First Toyota LC300 gets top armour treatment

This is the highest grade of civilian protection allowed without a special permit in the country.

The discreetly armoured Land Cruiser 300 is ready for delivery, with its new owner set to enjoy full protection against assault rifles such as an AK47, R5 and R1.

Nicol Louw, Business Development Manager at SVI, says the J300 series Land Cruiser makes for the perfect VIP vehicle when fitted with the Bashewa-based firm’s comprehensive B6 bullet-resistant package.

“The armoured Land Cruiser 200 has proven to be one of the most popular civilian vehicles with SVI clients over the years. Since the new Land Cruiser 300 is both lighter and more powerful than its predecessor, it’s even better suited to receiving the B6 solution,” says Nicol.

SVI’s team of engineers took the opportunity to make a series of improvements over the company’s Land Cruiser 200 armouring package, drawing on the results of a specially commissioned VPAM 7 test, which helped to identify potential weak points and ultimately eliminate even the narrowest of ballistic gaps.

Like the Land Cruiser 200 version, the 360-degree B6 armouring package for the Land Cruiser 300 includes a rear bulkhead sited behind the second row, saving on both cost and mass. However, in this case the bulkhead has been moved further towards the rear of the vehicle, freeing up space to store valuables behind the rear bench as well as affording occupants the option of reclining at a greater angle. Furthermore, SVI has added an escape hatch to the bulkhead.

In addition, the driver’s and front passenger’s windows can now lower slightly further, while all of the SUV’s driver assistance safety systems – including those relying on sensors mounted behind the windscreen – remain fully operational. Finally, in order to manage the additional mass of the comprehensive array of armouring components (which total around 750 kg), the body-on-frame SUV’s suspension has been upgraded.

The 360-degree B6 armouring solution for the Land Cruiser 300 is priced from R981 823 (excluding VAT), while the list of options includes items such as B6 roof armour, B6 floor armour and heavy-duty run-flats. The build time is set at four months.