Protect and Swerve

When even a five-star safety rating won't do, BMW has something to offer. High-value asset Greg Kable samples the armoured yet agile i7 and 760i xDrive limousines

- Greg Kable

The Dragunov SVU OTS-03 isn't just a firearm; it's an instrument of lethal precision. With a range of up to 1200 metres, its ammunition can penetrate a regular steel car body with ease which is bad news for those inside. But there is a way to keep safe from a Dragunov and still travel in some luxury: the BMW 7 Series.

But not just a regular 7 Series: what we're talking about here is the electric i7 xDrive60 Protection, or, if you prefer combustion power, the petrol-engined 760i xDrive Protection. Whichever propulsion method you plump for, the real novelty is in the body: the pair are among a select few armoured limousines to offer certified defence against one of the world's most feared handheld weapons.

They meet the highest of ballistic standards within the automotive industry and have been designed to repel repeated rounds from the 7.62x54mm-calibre Russian-produced sniper rifle, as well as many varied explosive devices, including grenade-carrying drones, bombs consisting of up to 15kg of TNT and much more besides.

Their secret? The so-called Protective Core, a unique self-supporting structure made from the latest generation of armoured steel and other exotic materials. Encapsulating the luxuriously equipped cabin, it supplements the modified body shell of the 7 Series. Together with heavy armour for the underbody, roof and pillars, along with strengthened front and rear windscreens and doors featuring specially developed multi-layer glass, it provides the latest in a long line of BMW Protection models that carry the coveted VPAM VR10 rating. That's basically like a five-star Euro NCAP rating, only for protection against assassins.