The Shin Bet's personal security unit has begun using new armored vehicles based on the Toyota Land Cruiser 300, which will replace older models based on the Land Cruiser 200 (also known as the V8). The first recipient of the new armored SUV is Defense Minister Israel Katz.
The vehicle will later be assigned to other high-ranking officials facing significant threats or residing in border areas.
Additionally, the IDF's elite personal security unit has also received the new Land Cruiser. It will be used for off-road travel, while IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi will continue using an Audi A8 for other occasions.
The SUV’s armored kit is manufactured by Carl Friederichs in Frankfurt, Germany, unlike the outgoing Land Cruiser 200, which was armored by Israeli defense company Plasan in northern Israel. The vehicle offers the highest civilian protection level, VR9, providing resistance against sniper rifle fire with armor-piercing rounds and light explosions, such as hand grenades.
The additional armor increases the vehicle's weight to approximately 6 tons, more than double the weight of the standard Land Cruiser 300 and about a ton heavier than the outgoing armored 200. The additional weight necessitated upgrades to the suspension, brakes, steering and tires, which now include run-flat technology, allowing the vehicle to continue driving after a puncture.
Introduced in 2021, the Land Cruiser 300 is the larger sibling of the Land Cruiser 250, which is regularly sold in Israel. Toyota has yet to secure full European or American certification for the 300 model, making it unavailable for purchase from local distributors or through independent import from markets where it is sold such as Australia, Africa, the Middle East and Eastern Europe.
The 300 offers significant improvements in on-road driving quality thanks to its new ladder-frame chassis (TNGA-F), which is 20% stiffer than that of the 200. It features better weight distribution and a lower center of gravity achieved by shifting the engine and transmission roughly 7cm backward and 3cm downward.
Additional enhancements include revised suspension geometry (a live rear axle and double-wishbone front) and the adoption of electric power steering, enabling the integration of more advanced safety systems.
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Unlike the 200 model, which was available with V8 gasoline and turbo-diesel engines, the 300 is powered by twin-turbo V6 engines: a 3.3-liter diesel engine with 309 horsepower and a 3.5-liter gasoline engine with 415 horsepower, similar to the vehicles arriving in Israel.
Both are paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission (upgraded from six speeds) and permanent four-wheel drive with a low-range gear.