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Tuned VW Golf 8 hatchbacks usually come with extra chin spoilers and other aerodynamic goodies, but South African specialist, Armormax, says its new bulletproof version will protect those inside from standard handguns and assault weapons.
The company is based in Johannesburg where armed car-jackings are not uncommon and so the hot hatch comes with a Class B4 ballistic protection package.
This means it can withstand shots from a .357 Magnum revolver and the even beefier .44 Remington Magnum, as well as assault weapons like AK-47s. By contrast, bigger armoured limousines usually have Class 7 protection which means they can survive even rocket attacks.
Armormax said there is lively demand for an armoured Golf and it has converted a number in the past. The car is also popular in the private security sector, where it is used for rapid responses and high-speed chases.
For an asking price of nearly $100,000, Armormax replaces all the standard glass with Optima ballistic glass, which is indistinguishable from outside. All doors, door panels, pillars, rear seats and the hatch are reinforced with lightweight synthetic armour.
The roof and sunroof are also fitted with the same ballistic protection while still preserving the functionality of the front windows. The final touch is an intercom system.
The rebuild adds 180 kg of weight to the GTI, but makers say this hardly weighs on its top speed of 240km/h.
