Toyota offers bulletproof cars straight from the showroom
Photo: Avallon Blindagens Toyota
What’s the first car that comes to mind when you think of bulletproof cars? The beast, right? It’s a Cadillac that protects the life of the President of the United States, so that’s definitely a suitable vehicle for armor. But Toyotas? Would you ever see one that’s bulletproof? Neither would we.
The situation is different in Brazil, where Toyota offers a bulletproof Corolla, Corolla Cross, Hilux Pickup and SW4. Off-road vehicle straight from the showroom. It is optional equipment offered by the Japanese automaker in partnership with local armor experts Avallon, Carbon, Evolution Blindagens and Parvi Blindados, all of which are certified by Toyota.
They claim that the armor doesn’t affect design or performance. But considering that any armor has an impact on weight, it could also have an impact on fuel consumption since the engine has to pull more.
The armor can be installed on both new and used models, as long as they are no older than the 2020 model year. Before armoring, they must undergo an evaluation by a Toyota dealer who will ensure that the vehicle can withstand the procedure.
Customers simply need to contact their local Toyota dealer and have their vehicle sent to the armor experts. After all, Brazil is one of the top 10 countries with the highest crime rate, so it makes sense to offer armored vehicles as the number of murders fuels demand.
The experts add reinforcements to the body panels using special compounds, such as an opaque ballistic composite option that is 80% lighter than steel.
They will also replace the standard windows with thicker windows, called Evo-X glass, which is specially designed to provide the necessary protection and meet national standard specifications.
The modified vehicle is designed to withstand attacks with small arms, but also with batons and metal pipes. However, it does not offer protection against large-caliber firearms or explosives.
There is no information on the cost of the armor, but it would be in addition to the vehicle price. The Toyota Corolla, for example, starts at R$ 187,790, which is equivalent to $34,385. The Hilux pickup, on the other hand, costs R$ 243,790 ($44,640).
What we do know, however, is that Toyota and its expert partners offer a five-year warranty on the armor installation services and a five- or ten-year warranty on the actual armor materials, depending on the components.
Those who armor the cars also offer maintenance during the warranty period. However, they do not mention any changes to the suspension. With so much extra weight of the armored vehicle, that might be necessary.
One of the experts involved in the armor projects, Avallon Blindagens, claims to own one of the largest armor factories in Latin America. With the help of highly qualified engineers and technicians, more than 120 armored vehicles are produced there every month.
