California-based Quality Coachworks has turned the Cadillac Escalade into a very luxurious armored vehicle.
The latest in the company’s series of AddArmor vehicles, the 2022 B6 Escalade features lightweight B6 AR 500 bullet-resistant material in every body panel that offers B6-level protection, plus B6-level reinforced glass that can sustain prolonged strikes from rocks, bats, or other blunt objects, the company claims. A PA siren system (to disperse crowds) and run-flat tires also help prepare the Escalade for dangerous situations. B6 protection is the highest level of civilian protection allowed and it stops 7.62×55 mm rounds fired from an R1 assault rifle.
Passengers can weather attacks in leather-lined comfort. The interior features second-row captain’s chairs with heating, ventilation, and massage, with a center console and aircraft-style foldout tables in between. A Samsung smart TV keeps occupants entertained while under siege by terrorists.
AddArmor by Quality Coachworks 2022 Cadillac Escalade
The armor and luxury features likely add a lot of weight, but Quality Coachworks did not specify any powertrain or chassis upgrades. The Escalade is currently available with 6.2-liter gasoline V-8 and 3.0-liter turbodiesel inline-6 powertrains producing 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque and 277 hp and 460 lb-ft, respectively. An Escalade-V is on the way for the 2023 model year, with 682 hp and 653 lb-ft of torque courtesy of a supercharged 6.2-liter V-8. That would be pretty handy for escaping attackers.
The ballistic protection for the Escalade costs about $80,000, while the upgraded interior costs an additional $75,000. To put that in perspective, a base Escalade starts at $77,990 (including destination).
Paranoid one percenters do have a choice of armored Escalades. Canada’s Inkas unveiled its own version in 2021, also with lightweight ballistic panels. If an Escalade is too high-profile, Inkas will apply the same armor package to the related Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
