Range Rover makes you feel like a king in luxury fortress on wheels

The new Range Rover Sentinel is the first luxury armoured vehicle to be fully engineered by Land Rover’s Special Vehicle Operations (SVO), hand-built at its Oxford Road facility, providing the highest levels of protection an SUV can offer against a wide variety of attacks.

The Sentinel is based on the standard wheelbase measurements of the Range Rover. It delivers the supreme comfort, command driving position and all-terrain capability of the Range Rover, while providing peace of mind thanks to outstanding occupant protection and, outwardly, is looking identical to the standard model.

This mobile fortress is designed to withstand the most damaging and targeted of threats including penetration by 7,62 mm high velocity, armour piercing inflammable bullets. This exceptional vehicle delivers lateral protection against up to 15 kg Trinitrotoluene (TNT) blasts and defence against DM51 grenade explosions from both beneath the floor and above the roof.

At its core is a specially developed six-piece armoured passenger cell, made of super-high-strength steel, providing protection from attack. The standard glass has been replaced by multi-laminated armour privacy glass of optical quality, providing excellent clarity for the driver and occupants, while also delivering bullet protection.

The Range Rover Sentinel is fully certified to VR8 standard against ballistic threats by QinetiQ, an independent organisation that was formerly part of the British Government’s Defence Establishment Research Agency.

Sentinel retains the plentiful legroom of the standard model that comfortably seats two full-size adults in the rear. A payload of up to 650 kg can be carried thanks to revised Dynamic Stability Control and Ride Stability Control systems. The Command Driving Position found in all Range Rover vehicles remains, giving the driver a clear and unobscured view of the surroundings, particularly useful in the event of an attack.

The suspension has been up-rated to ensure ride comfort and handling are retained, yet still delivers precise on-road dynamics. The Sentinel has undergone the same testing as a standard production vehicle and retains the off-road capability for which Land Rover is famous.

The Sentinel has an anti-tamper exhaust, a self-sealing fuel tank, auxiliary back-up battery and a split charging system. The 100 mm opening in the driver’s window for document delivery ensures the vehicle is secure. The load space features anti-smash protective glass ensuring the cabin remains a safe house.

The Range Rover Sentinel is powered by a 250 kW 3.0-litre V6 supercharged petrol engine mated to a specially-calibrated ZF eight-speed automatic transmission. In addition, 380 mm front and 365 mm rear ventilated disc brakes, both with high-density pads, ensure impressive stopping power when needed.

If the worst should happen and the main doors are blocked by an accident or an attack, occupants can leave the vehicle via the Emergency Escape System behind the rear seats. Despite this special security feature, the basic design is uncompromised and the Range Rover Sentinel is still equipped with the split-level tailgate of the standard production vehicle.

Optional protection features include under floor and under bonnet fire suppression systems, a customer configurable siren system, emergency service lights and an external speaker system to address people outside the vehicle from the safety of the cabin.

A full driver-training programme is also provided to ensure drivers are capable of handling the vehicle to maximum effect in the most challenging circumstances. Standard Range Rover features such as Blind Spot Monitoring, Closing Vehicle Sensing and Surround Camera Security incorporating T-junction view also lend themselves perfectly to the duties this very special Range Rover is designed to perform.

The Range Rover Sentinel is fully EU Homologated, available in the UK, Europe, South America, Africa and the Middle East with VR8 level certification. It will be available in South Africa, and customers can visit their nearest Land Rover dealership to register their interest. Pricing is available on application.