Audi India will preview the latest version of its armoured vehicle in the form of the A8 L Security at the Auto Expo 2012. The Security is based on the A8 and is powered by a W12 engine.

The armored saloon’s custom security modifications are performed by hand and the engineers have retained the car’s space frame chassis and added special aluminum protection plates all over the car. The windows and windscreens too have multiple layers to them which adds up another 300kg to the overall weight.

The A8 L Security has been officially certified by a German-government ballistics testing facility to VR7 wherein the sheet metal and glazing in the passenger cell must withstand firing with NATO hard-core ammunition. In certain areas, the armoring on the Audi A8 L Security even complies with the criteria for class VR9 and VR10.The interior armoring weighs approximately 720 kilograms and the A8 Security is capable of surviving a hand grenade attack.

The Security’s doors get a closing assist feature as standard – which weighs an additional 360kg. A door-stop function holds each door open in any desired position. Another security feature is the fire extinguisher system, which is activated via heat sensors or by pushing a button.

Audi’s German rivals are already offering their armoured vehicles in India. BMW had its High Security 7-Series saloon on sale for the last couple of years, while the Mercedes-Benz’s armoured S-Class, known as the S-Guard, was launched in 2010 for staggering Rs 6crore.