What's all this about?
It's one bloody tough Range Rover, called the Sentinel.
Is it armoured?
It sure is. This is the first luxury armoured vehicle to be engineered and then hand-built by Jaguar Land Rover's Special Vehicle Operations (SVO).
Can it withstand a nuclear strike?
Come on now, you're being silly. What it can do, which is most impressive, is repel 7.62mm high velocity, armour-piercing incendiary bullets, remain unmoved by a 15kg blast of TNT coming from a lateral direction, and look reasonably fine after a DM51 grenade explosion either under the floor or above the roof.
How does it do this?
Based on a standard-wheelbase Range Rover Autobiography, the usual range of exterior colour and interior trim options are available on the Sentinel. Indeed, to the untrained eye, it looks like a normal Rangie. But it isn't, as it has a specially developed six-piece armoured passenger cell, multi-laminated armour privacy glass in the windows and anti-smash glass around the boot area. To this end, Qinetiq certifies it to VR8 standard against ballistic threats.
And what toys are inside?
A 100mm opening in the driver's window allows for documents to be passed in or out of the car without compromising security, while there's an Emergency Escape System behind the rear seats so that occupants can still get out of the Range Rover Sentinel if all the doors are blocked. Naturally, as a luxury SUV, the car still has the split-level tailgate. Into which payloads of 650kg can be loaded, if you so wish.
Any other choices for the terrified magnates on board?
Fire suppression systems can be installed under the floor and bonnet, a customer-configurable siren system can be fitted (Max had one of these on his Volvo in Phoenix Nights...), emergency service lights are an option and so is a loudspeaker system so you can address the outside world from within the Sentinel's safe embrace.
What about the mechanicals?
A 340hp supercharged petrol V6 engine with a specially-calibrated ZF eight-speed automatic powers the Sentinel, which also features run-flat tyres on 20-inch split rims, colossal 380mm front and 365mm rear ventilated brakes with high-density pads and uprated suspension, designed to both cope with the car's extra weight and yet maintain its supple ride quality into the bargain. The Range Rover Sentinel is said to be just as good off road as a normal Range Rover is and it is fitted with an anti-tamper exhaust, self-sealing fuel tank, auxiliary back-up battery and a split charging system. Chauffeurs get a full driver training programme to ensure they can handle the Sentinel in the event of an attack.
And how much is this?
Around €400,000 (under £300,000 at the time of writing), with SVO reckoning most will go to export markets. It's available here, as well as in the rest of Europe, South America, Africa and the Middle East, with a three-year, 50,000-mile warranty. Potential customers head to www.landrover.com/fleet-and-business/ to register their interest.
Matt Robinson - 7 Sep 2015