THE arrival of President Bush to this country has done much to focus the mind on security.

But it is not Presidents or Premiers alone who need protection.

Becks, he of Posh fame, has had to step up car security since a kidnap threat against his family, and there are many others who feel the need to surround themselves with a ring of steel, a shield not only against road rage but also against firearms attack, robbery, kidnap and car jacking.

For those who feel the need for such protection, BMW has just expanded its range of Security vehicles which are designed to shield occupants The latest on the scene is the X5, which joins 7 Series High Security and 3 Series Security vehicles, all apparently the cars of choice for visiting heads of state (not Bush as it turns out), high-profile business people and celebrities throughout the world. In fact, every home should have one bearing in mind the increasing complaints of road rage now being recorded in this country.

From the outside all BMW Security cars are almost identical to standard road cars, the idea being to provide absolute discretion to owners. However, appearances can be deceptive - and shocking for potential assailants - as all Security models are heavily armoured, featuring bullet-resistant, reinforced passenger cells, triple glazing and strengthened door joins.

All the modifications are engineered into Security cars during production. Even though all BMW Security cars are designed to provide the ultimate in protection from violent attack, they also boast similar performance and comfort to equivalent road cars.

The X5 4.4i Security is particularly suited to remote areas or where roads are poorly maintained. In these conditions an armoured Sports Activity Vehicle fitted with xDrive, BMW's revolutionary four-wheel drive system, offers a deterrent to the threat of ambush or attack. Its reinforced glass and steel passenger cell stops ammunition up to calibre .44 Magnum. The glazing is approximately 20mm thick and coated in polycarbonate which also provides splinter protection.

Door shuts, cable ducts and door joins are normally weaker areas of any car. To provide a completely secure passenger cell, these areas of the X5 Security are also reinforced to stop bullets. Run-flat tyres allow the driver to travel safely for up to 30 miles at speeds of 50mph, even when punctured or deflated.

The X5 Security compromises neither performance nor interior comfort in its design. It comes with a V8 4.4-litre engine developing maximum output of 320bhp at 6,100rpm. Its 0-62mph time of 7.6-seconds means that it is more than capable of leaving the scene of an incident quickly while its130mph top speed will leave most pursuers behind. Like the X5 Security, the BMW 330i Security closely resembles the standard 330i road car. However its chassis has been adapted to compensate for additional weight, with reinforced springs and dampers.

The armoured body is reinforced with bullet resistant steel and high-tech fibre material. In addition, a special fibre-reinforced mat in the underbody area of the passenger cell is available as an option, preventing splinter penetration.

BMW 7 Series High Security exceeds even the high levels of protection offered by BMW 330i Security and BMW X5 Security vehicles, capable of withstanding attack from explosives or armour-piercing bullets, especially those often used by terrorist organisations.

Standard underbody protection prevents grenade fragments from entering the passenger area. Its effectiveness has been successfully tested with hand grenades detonated simultaneously below the driver's seat and the rear right seat.

Fibre-reinforced material and special steel elements are used as an additional measure against armour piercing munitions.

Due to the nature of the security vehicle market and the purpose for which these cars are designed, BMW will not release sensitive information or technical detail about its security cars. And that also applies to prices.

Updated: 12:21 Friday, November 21, 2003