Today’s world is buzzing with VIPs and business tycoons. What do these people require the most? Security, apart from money of course! Such type of customers buy premium vehicles to travel around and buying a secure vehicle is the top priority for many of them. So, Audi has just got the answer for you. It’s the Audi A8L Security which is a bullet-proof A8L but looks just like a regular A8L. The entire vehicle is armour plated and this car conforms with the highest levels of civilian security.
The German Ballistics Testing Centre has certified that the A8L Security is an armored vehicle that will surely protect its passengers in any consequences. The vehicle complies with the norms of the VR7 ballistic protection standard. The body shell has to be bullet-resistant according to the regulations. The vehicle is also tested for resistance against explosives. The floor of an A8L Security is made up of a special aluminium alloy that can even withstand the force of a hand grenade. To prevent the windows from breaking, Audi has coated the window glasses with a layer of polycarbonate and opening windows are provided as an option.
The 2015 Audi A8L comes with Matrix LED lamps where the high beam comes loaded with 25 LEDs and they can be switched on or off or even dimmed individually. When Audi engineers were designing the regular A8L, they already had the Security version in mind and hence the vehicle was designed in such a way that changes could be made later on. The body is made up of aluminium using the Audi Space Frame principle and this body is around 40% lighter than the regular steel body making it the lightest armoured vehicle in its class.
Audi has also loaded the A8L Security with a communications box in the boot. Some other options that you can opt for with this secure vehicle are fire extinguisher, armour plating for fuel tank and battery, fresh air system and an emergency exit system that uses explosives to open the doors. Audi hasn’t declared officially the extra weight that has been added to the A8L Security however the manufacturer has added tyres of higher load index to deal with the bulk. There is an optional emergency exit system where one push of a sealed switch can detach a door from the body and enable passengers to open it with a light push.
Audi offers the A8L Security with two engine options – 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 which produces 435 HP of power and 600 Nm of torque and a 6.3-litre W12 which gives out 500 HP of power and 625 Nm of torque. The V8 engine takes 7.5 seconds to complete the 0-100 km/hr sprint while returning a fuel efficiency of 9.14 km/l and the W12 engine takes 7.1 seconds with a fuel efficiency of 7.4 km/l. Both the engines are mated to an 8-speed tip-tronic and it also comes with paddle shifters on the steering wheel. The A8L Security also comes with Audi’s famed quattro four-wheel-drive system which helps in providing better grip and acceleration.
As expected from a vehicle in this segment, the ride quality and comfort is excellent. Audi has given top priority to both of these along with safety of course. The suspension can be tuned and different settings can be selected using Audi Drive Select. Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) will be useful to know the pressure in each of the four tyres and even after a puncture, the tyres are capable of running at a maximum speed of 80 km/hr. The Audi A8L Security competes with the Mercedes-Benz S-Guard which is Mercedes’ version of a premium bullet-proof vehicle.
