“Because bulletproof vehicles need to outrun bad guys,” you might be right to some extent. But that’s not the only reason why bulletproof cars need more powerful engines and torque than my Toyota Camry. Here, we will discuss why that is, but firstly, let’s get to know bulletproof vehicles.
A bulletproof or armored vehicle was first used in the 20th century when armor and live ammunition were added to regular cars. You might be wondering what exactly an armored vehicle is. Do I need an armored vehicle? Is it more safe in crashes and car accidents? Read on till the end to find out.
What Exactly is an Armored Vehicle?
An armored vehicle is built to withstand attacks and protect its passengers from bullets, bombs, and chemicals. Bullets can pierce through the body or the windows of a regular car, but armored vehicles have really thick bodywork that resists bullets.
How to Measure the Strength of an Armored Vehicle?
The strength of steel is measured by its thickness, which is measured in gauges. You obviously didn’t get that. Let me simplify: the lower the steel gauge is, the more powerful it is. For reference, in a standard civilian car, guage 20 steel is commonly used, which saves weight. However, steel armor plates, aluminum, and composite materials like Kevlar, polyethylene, and titanium are used in an armored vehicle’s body. The steel plates used in the body are at least three gauges.
Reinforced Glass Windows
Not only do armored vehicles have high-strength bodies, but they also have reinforced glass windows. This glass can stop bullets from penetrating through the glass and harming the passengers. It consists of multiple layers and can be as thick
as 1 inch.
Are Bulletproof Vehicles Fast?
Yes, because of all the added padding, steel, and reinforced glass, the car’s weight almost doubles, which makes it sluggish and underpowered. That’s why either a bigger engine is swapped with the existing engine or some forced induction is introduced to the engine. For example, twin-turbochargers or superchargers are added to increase the horsepower and torque figures to suit the current weight and provide optimum performance.
Can I Identify an Armored Vehicle?
Yes, you definitely can. These kinds of vehicles are often heavily guarded, but if you happen to see one in person, you can look through the glass windows. If they seem thicker than regular cars, that’s definitely armored. Alternatively, you can try to knock on the car door. If the sound is solid and the door feels more solid on your knuckles than any other car door would have felt, it may be armored. But we don’t recommend this since there’s a high chance that somebody is in that car and you can get in trouble for this action.