Armoured Skoda Kodiaq - The Ultimate Family Car?
There are many armoured vehicles on the market for those ultra high net worth individuals who are looking for a bit of extra protection. The latest to hit the market is the inconspicuous Skoda Kodiaq. Known for being a spacious, luxurious yet affordable family SUV, it now has the option of being bullet and bomb proof. When you think of bullet proof cars, a Skoda is not the first that springs to mind. You might think of 'The Beast' that is driven by the President of the United States, or maybe the Range Rover Sentinel that is driven by Royalty in the United Kingdom. Living in the UK, it might seem a tad excessive to need a car that can withstand hundreds of rounds of ammunition fired at it, and keep moving following an explosion. But who knows, right? Nevertheless, whilst the UK market may be limited, there is definitely a market for these sorts of cars in more dangerous countries. The Kodiaq is not the first armoured car that Skoda have produced; they already have the Superb on offer. There has been no information released on pricing yet, but the Superb is priced at £118k, so we can expect the Kodiaq to trump that.
The new armoured Skoda Kodiaq is the birthchild of a joint operation between Skoda UK and British security firm called UTAC Special Vehicles.
The Spec
The Kodiaq has gone through rigorous design, testing, and certification before hitting the market. It has passed PAS 300 and PAS 301 Civilian Armoured Vehicle Standards. These tests and standards cover all aspects of the vehicle, from payload and acceleration, to its top speed, handling and braking.
From an armoured perspective, it comes with bulletproof windows as well as extra thick steel plates in the doors and bodywork to provide ultimate protection to the occupants. This protection covers all 360 degrees of the cars, protecting those inside from threats that may be above, below, or all around. During testing, it was capable of withstanding over 200 rounds from an assault rifle and pistol, as well as high explosives and hand grenades.
Some other key features include:
- Blue lights and sirens: these are not likely to be available if you are a regular member of public just looking to buy one of these. But for VIPs or in countries where they are permitted, the car can come equipped with blue lights and sirens to get the VIP out of situations in emergencies
- GPS tracking
- Modified suspension: enhanced and modified suspension to improve the drive and handling of the car
- Run flat tyres: to keep the car on the move in case the tyres are shot or blown out
Ordering One
Well, there is no information available yet for ordering one of these. And it is unlikely you will be able to walk into your local dealership and pick one up. We are sadden to say that they won't be available to lease with us either.
