2027 Mercedes-Benz S680 Guard: A Ridiculous Armored S-Class Baby Beast
Key takeaways
- Mercedes’ S680 Guard is a factory-built armored S-Class with VR10 protection, V-12 power, run-flat tires, and serious stealth.
- American presidents since 2001 have been driven around in The Beast, an armored truck styled to look like a Cadillac sedan.
- The Beast is also an expensive piece of kit, reportedly costing U.S. taxpayers $1.5 million each (the Secret Service has 10 to 12 of them in the fleet at any given time).
Why this matters: an automotive development that could shape industry direction or buying decisions.
Mercedes’ S680 Guard is a factory-built armored S-Class with VR10 protection, V-12 power, run-flat tires, and serious stealth.
American presidents since 2001 have been driven around in The Beast, an armored truck styled to look like a Cadillac sedan. The third-generation model, which features exterior styling cues derived from the Cadillac CT6 sedan and has a 6.6-liter Chevy Duramax V-8 turbodiesel under the hood, went into service in 2018. Designed and engineered by General Motors to strict U.S. Secret Service specifications, The Beast is a fortress on wheels, right down to its 120-volt electrified door handles and tear gas launchers. Government sources refuse to confirm the full extent of its protective capabilities, but you can be sure that when the shooting starts, there are few safer rides on the planet.
The Beast is also an expensive piece of kit, reportedly costing U.S. taxpayers $1.5 million each (the Secret Service has 10 to 12 of them in the fleet at any given time). Now, there are many other heads of state around the world with concerns for their personal safety, not to mention assorted oligarchs and plutocrats for whom $1.5 million, barely a downpayment on a Bugatti Tourbillon, looks like excellent value for money. But they can’t buy one; the world’s most protective vehicle is not for sale. They can, however, now buy the next best thing. Meet the Mercedes-Benz S680 Guard.