It probably won’t surprise anyone that there are upfitters that have armored the Toyota Prado. It is, after all, a popular choice for VIPs and, er, high-risk individuals.
So for those who’d like a beefed up, bomb-resistant Prado as soon as possible, Inkas Armoring will gladly build one for you. Aside from the Prado, they can also do the same for the Lexus GX.
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Both the Prado and GX are offered with BR6 level armoring. That means it can withstand assault rifle attacks and can deflect 7.62mm rounds. On top of that, it also has hand grenade protection and can resist up to two blasts. Sure, the car will look a little worse for wear after going through all that, but the key here is getting the vehicle’s occupants out of an ambush quickly and unharmed.
To achieve that, the occupant area is surrounded by ballistic panels with kevlar and thick metal plating. These are present on the doors, floors, firewall, roof pillars and roof pillars. Vulnerable areas, such as panel gaps, have ballistic overlaps to prevent bullet and shrapnel intrusion, while additional reinforcements are made to critical structural and mechanical components such as the underchassis and suspension.
Additional protection is provided by thick ballistic glass that replicates the standard model’s appearance. A rear armored bulkhead partition is also included, along with run-flat tires and an armored fuel tank. More armoring can be placed in the engine bay, and there are neat options such as a night vision camera and a stealthy blackout package.
With getting people out of danger quickly being top priority, the most powerful engine options are under the hoods of these SUVs. In the case of the Prado, it’s the 2.4-liter turbo hybrid with 326hp and 630Nm. In the GX, it’s motivated by a 3.4-liter twin-turbo V6 that punches out 350hp and 650Nm. These SUVs will need every ounce of horsepower and torque as armoring can easily double the weight of any vehicle.
How much, you ask? It will all depend on the extent of protection the client wants or needs. Either way, The Prado and GX aren’t cheap, but we reckon those who want that extra level of peace of mind will find it priceless.
