Executive Kidnapping Fears Trigger BMW's New Armored SUV for Russia

Just don't expect Vladimir Putin to get one

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As the traditional wisdom goes, a brand that prospers is the one that answers the needs of its market. The nimble R&D team at BMW AG proved this maxim at the Moscow International Automobile Salon yesterday, by unveiling armored versions of its X5 SUV. Consistent with so many other aspects of German engineering, when BMW says its car is bulletproof, it’s not kidding: Both the X5 Security and X5 Security Plus, as the vehicles are known, can withstand a full-on barrage from an AK-47.

“The risk of armed violence—and in particular, attack with automatic weapons like the AK-47—is a fact of everyday life for certain customers,” the company said in a statement.

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