What goes into a CM’s bulletproof Toyota Land Cruiser SUV?

When a politician gets to a high powered position like a prime minister or chief minister, they have to travel in high-security vehicles. The vehicles are often bulletproof or are armoured. So, they often need to have a safety blanket around them. Here, is a video of a Toyota Land Cruiser that is bulletproof and belongs to a chief minister of India.

The video is uploaded on YouTube by TurboXtremae. The host gives us a tour of the armoured Toyota Land Cruiser SUV. It is a 2009 model of Land Cruiser that has been converted to a 2019 model. However, the changes are only cosmetic, not mechanical. So, the bumpers, grilles, taillight and headlamps are new. Due to this, the SUV looks quite modern.

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The video starts by showing the interior of the SUV. It has a multi-function steering wheel with partial wood finish,  a dual-tone dashboard, an infotainment system, push-button to start/stop, automatic climate control and a lot more. The seats are finished in beige colour and have leather upholstery. The centre console houses the automatic gearbox lever, manual hand brake and an armrest. It also has wooden trim on it. The cabin looks quite nice and premium.

Then he shows us the bulletproof windows and windshield. The windows cannot be rolled down because it creates a safety concern. So, they are sealed. The same applies to the electric sunroof also. The regular SUV weighs around 2.6 to 2.7 tonnes. However, after the bulletproof conversion, the weight has gone up to 4 tonnes. No one would be able to tell if the SUV is bulletproof from the exterior.

The host also takes the bulletproof SUV for a drive. He says that you can’t feel the punch from the engine anymore because of the added weight. There is quite a bit of body roll when you turn the vehicle into the corner. The SUV also feels lethargic as the engine now lacks torque for a vehicle of this weight.

There is armour all around the vehicle. The suspension has been upgraded because the stock suspension cannot handle so much additional weight. The doors have a high-grade Kevlar installed in them that act as armour. All other body panels also get Kevlar protection. Even the tyres are now leak and puncture-proof. They have a special sealant in them that seal the tyres as soon a puncture happens or a bullet hits a tyre. The engine bay also gets Kevlar protection to make sure that the bullet cannot the engine and damage it.

The engine that does duty on the Toyota Land Cruiser is a 4.5-litre V8. It is a diesel engine that produces 261 PS of max power and a peak torque output of 650 Nm. It comes mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission as a standard that drives all four wheels. The vlogger mentions it wrongly that the SUV is equipped with a 5.7-litre V8 petrol engine. Toyota offered the Land Cruiser in India only with a diesel engine.

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