Some vehicles are designed as statement pieces for the sole purpose of announcing that you have, in fact, arrived. The Bugatti Veyron, the Porsche 911, and even the swanky Lincoln Navigator Black Label all come to mind. The Cadillac Escalade does too, but if the stock model isn’t disco enough for you; if you don’t mind dropping as much on an SUV as most folks do on a two-bedroom ranch; and if you need to ride out Armageddon in style, look no further than AddArmor’s Executive Protection Escalade.
To the untrained eye, this blacked-out Caddy appears mostly stock which is how AddArmor and their clients like it. Just beneath the sheet metal, however, lies several hundred thousand dollars worth of military-grade technology.
The most basic upgrades include custom-fitted armor paneling all around, two-inch-thick ballistic glass (strong enough to ward off hand grenades, land mines, and high-powered rifle rounds), run-flat tires, electrified door handles, and pepper spray dispensers. When the Escalade’s occupants need to go on the offensive, hidden gun ports and a counter-attack sound cannon ensure that any would-be assailants (and zombies) keep a safe distance. Satellite technology and numerous night-vision cameras keep tabs on where you are and who’s around you at all times. If things get really ugly, the truck’s James Bond-worthy smoke screen system can lay down cover for a quick getaway.
Inside, AddArmor upgrades the Escalade’s already swish interior with ultra-luxe features and appointments that rival most private jets. They start by raising the roof nearly five inches and lining it with a plush Alcantara suede headliner. Available high-tech conveniences include onboard Wi-Fi, a state-of-the-art multimedia system with a 32-inch smart HDTV, color-shifting LED lighting, and anything else you can imagine provided you bring your checkbook.
Not surprisingly, the head brass at AddArmor includes former law enforcement and high-ranking SpecOps military personnel. Their mission is straightforward: “We turn regular vehicles into mobile safe rooms.” Their full catalog includes “entry-level” passive protection packages designed to harden any vehicle against basic intrusion (like carjackings and smash-and-grab attacks) and even car bombings and travel through active combat zones. For elite, top-of-the-line active defense, however, they offer the flagship Executive Protection Package.
AddArmor’s showpiece Executive Protection Escalade will set you back $350,000. If your pockets and imagination are deep enough, however, the sky’s the limit with how much you can spend to customize your ride.
