This Armoured VW Golf GTI MK8 Can Take Bullets From an AK-47

This armoured VW Golf GTI by SVI Engineering is designed to withstand bullets from the AK-47 rifle.

As the world gets wilder and more violent in recent years, many automakers and privateers have offered vehicle armouring services. Often reserved for high-end SUVs and limousines owned by state leaders, moguls, and celebrities alike, it’s quite rare to see armoured vehicles based on something more 'mundane’ or attainable, such as a hatchback.

That's exactly what this South African-based engineering firm called SVI Engineering did with the ‘humble’ Volkswagen Golf GTI. Named SVI AK-47 Armoured Rapid Response, this beefed-up Golf gets some skin-deep upgrades to make it worthy of its namesake.

For starters, SVI Engineering has swapped the GTI’s standard window glasses for lightweight ballistic ones, with all the windows now fixed except for the driver’s side, which can be opened halfway. As for the armouring, the armoured GTI is beefed-up with 3.5 MM armoured steel plating that has been used on its doors, pillars, roof, and rear bulkhead.

On top of the B4+ grade armour plating, all the important mechanical parts and engine components on this Golf GTI have been given some extra protection thanks to its armoured front fenders, while the car’s 12-volt battery also comes with bullet-resistant protection.

As a result, this armoured Golf GTI, as its name suggests, can now withstand bullet attacks from pistols and rifles, while its ballistic glass windows can stop four shots from the AK-47 rifle in a 300-MM square.

Unfortunately, this armouring job comes at a cost, with the armoured GTI now weighing 340 KG heavier than its ‘civilian’ twin. Naturally, this bulk-up has slightly affected the hot-hatch’s performance, so you can’t expect this beefed-up GTI to do a century sprint in the same time as the normal Golf GTI.

To compensate for the weight increase, SVI Engineering has tweaked the suspension setup. But then again, even with this tweak, we can’t expect this sub-two-tonne hot-hatch to be as agile as its non-armoured counterpart.

Besides the Golf GTI, SVI Engineering also provides this armouring add-on to other eighth-gen Golf models, including the top-spec Golf R. According to the firm, it takes roughly three months for them to fully convert the Golf GTI into a proper armoured car, with the upgrade job costing about $35,000 (approximately RM165,000).

The locally-assembled Volkswagen Golf GTI (left) & Golf R (right)

It is also important to note that the price mentioned above is exclusive of the donor car’s cost. For reference, the pre-facelift, locally-assembled (CKD) Golf GTI Mk8 currently retails at RM252,990, while the range-topping Golf R CKD is priced higher at RM332,990.