- Fortress protection and performance for Sentinel
- Five-litre supercharged V8 petrol engine
- Mobile fortress: armour glass, roof blast-protection
PRETORIA, Gauteng – Range Rover’s armoured car, the Sentinel, has been updated with 30kW more power, ”unparalleled” refinement, all-terrain capability, and better protection for driver and passengers.
The five-litre, 280kW, supercharged, V8 petrol engine now carries more than a ton of armour plate and bullet-proof glass but can still reach an escape velocity of 100km/h in 10.4sec.
And go all-terrain without a qualm – though not, perhaps, at the wagon’s top speed of 193km/h.
The update was designed and executed by Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations’ technical centre in central England ”to provide peerless occupant security with world class comfort”.
TOPS FOR VIP TRAVEL
The wagon’s core involves a protection cell certified to to stringent ballistic and blast certification inside an ”enhanced” body able to withstand modern and unconventional forms of attack, including fragmentation bombs.
SVO’s MD Michael van der Sande told The Corner in a media release: “The Range Rover Sentinel delivers the exceptional protection and security required by our VIP clients without compromising the superior refinement of the latest Range Rover.
”The more powerful supercharged V8 engine and redesigned cabin offer a greater performance and human protection.”
Despite the extra armour, Land Rover says, the Sentinel has unparalleled off-road ability, including deep-water wading. Special wheels/tyres now include a run-flat system that can sustain a 50km getaway at a maximum of 50km/h (not too reassuring! – Ed).
BLUE LIGHTS, TOO
Armour glass is standard along with a public address for external communication without opening a door or window. There is, however, a facility to drop the driver’s window by 15cm for physical contact – to, say, deliver a document.
A siren and emergency lighting are options.
The automaker has met requests for more headroom and better seats and the vehicle has Land Rover’s latest Touch Pro Duo infotainment system with two 25cm highres touch screens.
READ MORE Land Rover features on Carman’s Corner
Also available is a Black Pack (what IS it with automakers love affair with black?) choice of finishes as well as diode lighting.
