Mercedes-Benz rolled out a facelift of its flagship S-Class this year and unveiled the model based on it, "the new Mercedes-Benz S 680 Guard 4MATIC." Covering the brand's entire lineup of special-protection vehicles, "Guard" is the top civilian armored car that blocks not only incoming bullets and explosives but also toxic gas. We take apart, piece by piece, the S-Class Guard, the "moving fortress" chosen by royalty, presidents, and tycoons around the world.
◇ Impossible to tell from a standard S-Class in appearance… Korea's president also rides it
Mercedes-Benz typically builds the Guard on the S-Class or the top-tier Maybach S-Class Pullman. Rather than retrofitting armor plates onto a standard model, the defining feature is integrating the armored structure from the design stage.
The exterior and interior designs are identical to a regular car. Sascha Zainyz, marketing and communications lead for the Mercedes-Benz S-Class Guard, said, "The best protection is undercover, so people don't recognize it as an armored car," adding, "It should be as ordinary and inconspicuous as possible."
Since first applying an armored design in 1928 at a customer's request to the eight-cylinder "Nürburg 460," Mercedes-Benz has protected key figures worldwide. The Nürburg 460 Guard was used by Pope Pius XI. Leaders in countries constantly facing terror threats, such as Russia and India, as well as Kim Jong-un, also ride the Maybach S Pullman Guard.
Korea's presidential state car is also a Mercedes-Benz Guard. President Lee Jae-myung used a Maybach S 600 Pullman Guard for his first engagement on June 4 after being elected last year.
◇ "Safest among civilian models"… even when hit by bullets, it only leaves marks
The S-Class Guard is regarded as the best civilian special-protection vehicle available. It earned the highest VR10 rating in tests by the Association of Test Laboratories for Attack-Resistant Materials and Constructions (VPAM) conducted at the Ulm State Ballistics Testing Agency in Germany. It can protect occupants even if grenades and the like explode on the roof, floor, or sides. Zainyz said, "Mercedes-Benz is the only brand in the world with VR10 certification," adding, "Excluding military vehicles, it's the safest among civilian models." Thanks to various high-strength materials and functions, it weighs 4.5 tons—more than twice a standard S-Class.
Seeing the S-Class Guard in person, the entire vehicle was fortified with invisible, powerful shields. First, the windows easily exceed 10 cm in thickness. Knock on a standard S-Class window and you get a clear, light sound. But the Guard's glass makes an extremely dull thud, as if it's solid inside. The glass itself is thick, and transparent foil layers are inserted between panes. That forces a bullet to pass through multiple layers, ultimately slowing it down.
On top of that is polycarbonate, known for high strength and heat resistance. Polycarbonate disperses impact by expanding the affected area. As the material balloons, it blocks a bullet from entering the cabin. A hydraulic window lifter emergency function is also installed so the windows can open and close even if the vehicle loses power.
Areas other than the windows are made of special high-strength steel, shrugging off most attacks. You can tell just by the thickness of the doors—roughly the width of three adult women's palms stacked together. When shot with the same gun, a panel made of 10 standard car doors stacked together is cleanly pierced. Doors on rival special-protection vehicles, while somewhat better, still failed to prevent penetration. By contrast, the S-Class Guard suffered only surface scratches.
Because of the materials, each door weighs 250 kg. To make opening and closing lighter, an electronic door actuator is included. It also features an intelligent door hold function that lets you open and fix the door at a desired position even on an incline. An adult woman would have no problem opening and closing it, but it is inevitably much heavier than a standard S-Class door.
The tires come standard with Michelin's "PAX run-flat tires," which can run up to 30 km at 80 kph even with zero air due to a puncture. Regular run-flat tires can also run when flat, but handling control is difficult and the ride is harsh. PAX run-flat tires are a key component that preserves ride comfort even in extreme situations and gets VIPs to a safe zone.
It takes serious power to move a 4.5-ton vehicle. The new S-Class Guard pairs a 6.0L V-12 engine with all-wheel drive for the first time, for optimal traction, driving safety, and ride comfort. It delivers up to 612 horsepower and can reach 210 kph. The cabin is the same as a standard S-Class. Rear passengers can also use the AI-based MBUX intelligent infotainment system, turning it into a mobile business lounge.
◇ Price not disclosed… "if you want to buy, contact a dealer"
The price of the S-Class Guard is not made public. Depending on the operating environment and required protection features, various options are added, and the price soars. For example, to prepare for driving through a fire zone, you need to add a fire-suppression option. The vehicle floor can withstand up to 160 degrees, and if the temperature rises above that, sensors detect it and the suppression system activates. Those who must pass through areas filled with toxic gas from tear gas and the like add an emergency air purification system. These options start in the tens of millions of won.
Zainyz said, "We carefully combine all options in consultation with the customer and assemble them by hand on a dedicated line," adding, "Because it's custom-built with a minimum lead time of about six months after ordering, it's hard to specify the exact price."
That said, considering the domestic price of the S 580 4MATIC starts at 258.6 million won, the Guard is estimated to far exceed 1 billion won. If you select the Guard based on the Maybach S-Class Pullman, the base price alone is 900 million won, so the final price reaches several billion won. That's because it includes a V-12 engine, nearly 2 tons of special steel and armored glass, and various options. When Mercedes-Benz launched the S 680 Guard in 2021, it set the European market starting price at $650,000 (about 950 million won).
Zainyz said, "We don't sell the Guard to just anyone," adding, "We may choose not to sell under international standards." When Kim Jong-un's Maybach S-Class Pullman was revealed, Mercedes-Benz said, "We have no idea how that vehicle was brought into North Korea," making clear it was not sold directly.