Flashback to 2015 and recall Jaguar-Land Rover's Special
Vehicle Operations revealed an armored version of the swanky Range
Rover with the Sentinel badge. On Monday, the Range Rover Sentinel got a
shot in the arm of more power.
SVO announced the armored SUV is now fitted with the
supercharged 5.0-liter V-8. Previously, armored protection only came with the
supercharged 3.0-liter V-6 that made 340 horsepower. That engine is on
its way out at Land Rover, to be replaced with a new inline-6. The
supercharged 5.0-liter V-8 brings 375 hp to the party and lets the hulking SUV
lumber from 0-60 mph in 9.8 seconds. That sounds slow, but there's more than
one ton worth of armor protection baked into the Range Rover Sentinel. It's
also six tenths of a second faster than it was with the V-6. Land Rover offers
500-plus horsepower versions of the V-8, but this vehicle is about protection,
not performance.
The SUV is fully ballistic- and blast-certified thanks to
its six-piece armored passenger cell made of high-strength steel.
Multi-laminated armored glass is also used for the windows to make the
most-susceptible areas safe. Other features that make the Range Rover Sentinel
one of the best beasts for protection include an anti-tamper exhaust, a
self-sealing fuel tank, a backup battery system, and run-flat tires. The tires
can keep the SUV moving at speeds up to 50 mph for 30 miles if one should
puncture.
Those who need utmost discretion can take advantage of a
document delivery system, which is a fancy way of saying one front window can
drop a maximum of 6 inches. It also has a "public address" feature
that lets occupants speak to outsiders without leaving the comfort and safety
of the Range Rover Sentinel. Options include sirens and emergency light
packages.
To handle all of the extra weight, the Range Rover Sentinel
packs all the necessary suspension, braking, electronic assist, and chassis
upgrades. Land Rover said the hefty SUV still performs like a regular model
when it comes to handling and driving dynamics, though we find that impossible
given all the extra weight. Inside, Land Rover's newest Touch Pro Duo
dual-screen infotainment and control system is now standard and passenger
headroom is greater than before.
The SUV made its debut at the Home Office Security and
Policing Show this week in the UK. Pricing was not included in the
announcement, but the previous model cost around $447,000. Security doesn't
come cheaply.
by Sean Szymkowski
http://www.boscheuropean.com
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