Designed to resist AK-47s: Tony Abbott's new bulletproof BMW

Date
    January 14, 2015
    Brisbane Times

It's not quite The Beast, the legendary armoured limousine that protects the US President, but it can stop an AK-47 round or a roadside bomb blast. 

And the hulking BMW armoured car worth at least $500,000 is now carrying Tony Abbott on his daily travels, delivering him to the Prime Minister's XI cricket match in Canberra on Wednesday.   :(


Amid the heightened current terrorism alert, Mr Abbott's new ride is one of nine BMW armoured cars the government has bought under a $6.3 million contract, replacing the 12-year-old prime ministerial limo fleet of customised Holden Caprices.   :(

The BMW 7 Series High Security cars were first used at the G20, ferrying world leaders around Brisbane, but have been phased into regular use over the holiday period.

The new V-12 prime ministerial fleet will be spread across the country and, when not needed by Mr Abbott, will be available for visiting VIPs such as foreign leaders and dignitaries.


According to the German auto giant's website, Mr Abbott's new car "meets the highest standards of ballistic protection", with bulletproof windows made from layers of laminated glass and polycarbonate coating, making them hard but flexible enough to absorb the impact of a bullet.

"It is the first vehicle specifically designed to protect against the world's most widely used firearm, the AK-47," the Munich-based firm's website states.

The armour plating is made from strengthened steel backed up by an interior made from sculpted synthetic fibres that are hard and heat resistant. It all forms "an impenetrable second skin", the website states.

Other safety features include tyres that remain inflated even when punctured, a self-sealing petrol tank, an attack alarm and an intercom system that allows the occupants to communicate with people outside without having to open the doors.

It replaces the 2003 V-8 Holden Caprice fleet, which was bought by former prime minister John Howard and was custom-fitted with bulletproof doors and windows, as well as an armoured floor and protected fuel tank.

The new cars were the subject of a political stoush with Labor questioning why Holden wasn't considered for the contract after it emerged that BMW did not bid in the original tender. Officials from the Attorney-General's department told recent Senate hearings the original tender winner turned out not to meet the "full requirements" and the department had to seek the best "value for money".

US President Barack Obama rides a customised General Motors Cadillac that the US Secret Service has nicknamed The Beast and famously carries several litres of blood of the President's type in the boot. It is estimated to weigh at least seven tonnes.

British Prime Minister David Cameron travels in an armoured, super-charged, five-litre Jaguar XJ Sentinel that reportedly can release tear gas to disperse an angry crowd.

Good for him. Our leaders need the best protection available given the current security climate with regard to terrorists.

Still won't save him from being thrown out on his ear the next chance the electorate gets. Where is our promised DD monkey?

Our PM is so loved by the people. . .


. . . that he has to ride around in a $500K German armored car  :D

St George of the Garden wrote on Jan 21^st, 2015 at 6:10am:

Our PM is so loved by the people. . . . . . that he has to ride around in a $500K German armored car  :D

It would be a foolish leader of any country to ride in a stock-standard car these days. Grow a brain...

Armchair_Politician wrote on Jan 21^st, 2015 at 6:59am:

St George of the Garden wrote on Jan 21st, 2015 at 6:10am: Our PM is so loved by the people. . . . . . that he has to ride around in a $500K German armored car  :D It would be a foolish leader of any country to ride in a stock-standard car these days. Grow a brain...

Holdens were not stock standard, armpit. The question that needs to be asked is why BMW was chosen when they themselves didn't even want to be chosen.

An armoured car won't save him on election day, metaphorically speaking.

Armchair_Politician wrote on Jan 21^st, 2015 at 6:59am:

St George of the Garden wrote on Jan 21st, 2015 at 6:10am: Our PM is so loved by the people. . . . . . that he has to ride around in a $500K German armored car  :D It would be a foolish leader of any country to ride in a stock-standard car these days. Grow a brain...

easy ... BMW's were chosen because his daughter was working for them at the time ...

i wonder how much commission she stood to make on a $6.3 million sale  :-? :-?

