The armored Mercedes S-Class Guard is a tank on wheels

It is sometimes said that German luxury limousines have doors like vault doors. A statement that only really applies to this Mercedes S-Class Guard. Underneath its elegant business look is an armored car that makes short work of bombs and grenades.

The type designation S 680 is written on the rear of the Mercedes S-Class Guard. And that is remarkable, because the delivery program for the S-Class ends with the S 580. The type designation S 680 is reserved for the Maybach, which is the only one still with a V12 is available.

Mercedes S Class Guard not with B driving license

But Mercedes-Benz has good reason to also equip the Guard with such a powerful twelve-cylinder engine. First there is the sheer mass.

Due to the armor, the S-Class Guard got into a negative weight spiral, so that you can no longer drive it with a B driver’s license.

The more cylinders the better

Second, with an armored car like the S 680, the more cylinders the better. The Guard’s engine compartment is not protected. The armor would put too much weight on the front wheels and also make it impossible to dissipate engine heat. So it makes sense that the power donor can do without some of its twelve cylinders.

Built on a separate production line

When Mercedes starts developing a new S-Class, the Guard department is there right from the start.

So the S 680 is no longer a production car with steel plates in the body and thicker windows, like armored Mercedes used to be. It is built on a separate production line at Mercedes-Benz Guard in Sindelfingen.

Windows Mercedes S-class guard centimeters thick

The Guard’s windows are centimeters thick and are made of layers of glass with a special film between them. This plastic layer is also on the inside of the panes and must ensure that no glass splinters and projectile splinters penetrate the interior. Oddly enough, the polycarbonate is quite fragile. You can easily damage it with a wedding ring or jacket zipper.

The fact that the side windows of the S 680 can simply be lowered is counterintuitive. And that while a sunroof is not available for safety reasons. The Guard can be personalized to a large extent, but there is no choice when it comes to alloy wheels. There is a design that should be strong, not necessarily beautiful.

Resistant to armor piercing bullets

The S 680 Guard meets the highest civilian security requirements, Vehicle Resistance 10 (VR10). That means it can withstand armor-piercing bullets, including the Russian Dragunov sniper rifle. In addition, its passenger compartment is resistant to heavy explosions.