Although it may seem unusual to have a bullet-proof VW Golf GTI, Armormax maintains that there is a significant demand for such a car. The company has previous experience in armoring Golfs, having armored an entire fleet in 2018. Using the lightest synthetic armor available, the conversion adds less than 180 kg, or 400 pounds, to the vehicle, with minimal impact on fuel economy and performance.
The process of armoring the vehicle begins by replacing all the standard glass with Optima ballistic glass, which is indistinguishable from the exterior. All doors, door panels, pillars, rear seats, and the hatch are reinforced with lightweight synthetic armor. The roof and sunroof are also fitted with the same ballistic protection while still preserving the functionality of the front windows. The final touch is a PTT intercom system that creates a secure performance hatchback on the road.
Michael Broom, Armormax's marketing manager, said, "The B4 Golf was a daring project back in 2018 but was met with immense interest, and several orders were taken. There was never a question that we would develop the world’s first armoring package for the new model, knowing that there would be a high demand." Broom states that the application is popular in the private security sector, which uses the Golf as a chase, rapid response, and principal extraction vehicle.
In addition to the Golf, Armormax manufactures armor packages for nearly 30 different brands of coupes, sedans, vans, and SUVs, including those manufactured by Audi, Cadillac, Mercedes-Benz, Jeep, Land Rover, and Porsche. The company has also recently ventured into the electric vehicle armoring market, converting vehicles made by Tesla and Rivian. Armormax is one of many companies that specialize in the global armored vehicle market, modifying vehicles used by private citizens, security firms, and other non-governmental organizations.
Source: Armormax