Armormax, a South African company specializing in luxury armored vehicles, has just revealed its latest project, the VW Golf 8 GTI. Similar to its Jaguar I-Pace model, the Golf is coated with ballistic grade B4, which the company says will protect against standard pistols and rifles.
MeIt may seem strange to offer a bulletproof VW Golf GTI hatchback, but Armormax insists the demand for such a vehicle is high. The company is familiar with the armored Golf, having equipped its entire fleet in 2018. Using the lightest synthetic armor available, the conversion adds less than 180 kg, or 400 pounds, to a small vehicle like the Golf, which minimally impacts fuel economy and show.
Armormax started by replacing all standard glass with Optima ballistic glass, which looks no different from the outside. All doors, door panels, pillars, rear seats and hatches are reinforced with lightweight synthetic armor. The same ballistic protection is applied to the roof and sunroof, which remain operational like the front windows. Finally, the PTT intercom system completes the package, creating the safest hatchback performance on the road.
According to Michael Broom, marketing manager of Armormax, “The B4 Golf was a bold project in 2018 but was met with enormous interest, and several orders were taken. There was never any question that we would develop the world’s first protective package for the new model, knowing that there will be high demand.” Broom says the app is popular with the private security sector, which uses the Golf as a chaser, rapid response and primary 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. Recently got into the electric vehicle armor game, transforming vehicles made by Tesla and Rivian. The company is one of many companies specializing in the global armored vehicle market, modifying vehicles used by private citizens, security companies and other non-governmental organizations.