MERC GOES ON GUARD WITH E AND S

Mercedes-Benz South Africa is proud of the fact that they are now once again offering Guard versions of the E-Class and S-Class. The two models are the E500 Guard and the S600L Guard. With the upcoming 2010 FIFA World Cup, a lot of dignitaries and VIPs will be flocking into Mzansi to attend the games as well as to network under a different setting.

Stories of crime and other negative reports regarding our country have not escaped the world media. Merc therefore feels it’s opportune for them to offer the protective Guard models immediately in anticipation of this event as well as in response to other factors.

Guard armoured cars are designed from the ground up to be able to withstand shots from firearms as strong as .44 Magnums and attacks from some types of hand grenades. Their bodywork is constructed from materials that are tough but light enough not to undermine the cars’ performance too much.

Protection includes “weak” points like door sills and the fuel tank which incidentally, should NOT explode even if it was shot 10 times because there simply isn’t enough oxygen inside it to help combustion. Sorry but Hollywood has had us all hoodwinked for years on this!

There is undoubtedly extra weight to deal with though, I mean for instance, the thick bullet-proof side windows weigh 80kg. Each. That’s like four extra grown men being carried by each door! Mercedes-Benz recommends that customers do not opt for windows that open, although strange enough, some do. Why would you buy an armoured car if you are going to compromise your own safety by rolling down the windows? Ayi, rich people! Guard vehicles are most popular in countries like Russia, Hong Kong and Mexico where assassinations and kidnappings of prominent people are most common.

Interior safety gadgets include a fire extinguisher, an intercom that allows passengers to send out verbal messages to outsiders without opening the windows and extra oxygen masks.

Admittedly the extra loads carry with them handling penalties so Mercedes-Benz offers buyers a course (for two) on how to handle their Guard cars. It’s expected that only the drivers of the cars will attend since most owners don’t drive themselves.

These cars are still Mercs by all accounts so all the nice stuff like power steering, leather interiors, runflat tyres, 7G-Tronic gearbox and In-Car-Entertainment (ICE) is still there.

Engines remain the same. The E500 Guard has a 5.5-litre V8 with 285kW and 530Nm while the S600L Guard uses a 5.5-litre V12 making 380kW and 830Nm of torque.

Prices for the two cars are:

E500 Guard

R1 729 000

S600L Guard

R5 900 000