardened steel core bullets. Additionally, it gets Explosive Resistant Vehicle (ERV) 2010 rating, which allows the car to protect the occupants from blasts of 15kg TNT from a distance of two metres. The cabin also receives a separate air supply in case of a gas attack.
Maybach S650 armored vehicle is powered by 6.0-litre twin-turbo V12 engine that develops 516 bhp and about 900 Nm of peak torque. The top speed of the vehicle is restricted to 160 kmph.
It should be noted tht it's not the choice of the Prime Minister or head of the state to choose a secured vehicle for themselves, rather it is the Special Protection Group or SPG who is responsible for protection of the head of govt/state. SPG usually submits the request for a new car by analysing security requirements and decides whether the person they are protecting needs a new vehicle. The SPG orders two identical cars; the second vehicle is used as a decoy.
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When Narendra Modi was the chief minister of Gujarat, he used to travel in a bulletproof Mahindra Scorpio. As prime minister of the country, his convoy included BMW 7 Series High-Security Edition, a Land Rover Range Rover Vogue and a Toyota Land Cruiser. Maybach S650 armored vehicle is the new addition to PM Modi's convoy.
