Currently reading: Jaguar XJ toughens up

Jaguar has announced its first ever armoured vehicle, based on the XJ saloon

Jaguar has unveiled its first ever purpose-built armoured passenger vehicle. Developed in association with vehicle armouring specialist Centigon, the Armoured XJ Long Wheelbase is priced at £199,000.

If that sounds a lot, the celebrities and politicians the car is aimed at should rest assured that they are buying a car that its makers claim will protect them from firearms, blast attack, robbery, kidnap and car jacking.

The windows are made of bullet-resisting borosilicate glass and the roof is reinforced with titanium. Further body protection is provided by ballistic-resistant steel and Kevlar underbody reinforcement. A tamper-proof exhaust and self-sealing fuel tank are also fitted.

To save weight the XJ's air springs are replaced with uprated coils and dampers, but this is still a heavy car and it has been fitted with six-piston front and four-piston rear Alcon brake calipers with larger discs and performance pads to cope.

Drivers escaping amush get V8 power and run-flat tyres, while inside there is a separate oxygen supply and intercom system.

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