Bulletproof Toyota Corolla, Fortuner & Hilux unveiled in Brazil

Customers can contact their Toyota dealership and have their vehicle sent to the armour experts.

Toyota has partnered with multiple armouring experts in Brazil to offer bulletproof versions of its Corolla, Corolla Cross, Hilux pickup and SW4 (Fortuner) models in the country.

Armour experts Avallon, Carbon, Evolution Blindagens and Parvi Blindados are all certified by Toyota. The bulletproof armour will be offered as optional equipment and can be bought off the showroom floor. Toyota claims that the armouring can be fitted to either new or models not older than 2020. However, an assessment will be carried out by a Toyota dealer to ensure the vehicle can withstand the process.

Toyota claims that the armouring will not compromise the vehicle's design and performance, although, the added weight will bring down fuel efficiency.

Customers opting for the armour can contact their Toyota dealership and have their vehicle sent to one of the experts. The vehicle will get reinforced body panels using specialised compounds - such as the opaque ballistic composite option, which is said to be 80% lighter than steel. The cars will also come with thick EVO-X glass, which complies with the national standard specifications.

With the armouring, the car should be capable of withstanding small firearms and weapons like bats and metal pipes. However, it won't offer protection against high-calibre guns or explosives.

The cost of armouring will be over and above that of the price of the car. Armouring a Toyota Corolla will cost around $34,385, while, bulletproofing the Hilux would require around $44,640. Toyota and its armour experts also offer a five-year warranty on the installation services and a 5 to 10-year warranty on the armour materials.

Source: AutoEvolution