The Knight XV is a hand-built luxury SUV, produced by Conquest Vehicles since 2008.
History
William Maizlin, an executive specialising in the armoured-vehicle industry, undertook converting a vehicle based on military designs into a luxury armored civilian vehicle and in 2008, Conquest Vehicles was formed. Working with automotive designers, engineers and armoring experts, Conquest Vehicles coordinated the research, development and production of the Knight XV.
Design
The Knight XV was unveiled by Conquest Vehicles in 2008 at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) in Las Vegas Nevada. The XV stands for "Extreme Vehicles". The vehicle takes approximately 4,000 hours to build at the production facility in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
The manufacturer offers upgrades and options including a built-in oxygen survival kit, under-vehicle magnetic attachment detection system, multiple armor levels and a black box system. The Knight XV is armored using ballistic steel, with ballistic fiberglass fenders and bumper.
The vehicle is 240 inches (20 ft; 6.1 m) long, 98 inches (8.2 ft; 2.5 m) wide and 100 inches (8.3 ft; 2.5 m) tall, with a ground clearance of 14 inches (360 mm). Its wheelbase is 153 inches (12.8 ft; 3.9 m) and it has a kerb weight of 13,000 pounds (5,900 kg). The vehicle holds 63 US gallons (240 l; 52 imp gal) of fuel and sits on four ballistic run-flat tyres. The vehicle's 20-inch rims (51 cm) are custom-designed and engineered using a solid piece of forged 6061 aluminum.
The engine provides 325 horsepower (242 kW) and 400 pound-feet (540 N·m) of torque, while the diesel engine offers 300 horsepower (220 kW) and 660 pound-feet (890 N·m) of torque. Performance packages are available for both engine types.
Armor
All glass meets various ballistic levels and is certified according to H.P. White's Quality Control Standards. Glass intended for a client's vehicle is inspected upon receipt and is compared to the test samples for confirmation of both lay-up and the optical zebra test.
Tests are performed at a range of 5 metres (16Â ft), using factory ammunition that has been weighed prior to firing to ensure that it meets the required norms. The bullet is fired electronically through a military quality barrel with the projectile then passing through a chronograph beam to ensure that it meets the requirements of the ballistic testing standards. The armor-testing samples are maintained at an ambient temperature for 24 hours prior to testing. Samples are removed from each mill lot of armor plate prior to installation on a vehicle and are tested in accordance with the established norms. Upon satisfactory testing, a Certificate of Quality is issued for each sheet.
- Opaque Armor â€" High quality high-strength steel, ballistic aluminum, composites, aramid and ceramics are used in the manufacturing of the vehicles opaque armor.
- Doors â€" Due to the added weight of the transparent and opaque armor in the doors, the door hinges are reinforced using a proprietary system designed by the company to completely avoid hinge failure and prevent sheet metal fatigue around the hinge system.
- Armoring Certification â€" All armoring materials on the KNIGHT XV have been H.P. White Laboratory Inc. certified.
Official specifications on the Knight XV's body armor are not available on the company's website, and no actual armor rating has been issued. The rating for the glass used in the Knight XV's windows is CEN Euronorm B4+, which will stop standard ammunition for most handguns up to and including .44 caliber.
Interior
Among the features are; luxury carpeting; leather; custom flat screen television and a TracVision satellite system; Indirect LED lighting; AM, FM, CD, DVD; navigation; Bluetooth equipment and overhead tandem sunroof; TV Monitors; Night vision and rear op camera system with a PlayStation 3 or Xbox personal digital entertainment.
The cabin's interior is larger than other SUVs, with optional intercom communication system and an automatic window-tinting system.
Seating
The standard seating configuration consists of 6 seats (2 in the front and 4 in the rear), with 2 seats facing forward and 2 seats facing backward.
Exterior features
- Rims KNIGHT XV 20-inch (51Â cm) polished custom wheels, forged from 6061 aluminum
- Tires: MPT Continental
- Lights: Fascia-mounted PIAA dual-mode fog and driving lamps
- Antenna: Rear-mount
- Bumpers: Front steel, rear ballistic fiberglass (with Kevlar)
- Fenders: Ballistic fiberglass (with Kevlar)
Options
Some production and design options include a super charger package and commercial grade multi link air ride suspension system and a right-hand drive conversion package.
References
External links
- Knight XV at Conquest Vehicles official homepage
- Autoguide.com announces new specs on Knight XV