South Africa-based company SVI Engineering has unveiled an armored SUV for eight passengers. Based on the Toyota Land Cruiser 79 platform, the car is called “SVI MAX 3 Troopie” and is largely identical to the MAX 3 Concept revealed last November – except for the drivetrain.
The plating is so thorough, it can be difficult to recognize the donor car under it. The company claims it has followed all the strict rules of armored vehicle production when designing and assembling the three-door body. Note the loopholes all around and the roof hatch that also serves as an emergency exit.
The tech stays stock, which for this specific modification means a 4.5-liter turbo diesel V8 rated at 205 PS (202 hp / 151 kW) and 430 Nm (317 lb-ft) of torque. A manual transmission drives all four wheels. In contrast, the four-seat pickup version offered by SVI is also available on request with a lesser 4.2-liter diesel (172 PS / 170 hp / 126 kW) or a 4.0-liter petrol V8 (231 PS / 228 hp / 170 kW).
The manufacturer claims the armoring corresponds to the BR6 and (optional) BR7 standards. As such, it can withstand sustained AK-47 gunfire, while the BR7 version can also survive the explosions of a few grenades or smaller land mines. Rather than targeting the military with its creation, SVI is offering it to South African police forces, convoy services, and security guards.
Pricing is determined based on the condition of the donor car used for the conversion and the purpose of the armored SUV. The entry-level sticker is U.S. $128,000, a fair bit above the $103,000 the company asks for the four-seat truck mentioned above.