British Prime Minister David Cameron once said his only complaint about being Prime Minister is that he cannot drive his much loved Honda CRV for security reasons. He shouldn’t have much to complain about though as he has a number of spectacular new Jaguar XJ s to take him to official engagements, the British-built Jaguar XJ limousine has been the car of choice for Prime Ministers for decades. Of course they aren’t just any old Jags, all government issued cars benefit from a number of special modifications to ensure all occupants are protected from gun fire and potential terrorist attacks. Here are a few of those special features:

Bullet Proof Glass

Bullet proof glass is often found in government buildings and is a standard feature on all government issued cars. The triple glazed polycarbonate toughened glass in the Prime Ministers new Jaguar XJ is designed to withstand fire from both hand guns and assault rifles.

You can tell a vehicle has been bullet proofed as the glass will be distorted and held in with a thick black ring around the edges, the door will also be very heavy!

Armour

Of course it is not just the windows that need protection from gun fire and other attacks. The Prime Minister’s XJ is built using specialised high strength steels and features a titanium and Kevlar-lined cabin, engineered in partnership with vehicle armouring specialist Centigon. Thirteen millimetres thick steel armoured plating beneath the floor protects the car and occupants from a potential grenade attack.

Run Flat Tyres

Run flat tyres are specially designed to resist the effects of punctures and allow the car to keep on driving up to 100mph if tyres are punctured or deflated. The armoured Jaguar XJ Long Wheelbase, which is available a passenger car for personal customers, can be fitted with run flat tyres capable of travelling safely up to 30 miles at 50mph.

Oxygen Supply

Inside the seal cabin of the Jaguar there is a self-contained oxygen supply in case of chemical or biological attack.

Gun Ports

Gun ports in the XJ allow security staff to return fire should the car come under attack.

Specially Tuned Powertrain

The Prime Minister’s 3.3 tonne new Jaguar XJ is almost double the weight of a standard XJ, with all the extra weight an especially powerful drivetrain was needed. The 5.0-litre supercharged petrol engine generates 503hp (particularly impressive when you consider a standard XJ produces 385hp) and can reach 60mph in 9.4 seconds on its way to a top speed of 165mph. Suspension and steering has also been specially tuned to deal with the challenges the extra weight creates.

Amy Sawyer is an online marketing executive currently researching the new Jaguar XJ.