Toyota offering armored Corolla, Hilux, and Fortuner models in Brazil

Toyota Brazil offering armored conversion on select new and used models

When one thinks of factory-armored vehicles, most would think of brands like Audi and BMW which offer such vehicles. Whether it’s the BMW 7 Series or i7, the X5 Protection VR6, or the Audi A8 L Security, the luxury sector can offer customers peace of mind regarding protection.

Toyota is no different it seems as the automaker has started offering armored versions on some of its vehicles in Brazil. That’s right, Toyota Brazil has partnered with local armoring outfits in the country to offer specialized protection in both new and existing models.

Those interested in getting one will be able to select the Corolla, Corolla Cross, Hilux, and Fortuner to be armored up. As mentioned earlier, customers can opt for the armoring in used vehicles although they have to be not older than 2020 and will have to be assessed by a Toyota dealer.

Unlike the regular versions of the Toyota nameplates, the armored versions will be fitted with thick bullet-resistant windows and specialized compounds to stop rounds from getting through. According to Toyota, the armor is reportedly rated to withstand small arms fire although we’re not sure if it will be able to withstand bigger calibers from high-powered rifles.

The exact amount of the armoring conversion has yet to be revealed. However, Toyota did say that all armored vehicles will come with a 5-year warranty on the armoring installation services as well as a 5 to 10-year warranty on the materials used.

But why did Toyota decide to offer such a service to its customers? Well, Brazil has quite a high crime rate. In last year alone, there were a recorded 39,500 homicides which is actually lower than previous years but still a high figure. This has resulted in a huge demand for armored vehicles amid the high crime rate the country is experiencing.

With the armored Toyotas giving some peace of mind to customers, perhaps the only thing they have to worry about is the higher-than-usual fuel consumption. After all, these types of vehicles are heavier due to the extra weight of the thicker glass and armoring components.