Typically, people think of big SUVs like the Cadillac Escalade or fancy sedans like the BMW 7-Series when they hear about armored cars. But Toyota's taking a different approach. They're making it possible for everyday cars to get some serious protection.
Toyota's teamed up with four expert armoring companies: Avallon, Carbon, Evolution Blindagens, and Parvi Blindados. These guys know their stuff when it comes to beefing up cars.
Customers can get this extra safety for quite a few Toyota models. The list includes the Corolla sedan, Corolla Cross SUV, Hilux pickup, and SW4 (also known as Fortuner) SUV. If you've got a used Toyota, you can still get it armored as long as it's not older than 2020. You'll just need to have it checked out at a Toyota dealer first.
The process is pretty straightforward. You can ask your local Toyota dealer to send your car to one of the armoring companies. You can even do this before you pick up your new car.
These armored Toyotas aren't messing around. They're built to handle bullets from small guns and can shrug off attacks from things like bats or metal pipes.
Top Gear Philippines first spotted this news, but they couldn't find out how much it costs to add all this protection. It's probably not cheap, but for some folks, the peace of mind might be worth it.
Toyota's got your back when it comes to warranties too. The installation work and materials are covered for 5 years. Some specific parts even get a 10-year warranty.
There's a reason Toyota's doing this in Brazil. While overall crime has gone down a bit, there were still 39,500 homicides last year. That's led to more people wanting cars that can keep them safe.
So, if you're in Brazil and want a Toyota that can handle more than just your daily commute, you've now got some options. It's not your typical car upgrade, but in some places, it might just be what people need.
Source: Top Gear