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Audi A8 L Security blends serious protection with luxury and style

Filed under: Sedan, Safety, Audi, Luxury

Audi A8 L Security

Audi A8 L Security – Click above for high-res image gallery

Attention wealthy car shoppers looking for mobile security beyond an alarm and LoJack. Your new chariot of protection has arrived and it’s wearing Four Rings in the grille. Audi is preparing to launch a truly battle-ready premium sedan and it’s called the A8 L Security.

Produced in a heavily guarded section of a secure workshop (no cell phones allowed), the A8 L Security is an armor-plated luxury sedan certified by the German government for compliance with the VR 7 ballistic protection standard (2009). Basically, that means this A8 L is capable of taking numerous rifle bullets and small explosive hits such as hand grenades and anti-tank mines.

All of that protection adds weight, and the Audi A8 L Security employs measures to help counter -balance the added heft. Under the hood is a 6.3-liter W12 engine that produces 500 horsepower and 461 pound-feet of torque. It’s paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and both work together to push the heavy four-door from zero-to-60 miles per hour in around seven seconds.

As you may recall, Audi showed off its last generation A8 L Security in 2007, and that car cost $685,000. No word yet on a sticker price for this latest version, but armoring ain’t cheap.

The full list of features on this rolling luxury tank is hugely impressive, and it’s available for you to read in the press-release posted after the jump.

Gallery: Audi A8 L Security

Audi A8 L Security

[Source: Audi]

Continue reading Audi A8 L Security blends serious protection with luxury and style

Audi A8 L Security blends serious protection with luxury and style originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Feb 2011 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jeep J8 gets shot up to earn ballistic protection certification

Filed under: SUV, Safety, Jeep, Military, Off-Road

Jeep J8 Ballistic Tests

Jeep J8 undergoes ballistic tests – Click above for high-res image gallery

In its ongoing quest to return the Jeep name to its military roots, Chrysler has just put the J8 through ballistic and blast certification. The company says that its using a new manufacturing technique by hot-forming steel to create a protective shell for the vehicle. Sounds fancy, and evidently it’s tough enough to take the kind of abuse necessary to be awarded BRV 2009 VR7 ballistic protection certification. What does all that mean? No matter what your daily commute throws at you, chances are this beefed-up Wrangler will get you to work in one piece.

The J8 is currently being marketed to military, government and private security operations that require the kind of vehicle that can drive through a hail of small-arms fire without getting perforated. There are also a number other configurations available – everything from well-armed patrol vehicles to troop and cargo transports.

We wouldn’t mind having one of each to play around with for a weekend… how about you? Thanks for the tip, Joe!

Gallery: Jeep J8 Ballistic Tests

[Source: Jeep Facebook]

Jeep J8 gets shot up to earn ballistic protection certification originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 Sep 2010 18:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford introduces airbags with enhanced crash protection, debuting on 2012 Focus [w/video]

Filed under: Safety, Technology, Ford

Ford's next-gen airbag system

Ford’s next-generation airbag technology – Click above for high-res image gallery

Ford has given us a sneak peek at its production-ready 2012 Focus, and while our lips may be sealed about its specs and our impressions, we can now give you the lowdown on the Blue Oval’s new airbag technologies that will debut in its forthcoming C-segment stunner.

For the driver, the new steering wheel airbag uses a tether system that pulls in the lower section of the bag back toward the dashboard. This creates a small pocket that Ford engineers say will soften the blow of the airbag to the driver’s chest and ribs, reducing the threat of bodily injury in a frontal crash.

The side airbags also work to prevent injuries to the driver and front passenger by adding shoulder vents that stay open during inflation, reducing pressure for smaller occupants. Taller folks will block these vents with their shoulders, and this added pressure can actually prove to be helpful.

Along with the shoulder vents, Ford has used an adaptive venting system in its passenger-side front airbag, which diverts some of the inflation gas outside of the bags. This better protects passengers by enhancing head and neck protection by matching inflation force with the size of the occupant, which is monitored by the weight sensors already built into the seats.

As you’d expect, these safety features won’t just be limited to the 2012 Focus. Ford says that this technology will quickly spread to the rest of its model range within the next few years. To see exactly how these systems work, follow the jump to watch an instructional animated video, as well as actual crash test footage. Ford’s press release is available for your reading pleasure, as well.

Gallery: Ford’s Next-Generation Airbag Technology

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Ford introduces airbags with enhanced crash protection, debuting on 2012 Focus [w/video]

Ford introduces airbags with enhanced crash protection, debuting on 2012 Focus [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 16 Sep 2010 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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