Land Rover announces new armored LR4 12/24/2010
Land Rover has a reputation for making rugged vehicles, but a new annoucement indicates that the British automaker is taking things a step further - it will soon begin selling an armored version of the LR4.

According to Kilometer Magazine, the armored LR4 will be fully bulletproof and will feature superior ballistic protection. Developed in conjunction with armored car industry leader Centigon, the vehicle will be able to withstand the detonation of up to 15 kilograms of TNT nearby. Additionally, it can also survive the explosion of two DM51 hand grenades tossed beneath its undercarriage.

Thanks to the armor upgrades, the new LR4 tips the scales at more than 7,800 pounds. It shares the same powertrain as its non-armored counterpart, however, running on a 5.0-liter V-8 engine. The engine will be able to produce 385 horsepower, although the car's ample weight slows its acceleration from zero to 60 miles per hour down to 10.6 seconds. The armored LR4 also uses a hefty six-piston brake system to ensure that for all its bulk, it can still stop within a reasonable distance.