In order to keep up with Mercedes Benz and BMW, Audi too makes armoured version of their flagship saloon A8. It is the best version of the car with long wheelbase and the high-end W12 engine.

The new A8 L Security is armoured for sure but also comes with a number of security features. It is virtually indistinguishable from the normal and offers the same comfort and convenience.

The car has a length of 5.27 meters (17.29 ft), so your VIP bottom is very safe and comfortable at the back of this car! The armored sedan’s custom security modifications are performed by hand in a small, well-guarded workshop – on a production floor with specially secured doors, where the use of cellular phones is strictly prohibited.

The A8 L Security has been officially certified by a German-government ballistics testing facility in Munich for compliance with the class VR 7 ballistic protection standard (tested as per BRV 2009 guidelines). The abbreviation BRV stands for Bullet Resistant Vehicles.

The car’s resistance to explosions was tested as per ERV 2010 guidelines (ERV = Explosion Resistant Vehicles). Class VR 7 ballistic protection imposes the strictest standards on civilian high-security sedans. The sheet metal and glazing in the passenger cell must withstand firing with NATO hard-core ammunition. In certain areas, the armoring on the Audi A8 L Security even complies with the criteria for class VR 9 and VR 10.

It features extremely tough, resistant materials – hot-formed armored steel, aramide fabric, ceramics, special alloyed aluminum and multilayer glass. Overlapping protective materials at the joints provide the utmost level of security throughout the occupant cell. The interior armoring weighs approximately 720 kilograms (1,587.33 lb). Even the side sills have solid steel sections built in for better protection in case of an explosion.

Made of an innovative aluminum alloy, the car’s armored floor serves the same purpose. The Audi A8 L Security is capable of withstanding an attack with a military hand grenade. The windows are also protected with a polycarbonate coating in the inside to prevent spalling. They add a hefty 300 kg to the weight!

The A8 security also features a two-way communication system allows passengers in the A8 L Security to communicate with the outside world when the windows are closed, so you can shout at people who are shooting at you!

Another security feature is the fire extinguisher system, which is activated via heat sensors or by pushing a button, and we should also mention the emergency fresh-air system operates with two oxygen cartridges housed in the protected area. With all the weight added due to the armors, this A8 needed the big engine. That 6.3 liter direct-injected gasoline engine in shape of a W churns out a massive 368 kW (500 hp) of power and 625 Nm (460.98 lb-ft) of torque.

It does 0 to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in 7.3 seconds, but the top speed is limited to 210 km/h because of the tires. The high-security sedan consumes just 13.5 liters of fuel on average per 100 km (17.42 US mpg) which is pretty good for a car of this type.

Audi A8 L W12 Security comes with a standard full-leather package. On request Audi will install the “relaxation seat” – a widely adjustable right-hand rear seat with a power-adjustable footrest, heating and massage. Also available is a full-length center console with large storage compartments, complemented by the rear seat entertainment system with two 10.2-inch displays.

Optional features such as a folding table, a refrigerator and a parking heater make are also available.