Gauteng-based SVI Engineering has a new BMW-approved protection package for the locally built X3 M40i, the first time BMW has issued an armouring certification in Africa.
The ballistic resistance class NIJ Level IIIA package is comparable to B4, which provides protection against handguns (including 9 mm and .44 Magnum). The armoured X3 M40i underwent ballistic and durability testing in SA in accordance with internationally recognised guidelines, says Jaco de Kock, CEO of the SVI group.
The SVI-armoured X3 M40i can be ordered and financed directly from any BMW dealership, with the standard two-year/unlimited kilometre warranty and five-year/100,000km maintenance contract remaining intact.
The ballistic testing involved an armoured X3 subjected to more than 400 shots, including from above.
“Sometimes only the individual armouring components — such as the glass, Kevlar sheets and armoured steel — undergo ballistic testing. But with the X3, we tested the complete armoured vehicle as per the VPAM standard used by BMW worldwide, allowing us to target potential weak spots and ultimately deliver maximum protection in critical areas,” De Kock said.
Offering protection against hijacking and kidnapping, the armouring is concealed and makes the vehicle almost unrecognisable from a standard X3, says SVI.
There are no mechanical changes to the X3 M40i, which is powered by a 3.0l six-cylinder petrol turbo engine with outputs of 285kW and 500Nm. Thanks to the use of lightweight components, the car’s driving characteristics are similar to that of the production model, says SVI.
The armouring package is priced at R879,800, excluding VAT and the cost of the base vehicle, with a build time of around three months.
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