Armored Vehicles
iBody Closures
Body protection
Body
This is the area where the most significant modifications have been made. In the engine compartment, the battery and the 'E' box are protected by steel armor and in the luggage compartment the spare wheel cover is also armored. The exterior of the vehicle has substantial protection, details of which are given below.
Body
This is the area where the most significant modifications have been made. In the engine compartment, the battery and the 'E' box are protected by steel armor and in the luggage compartment the spare wheel cover is also armored. The exterior of the vehicle has substantial protection, details of which are given below.
Doors and tail door
The doors and tail door are all re-inforced with steel armor. The door returns are also steel armored, to prevent objects entering the vehicle through door gaps
Body shell
Steel armor is also added to the following areas of the body shell.
- Front bulkhead.
- Roof.
- Rear three-quarter panels.
- 'A' posts.
- 'B/C' posts.
- 'D' posts.
- Sills.
Floor pan
The floor pan is protected by the addition of a woven Kevlar blanket and this, taken with the armor on the remainder of the body makes the passenger compartment of the Range Rover an extremely well protected environment.
Glass
CAUTION: The interior surface of the glass is susceptible to scratching, take care when cleaning the glass. Refer to Owner's Handbook for details.
The glass is armored and of multiple layer construction. The thickness varies with individual specification, but is a minimum of 21 mm (0.82 in).
The side windows are permanently closed, but can be specified with the option of electrically operated, partially opening side windows.
Doors
CAUTION: It is recommended that the doors are not opened until the vehicle has come to a complete stop. The combined effect of the residual speed of the vehicle and the weight of the door could overcome the door stop system.
The door hinges, spindles and door stop mechanisms have been reinforced to support the additional weight of the armor. Gas struts have been fitted to aid door opening and prevent involuntary shutting, which could cause injury.
Liftgate
The upper liftgate incorporates uprated gas struts to support the additional weight of the armor.
The lower liftgate features two gas struts, which control the opening and aid shutting of the door.
FEATURES
WARNING: The weight of the individual components fitted to the vehicle are far in excess of those fitted to the standard vehicle. As an example, the windscreen weighs approximately 100 Kg (220 lb) and the rear screen weighs approximately 56 kg (125 lb). Always make sure that you are aware of the weight of any component BEFORE attempting to remove it from the vehicle, and have suitable equipment available to assist you.
WARNING: The weight of the vehicle is significantly greater than the standard Range Rover, particularly the rear of the vehicle. Always ensure that any jacks, lifts or hoists are capable of carrying these loads. As a guide, the approximate comparative weights are given below.
The armored Range Rover has been developed by the Special Vehicles team within Land Rover.
The list of modifications to the vehicle is extensive and includes the following areas of the vehicle.
- Engine management
- Exhaust system
- Suspension
- Brakes
- Wheels and tires
- Restraint system
- Body panels and doors
- Glass
- Interior trim
- Electrical system
Standard Range Rover
- Curb weight = 2587 kg, 5701 lb
- Front axle weight = 1241 kg, 2735 lb
- Rear axle weight = 1346 kg, 2966 lb
Armored Range Rover
- Curb weight = 3700 kg, 8155 lb
- Front axle weight = 1555 kg, 3427 lb
- Rear axle weight = 2220 kg, 4892 lb
Engine management
NOTE:
It is imperative that the appropriate software is installed into this ECM. In the event of any doubt, guidance should be sought from the Land Rover technical help-line.
The engine management systems for V8 have had the software in the Engine Control Module (ECM) revised to improve the low speed driveability and the top speed has been artificially limited on all vehicles. This change was deemed necessary to take into account the additional weight of the vehicle.
If the ECM is replaced, the revised software must be loaded using T4 CD version 8 or later.
Exhaust system
The exhaust system is exactly the same as the standard Range Rover. The exhaust tail pipe is available with the option of an anti-blocking feature, which has a number of holes drilled around the tail pipe circumference. These holes ensure that the engine cannot be stalled by an attacker blocking the end of the exhaust pipe. If this is attempted, the radial holes, will remain unobstructed, allowing exhaust gases to escape through them, thereby permitting the engine to continue running.
Suspension
Changes to the suspension system include both mechanical components in the form of revised stabilizer bar and fixings and air suspension components.
Front and rear suspension
The diameter of the anti-roll bars is increased over the standard vehicle and the bushes on both front and rear bars have been changed to a non bonded type, which are serviceable. Both front and rear anti-roll bar brackets have anti-shuffle collars fitted adjacent to them, to prevent the anti-roll bar moving within its bushes.
Air suspension
Because of the additional weight of this vehicle, the off-road height setting on the air suspension has been inhibited.
The rear suspension air springs are uprated with revised pistons to handle the additional weight. They can be identified by the polished metal finish at their base.
The air suspension compressor has been moved forward and has been modified to cope with the additional weight of the vehicle, particularly at the rear. A compressor cooling fan is fitted to the rear of the compressor housing, and this fan runs permanently with the ignition on. The cooling fan is the same type as fitted to the E-box under the bonnet. An air intake silencer is connected to the compressor and this is located in the LH rear corner of the spare wheel well.
Brakes
The braking system has been modified to compensate for the additional weight of the vehicle. Uprated 'Alcon' calipers are fitted with larger diameter, ventilated discs all-round. The diameter of the discs is increased from 342 mm (13.5 in) at the front and 353 mm (13.9 in) at the rear to 378 mm (14.88 in) all-round. Each caliper is fitted with two bleed screws and these are protected by tamper proof shields.
New two-piece dust shields are fitted behind the brake discs, these can be replaced without dismantling the hubs.
Wheels and tires
NOTE:
The maximum distance that can be driven on a punctured tire can varies greatly depending on the type of terrain.
NOTE:
The vehicle is fitted with directional tires and should always be fitted in accordance with the direction of rotation symbol on the tire.
The tires are Goodyear Wrangler EMT (Extended Mobility Technology) which are a special type of run-flat tire. They are manufactured with extremely rigid side-wall construction to assist their run-flat capability. In the event of a puncture, the vehicle can still be driven at a reduced speed of 50 km/h (30 mph) ; for a distance of approximately 50 km (30 miles) with a front wheel puncture or approximately 30 km (20 miles) with a rear wheel puncture.
A full size spare wheel is supplied with all vehicles.
Interior trim
Interior trim changes are necessary to accommodate the extra thickness of the glass. The remaining change to trim is the additional switch panel mounted on top of the fascia.
The vehicle has been fitted with an additional switch pack, mounted on the top of the fascia. The switch pack houses the fuel shutoff switch, which is located closest to the driver. There are three additional switch positions in the switch pack, which allow the option of additional systems to be fitted to the vehicle.