Armored Škoda Superb from SVOS has a few tricks up its sleeve

We've all read about armored BMW and Mercedes-Benz cars, and a few of us can even spot them in traffic, but there are plenty of armored options for slightly less flash transportation. Large German sedans make great platforms for armoring, and are one of the most popular choices in countries where there is a need for that sort of thing, but they're far from being the only sedans that can offer security-minded customers the relative peace of mind that comes with ownership of such a car.

Besides, if you need to travel discreetly, a Mercedes-Benz S-class isn't always the best option -- which is why armoring companies will gladly modify less-obvious cars like the new Škoda Superb.

The 2014 Škoda Superb is now in its second-generation, and like its predecessor that went into production 13 years ago, it is based on a stretched Volkswagen Passat chassis. Volkswagen purchased the 118-year old automaker in the early 1990s and has since completely revamped Škoda's lineup with VW platforms and technology. Škoda currently enjoys some of the highest reliability and customer satisfaction ratings in Europe, and at the top of the range is the Škoda Superb, a midsize sedan (by American standards) that uses quite a few Volkswagen Passat mechanicals.

SVOS
Runflat tires come standard with all the armored specifications.

The Superb model name actually dates back so some of Škoda's earliest sedans from the 1930s, which offered V8 engines and all-wheel drive, and though the first modern Superb in 2001 was a barely restyled Passat and a slow seller at first, it has since achieved solid success. The Superb's styling isn't what you'd call exciting, and on a trip to Europe you probably wouldn't notice it among all the other cars whose exterior designs are far more adventurous.

And that makes it the perfect platform for a stealthy armored conversion.

The Czech coachbuilder SVOS offers everything from an armored Mercedes-Benz S600 to a Volkswagen Jetta, but it was the sedan from the home team that caught our eye. And SVOS can build outfit a Superb with any level of ballistic protection, from B1 (which is able to stop rounds fired from most hunting rifles) to B6/B7 (which is able to defeat NATO 7.62 rounds from an AK assault rifle).

Let's get one thing straight though: A sedan or SUV armored to the highest NATO B6/B7 level isn't meant to be bulletproof. Enough hits from high-powered rifles will eventually penetrate the ballistic glass or reinforced door panels. An armored car is designed to give the occupants a precious few seconds to make a getaway in the case of an attack, and not the ability to put the car in park and sit around and make faces at your attackers. So even the most heavily armored sedans and SUVs have their limit, and after a few minutes their armor can be worn down through repeated hits.

SVOS
A number of communication options can be installed.

During the process of manufacture, a car is almost completely disassembled and the interior is completely removed. Multilayered polycarbonate ballistic glass replaces the windows in the Superb, and depending on the level of armoring the glass can be as much as 6 inches thick. Layers of plastic are sandwiched between multiple layers of high-strength glass, and the resulting panels weigh several hundred pounds, necessitating the reinforcement of door hinges.

Once everything is removed from the car, steel panels are welded into place around the passenger compartment. The gas tank is also protected. About the only part of the car that doesn't receive ballistic armor is the engine compartment, both due to additional weight and the fact that it's extremely unlikely that multiple gunshots to the engine are likely to immediately disable the car.

SVOS's Superb is offered with a whole host of other options besides the armor, like run-flat tires, a second car battery to run all the electronic goodies and to serve as a backup, as well as a siren and a PA system. As each car is made to order, the company can fit other standard gear that often comes with cars of this type like built-in strobes for the headlights, an intercom system which will allow the driver to talk to people outside without lowering the window or opening the doors and various radio systems.

SVOS
The deeper window frames and the high-profile tires are one of the few things that give away the fact that the car is armored.

On the outside there are several very visible hints that the completed car is armored. The Superb sits a little higher owing to the revamped suspension and the high-profile run-flat tires, the windshield gives off a slight polarizing glare as is common with ballistic glass when viewed in certain light conditions, and the window frames appear a bit thicker under the door glass panels. The car in the photo also has a few a couple strobes that are built into the grille, but those can be better hidden if the customer so chooses. Needless to say, government agencies make up a huge chunk of SVOS customers, so it's not unusual to have quite a few hidden strobes throughout the car.

Even though SVOS will armor a Superb equipped with any engine from the Škoda range, given the extra heft for the all the armor it makes sense to go for the top engine. That happens to be a 3.6-liter VR6 good for 256 hp. With the heaviest armor package offered for the Superb, the car is unlikely reach 60 mph in under 10 seconds; Škoda's excellent diesel engines aren't a bad option either, as most of these cars tend to work long hours in urban environments with long periods of idling.

There is more and more demand throughout the world for armored cars that aren't executive sedans, but rather, appear to be common, everyday vehicles like Škodas and Volkswagens. Stealth is just as important as armor when it comes to avoiding a random nontargeted attack, so not having a flash car in certain parts of the world is an asset in itself.