If you have a lot of enemies and need to travel safely, you can now get a factory version of the French SUV with extra protection.
The car, which was designed for French President Macron, is called the DS7 Élysée, and was created in collaboration between the DS Automobiles brand and the WELP Group specialists. They will now offer an armored version also for ordinary customers and only in limited quantities under the name Vauban. As with the presidential special, the basis is the E-Tense 4×4 300 version with a plug-in hybrid drive, which has been extended by about twenty centimeters in the area of the B-pillar for these purposes.
For increased resistance, aramids were used, which cope with both shooting and heat. Safety will also be provided by safety glass windows, thanks to which the car has a VPAM 4 level of protection – it should withstand hits from, for example, .357 Magnum or .44 Remington Magnum calibers. Clients can specify other elements – for example, a closed ventilation circuit, sirens, an intercom or an automatic fire extinguishing system. In addition to safety, the car will also provide comfort thanks to interior upholstery, possibly extra equipment in the form of reading lights or additional USB sockets.
Production will take place at WELP France in Hérimoncourt, part of the former Stellantis factory. The first pieces should be available from April next year. The name Vauban itself refers to the fortifications, built at the end of the 17th century, which are now on the UNESCO World Heritage List. They were named after their creator, Marquis Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban.
