BMW has reportedly gained considered one of Germany’s most vital authorities contracts. In keeping with Der Spiegel, the Federal Legal Police Workplace (BKA) has chosen the BMW 7 Sequence Safety as its new armored state automobile, beating out bids from Mercedes-Benz and Audi. The BKA’s safety group is chargeable for defending the nation’s prime officers, together with Chancellor Friedrich Merz and President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. For many years, that obligation was normally dealt with by Mercedes S-Class Guard fashions, so BMW’s win marks a big shift.
Constructed for the Job
BMW’s 7 Sequence Safety (inside code G73) isn’t only a modified model of the usual luxurious sedan. It’s constructed from the bottom up as an armored automobile. The physique shell makes use of what BMW calls a “Safety Core” — a self-supporting construction made from high-strength metal that’s built-in straight into the chassis and roof body. That design gives full 360-degree safety with out the compromises of aftermarket conversions.
The glass and panels can face up to high-caliber rounds, whereas the underbody is strengthened to guard in opposition to small explosives. In its highest configuration, the automobile meets VPAM 10 requirements — among the many hardest civilian safety scores — and might resist fireplace from rifles just like the 7.62 × 54 mm R, ammunition generally utilized in Russian sniper rifles and machine weapons.
Energy and Weight
Whereas BMW additionally affords an all-electric i7 Safety, Der Spiegel studies that the BKA has opted for the combustion-powered mannequin — the 760i Safety. It makes use of a twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 paired with mild-hybrid know-how and produces round 544 horsepower. The identical engine isn’t even accessible in common German-market 7 Sequence sedans, making it a particular utility for presidency use.
The automobile weighs properly over 4,000 kilograms (8,800 lbs), but it stays able to severe pace when wanted. BMW’s engineering workforce adjusted the suspension, brakes, and stability techniques particularly for the additional mass, guaranteeing predictable dealing with in high-pressure conditions.
Specifically tuned brakes, chassis elements, and Michelin PAX run-flat tires (20-inch alloys) permit the G73 to maintain transferring at as much as 80 km/h even with no air within the tires. A self-sealing gas tank reduces fireplace threat after an assault. The automobile can also be engineered to resist sure explosives, together with drone-dropped units and hand grenades.
Inside, patrons can specify the identical consolation options discovered within the common G70 7 Sequence—Govt Lounge seating, therapeutic massage features, privateness blinds, a cool field, and high-end audio. The BMW Curved Show and a devoted Safety Command Contact System combine safety features into the cabin. Even the iDrive infotainment system has been designed particularly for this BMW 7 Sequence Safety. A particular menu offers the motive force and passengers entry to bespoke options, like controlling intercom system and lights, communication with the surface world, and others.
A Win for BMW
For BMW, the deal is greater than a symbolic victory. It locations Munich on the middle of Germany’s state transport operations, a task historically dominated by Mercedes. The 7 Sequence Safety is constructed alongside commonplace fashions at BMW’s Dingolfing plant, which additionally produces the electrical i7 and 5 Sequence.
[Source: Der Spiegel via BimmerToday]
