S-Class Sedan

Segment
Sedan

Just a couple of days ago, we reported on the quiet release of the newest addition to the Mercedes-Benz S-Class range. It's not the sort of vehicle you'll see on a build & price configurator, nor will you find one on a dealership forecourt. One of the lesser-known services that Mercedes offers is that of building specially-adapted armored limousines, and the latest is called the S680 Guard 4MATIC. It costs more than some supercars, but it also can do things no supercar can. Grenades? A walk in the park. AR fire? A breeze. This car is the definition of badass, so here are three reasons that it's cooler than a Lambo.

Long-Wheelbase Luxury

As you may have surmised, the S680 Guard is bulletproof and has been awarded VPAM VR10 classification for its protection upgrades, and with 4 inches of glass between you and an overzealous gun enthusiast, you can barely hear the tapping of ineffective AR fire to your windows. What's more, the Guard is only offered with a long wheelbase, so that means you get to stretch out and relax with the climate control just so. Sure, blasting along the Autobahn at 200 mph in a piece of Italian exotica is cool and all, but eventually, your back will need a rest. In the Guard, you're sipping perfectly chilled champagne. Advantage Mercedes.

Speeding Fines Are Unlikely

If you've read our earlier feature on the Guard, you'll know that the 6.0-liter twin-turbo V12 under the hood is from a Maybach and produces an impressive 612 horsepower. You'll also know that the car weighs over 9,200 pounds, giving it a top speed of just 118 mph. Getting there surely takes quite some time, but the Maybach V12 has been tuned for smoothness, meaning you won't spill your champers and you'll likely never get a speeding ticket. Of course, whatever you save on speeding fines will be more than made up for with the fuel bill, but a Lambo isn't light on dino juice either.

Emergency Systems Have Multiple Uses

In the S680 Guard, you get all the usual features of a regular S-Class, as well as some bespoke ones. Optionally, you can specify a fire suppression system and an emergency fresh air system (not to be used in tandem, obviously). The latter is designed to counter incoming smoke or gases and keeps occupants supplied with fresh air. We've seen loads of Lamborghinis and other supercars catch fire over the years, but that sort of thing is highly unlikely in the Guard. Furthermore, if you happen to give a ride to a broken-down Subaru owner, you can quickly get rid of his vape clouds with the fresh air system.

In conclusion, the Mercedes-Benz S680 Guard is an absolute beast. It offers the highest level of ballistic protection available for a passenger car and can even do 19 miles of driving with punctured tires, thanks to specialized Michelin Pax rubber. Compare that to what other six-figure cars are like: if you look at an Italian supercar the wrong way, some kind of disabling error will come up on the cluster, leaving you stranded. At a starting price of €457,100 (over $540,000), it isn't cheap compared to the average Lambo, but it's not overly flashy either and it can deal with two hand grenades detonating on the roof. If that's not cool, we don't know what is.