Mercedes-Benz ML 500 Guard Edition introduced in India

Diplomats and despots need to be kept safe and Mercedes-Benz aims to cater to these high profile individuals. The ML 500 Guard Edition is the first armoured SUV in this class and it will come as a godsend for the politicians, high profile celebs and those with mattresses stuffed with cash. Priced at Rs 2.49 crore ex-showroom Delhi, the armoured ML 500 follows the company’s ‘Integral Special Protection’ approach, which involves adding armoured elements to the vehicle’s body shell instead of retrofitting them on top. This not only results in better integration but also aids in keeping weight in check.

The Guard Edition of the car weighs only 675kg more than the standard ML 500, resulting in better handling and performance. The SUV meets VR4 and BVR 2009 guidelines for bullet resistance and ballistic resistance. The ML 500 Guard Edition also gets AIRMATIC air suspension system with Adaptive Damper System (ADS) specifically adapted to the vehicle’s special protection features.

The engine is the same 4.6-litre V8 that does service in the standard ML 500, producing 408bhp and 600Nm of torque. In spite of the drastic increase in weight, Mercedes claims that the armoured SUV takes just 4.6 seconds to the ton mark and reaches an electronically limited top whack of 250kmph. The engine comes with a start/stop function to maximise fuel economy.

With the addition of the M-Class Guard Edition, Mercedes-Benz India expands its range of armoured car offerings to four with the C-, E- and S-Class.