Land Rover’s Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) division has unveiled its first armoured vehicle, the Range Rover Sentinel.
The Range Rover Sentinel is based on the top of the line standard wheelbase Autobiography and is hand built at Land Rover SVO’s Oxford Road facility. It is designed to withstand the most damaging and targeted of threats including penetration by 7.62mm high velocity, armour piercing incendiary bullets. This exceptional vehicle delivers lateral protection against up to 15kg Trinitrotoluene (TNT) blasts and defence against DM51 grenade explosions from both beneath the floor and above the roof.
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. It features a specially-developed six-piece armoured passenger cell, made of super-high-strength steel. The standard glass has been replaced by multi-laminated armour privacy glass of optical quality, providing excellent clarity for the driver and occupants, and at the same time delivers bullet protection. The SUV can carry a payload of up to 650kg due to revised Dynamic Stability Control and Ride Stability Control systems by the SVO division.
The Sentinel has an anti-tamper exhaust, a self-sealing fuel tank, auxiliary back-up battery and a split charging system. The 100mm opening in the driver’s window for document delivery ensures the vehicle is secure. The load space features anti-smash protective glass as well.
The Sentinel also gets updated suspension. It is equipped with run flat tyres mounted on to special 20-inch split rim alloy wheels. Power comes from a 3.0 litre supercharged V6 petrol engine that develops 340 horsepower and is mated to a specially-calibrated ZF 8-speed automatic gearbox. There are 380mm front and 365mm rear ventilated disc brakes with high-density pads.
If 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. 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.
The Sentinel is available for order starting this month and will make its global debut at the Defence and Security Equipment International Exhibition at London’s ExCeL arena from 15th to 18th September 2015.
