BMW recently gave 67 potential buyers from eight European countries the chance to test its armored vehicles.
The event took place at BMW's development center in Sokolov, with trained instructors from Germany and the Czech Republic.
Participants drove both the armored X5 SUV and the 7-Series sedan.
They compared these models to standard BMWs, including the 740d, 750e, X5 50e, X5 40d, and X5 M.
Armored Performance
BMW has been building its own armored cars for over four decades. The current Protection models launched in 2023.
The X5 offers VR6 ballistic protection, while the 7-Series achieves a higher VR9 rating, capable of withstanding sustained attacks from firearms and explosives.
The 7-Series Protection is powered by a mild-hybrid 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 producing 523 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque.
It is also available as an i7 based on the M70 xDrive model.
During the test, participants experienced emergency braking in corners and off-road driving in the X5.
BMW aimed to demonstrate that despite the extra weight, the armored vehicles perform similarly to their standard counterparts.