John Smith wrote on Jan 21^st, 2015 at 8:10am:

Armchair_Politician wrote on Jan 21st, 2015 at 6:59am: St George of the Garden wrote on Jan 21st, 2015 at 6:10am: Our PM is so loved by the people. . . . . . that he has to ride around in a $500K German armored car  :D It would be a foolish leader of any country to ride in a stock-standard car these days. Grow a brain... easy ... BMW's were chosen because his daughter was working for them at the time ... i wonder how much commission she stood to make on a $6.3 million sale  :-? :-?

That is garbage! Much as I don’t like these entitled daughters who still hold hands with daddy even when they are adult {skin creeps} but all the daughter did was be photographed in high fashion around BMWs. Was paid by Flemington Racecourse not BMW.

There is much, much to berate this substandard govt and its braindamaged leader for, don’t invent ones.

The 10 year old fleet needed to be replaced and what better time to do it when interest rates are so low.....No matter who built the cars it would have been a foreign car anyway because thanks' to Abbott Australia does not have a car manufacturing industry.....Priorities people!!!

::) ::) ::)

I bet his daughter got a nice commission.

Dsmithy70 wrote on Jan 21^st, 2015 at 10:04am:

I bet his daughter got a nice commission.

I wonder what she drives?

Quote:

................Amid the heightened current terrorism alert..........

send the bill to the mosques.

..perfectly reasonable security precaution.... same as you expect our troops to be protected by Bradleys and such.

st george


Quote:

..........I don’t like these entitled daughters who still hold hands with daddy even when they are adult ....

really ?
I like hugging my sons.

John Smith wrote on Jan 21^st, 2015 at 8:10am:

Armchair_Politician wrote on Jan 21st, 2015 at 6:59am: St George of the Garden wrote on Jan 21st, 2015 at 6:10am: Our PM is so loved by the people. . . . . . that he has to ride around in a $500K German armored car  :D It would be a foolish leader of any country to ride in a stock-standard car these days. Grow a brain... easy ... BMW's were chosen because his daughter was working for them at the time ... i wonder how much commission she stood to make on a $6.3 million sale  :-? :-?

Alot more than if she was sitting at home on her Rss whinging about other people making money  ;D :D ;D

Best thing about Julia was:-

No Dynasty Problem

Swagman wrote on Jan 21^st, 2015 at 11:00am:

John Smith wrote on Jan 21st, 2015 at 8:10am: Armchair_Politician wrote on Jan 21st, 2015 at 6:59am: St George of the Garden wrote on Jan 21st, 2015 at 6:10am: Our PM is so loved by the people. . . . . . that he has to ride around in a $500K German armored car  :D It would be a foolish leader of any country to ride in a stock-standard car these days. Grow a brain... easy ... BMW's were chosen because his daughter was working for them at the time ... i wonder how much commission she stood to make on a $6.3 million sale  :-? :-? Alot more than if she was sitting at home on her Rss whinging about other people making money  ;D :D ;D

you've tried both options?

St George of the Garden wrote on Jan 21^st, 2015 at 8:59am:

John Smith wrote on Jan 21st, 2015 at 8:10am: Armchair_Politician wrote on Jan 21st, 2015 at 6:59am: St George of the Garden wrote on Jan 21st, 2015 at 6:10am: Our PM is so loved by the people. . . . . . that he has to ride around in a $500K German armored car  :D It would be a foolish leader of any country to ride in a stock-standard car these days. Grow a brain... easy ... BMW's were chosen because his daughter was working for them at the time ... i wonder how much commission she stood to make on a $6.3 million sale  :-? :-? That is garbage! Much as I don’t like these entitled daughters who still hold hands with daddy even when they are adult {skin creeps} but all the daughter did was be photographed in high fashion around BMWs. Was paid by Flemington Racecourse not BMW. There is much, much to berate this substandard govt and its braindamaged leader for, don’t invent ones.

see george, I don't believe that (the facts of the story are true, yes) most poli's doing deals on the side do so by keeping their names OFF the books. You think she spent all day in BMW's tent, with BMW's bigwigs, and the topic didn't come up?  I don't