Full metal jacket Benz S600s for G20

World leaders attending the G20 Summit in Brisbane in November will be conveyed around town in a rented fleet of special Mercedes-Benz S-Class limousines designed to resist attack from most things short of a guided missile.

The vehicles are based on the Mercedes-Benz S 600 Guard high-security models that roll off the production line in limited numbers for use around the world by high-profile dignitaries, at a cost claimed to be three times greater than that of a regular S 600.

With a full-metal armoured jacket, incredibly thick glass (the windows are lifted or lowered on special hydraulic rams) and complete underbody plating, the Benz mobile fortress weighs around 4.3 tonnes.

It is able to withstand land mines and continuous automatic-weapons fire from M60 machine guns, while the interior has its own oxygen supply to protect occupants from gas attacks.

An inbuilt fire extinguisher system mounted in the boot is designed to extinguish any blaze that may occur. Night vision technology also enables the driver to see where others might not be able to.

Despite the weight, the bulletproof Benz is no slouch on the road, what with its 390kW/830Nm 6.0-litre V12 engine lifted from the regular S 600 model, heavy-duty brakes and specially developed suspension system comprising a combination of air dampers and coil springs, all riding on purpose-built run-flat Michelin tyres.

The claim is that the bulky S 600 can accelerate from ground zero to 100km/h in a bit more than six seconds – slower than the regular S 600's sub five-second times, but still far short of tardy. It also carries the regular line-up of S 600 luxuries including all-way adjustable seating and a full array of electronic safety aids.

At a total rented cost of $1.8 million, the 16 vehicles are already in the process of being shipped to Australia, where they will go through a validation process, as well as specialised driver training and local preparation of the communication systems.

Reportedly, some leaders, including US president Barrack Obama and Russian president Vladimir Putin, will ride in their own armoured vehicles during the summit. The 16 Benz limos will be supplemented by Australia's permanent fleet of armoured vehicles.

The G20 Group of Twenty global economic summit will be held in Brisbane on November 15 and 16.