The Bulletproof Mercedes You Probably Can't Buy

June 5, 2026

Roberto Baldwin

In any good political thriller, there's a moment when a fortified vehicle becomes the target of attack.

Bullets are no match for the vehicle's armor. Windows may spiderweb as impacts are born from a volley of bullets, and yet the occupants are safe inside.

For a very small number of Mercedes customers, these types of concerns are a reality. For those potential owners, there's the Mercedes Guard S-Class S680. The custom-built, fortified vehicles can stop bullets, drive on flat tires for 18 miles, and can protect occupants from smoke and gas attacks.

One of the issues surrounding these types of vehicles is that while Mercedes is happy to share some details, others are unanswered due to security concerns. What we do know is that the windows are bulletproof and that the windows, along with the rest of the vehicle, offer VPAM VR10 protection, the European standard for ballistic protection.

Mercedes told SAE Media that the vehicle can withstand the shot from a 7.62×54 mmR bullet shot from a sniper rifle six meters (approx 20 feet) away. An impressive feat. To stop projectiles, the windows are actually layers of windows with a polycarbonate final layer that expands, capturing broken glass and projectiles so they don't enter the cabin.

The layers of protection result in a window that weighs about 45-50 kilograms (88- 110 pounds). The traditional electronic motors can't handle rolling up and down the windows, and instead, Mercedes created a hydraulic scissor-lift system. The approximately 250-kilogram (551-pound) doors (like the rest of the vehicle) are packed with steel reinforcement. An electric support system assists passengers when opening the doors and will keep the doors open when on an incline.

That level of protection could make trying to figure out what's going on outside the vehicle if it weren't for the exterior microphones that can be used to monitor the situation. If you need to talk to those outside, a microphone inside the car and external speakers can be used to share your thoughts.

The vehicle also ships with a fire suppression system, and if say, someone uses tear gas on the vehicle hoping to flush out the occupants, all vents can be closed, and an air supply in the truck can keep those inside safe and breathing.

The roughly 100-pound windows are made up of layers of glass and a polycarbonate final layer. (Roberto Baldwin)

Of course, adding all of these protective items to a vehicle adds weight. This S-Class weighs in at about 9.5 tons. To help get it around, it offers the V-12 that's only available in the Maybach trim levels. The engine produces 603 hp (450 kW) and 612 lb-ft (830 Nm), enough power to speed away when needed.

All of this protection seems like it could take away from the S-Class luxury experience, but it doesn't. The rear seats are plush and still offer up rear displays, comfortable reclining seats, and a fridge for your champagne. There were non-standard items in the rear of the vehicle that we were not allowed to photograph, again for security reasons. But overall, inside and out, the average person would not know that this S-Class would be able to drive away from a machine-gun attack, thanks to the Michelin Pax run-flat tires, which have a hard rubber center that allows the vehicle to drive at up to 80 km/h (50 mph) for up to 30km (18 miles).

Sure, you can get the front fender flag poles added, but you don't have to. You can just have a sleeper protective vehicle with a giant 12-cylinder engine. That said, you probably wouldn't be able to buy this vehicle. It's not available in certain regions, including China and the United States. It also weighs so much that in some areas you would need a special license to drive it. Plus, the heft changes the dynamic of the vehicle. Fortunately, Mercedes will train drivers.

If you're royalty, the head of state, or maybe just someone who's angered a large swath of the population or very dangerous people, and if you can legally buy one, you can build a customized Mercedes-Benz S-Class Guard S680 to protect you while you travel in luxury.