Carmakers out to prove their metal GM, Ford to offer armored vehicles

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-0308260330aug26,1,1143706.story?coll=chi-news-hed

Does it make sense to spend six figures to protect the chief executive, rock star, movie celebrity or athlete pulling down seven figures?

Or is the fear of becoming a victim of road rage simply giving drivers the willies?

In either case, General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co. have designated 2004 as the year of the car--the armored car.

Both domestic automakers are getting into the ballistics business this fall, rather than having private companies, called upfitters, do the armoring after cars leave their factories.

They say consumers' fears about random violence are driving the change.

--snip--

The cost for that peace of mind? Lincoln says it will charge from $100,000 to $130,000 more than the $45,000 base price for the armored version of its Town Car. Cadillac hasn't priced its armored DeVille, yet insists it will be less than what Lincoln charges.

[DBoon]

1. These are common in Mexico City

And I assume other high-crime impoverished countries with a small wealthy elite and large numbers of poor desparate citizens.

Just what the USA has become.

[kimchi]

2. The drug cartel members and athletes will be protected,

while people on the street take the fire.

Just lovely.

[MidwestTransplant]

3. Are these meant for "Security Moms?"

An armored car in every garage!

[esse_quam_videri]

4. Will they come in terror alert 'color code' colors?

'Environmental Green' — Normal. This signifies there is a low risk of terrorist attack.

'Patriot Blue' — Guarded. This will signify a continuing general threat of terrorist activity.

'Mellow Yellow' — Serious. Yellow indicates an increased and predictable threat of terrorist activity.

'Sunkist-Your-Ass-Goodbye Orange' — Critical. This will warn that a terrorist threat may be likely.

GOP Blood Red — Severe. Terrorist activity on a specific target may be imminent under this warning.

[cprise]

5. This should help them compete with Japanese hybrids

not.

[htuttle]

6. There's nothing quite like adding an additional 1,000 pounds of steel...

...to really improve a car's mileage.

:eyes:

[FranMonet]

7. Timecop cars

I think I saw these cars in the movie timecop very stylish not :crazy:

[newyawker99]

8. Hi FranMonet!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Octafish]

9. What jackson80 from BartCop said:

[Pert_UK]

10. Thank God for the Right To Keep and Bear Arms......

Making everyone safer, eh?

:eyes:

Guns have made everyone so safe that they now need armoured cars for their CEOs.

Great.

P.

[NickB79]

11. WTF? Crime rates are dropping across the US, why the need for this?

Seriously, the stats they released a couple days ago from 2002 show crime throughout the US at 30-yr lows, but somehow people think they need armored cars?

I'm becoming more and more convinced that the hype and myth of America's crime has taken on a life of it's own seperate from reality.