When the first deliveries of the 6.5 meter long, 5.6-tonne Mercedes-Maybach S 600 Pullman Guard begin in the second half of 2017, clients will get a vehicle that challenges any Rolls-Royce or Bentley in terms of interior space and creature comforts. The new limousine offers rear face-to-face seating so that four passengers can conduct a moving meeting while quaffing champagne from bespoke crystal glasses.

And when the conversation is over, the two seats in the third row recline, just like on a business class flight, complete with adjustable calf rest so that passengers can take a nap.

But, because this car conforms to protection class VR9 and Directive ERV 2010, even an attack from a rocket-propelled grenade shouldn't raise you from your slumber.

Everything from the floor to the windows is reinforced to withstand bullets, shrapnel and explosive devices. The armour plating on the doors is so dense that Mercedes has had to fit motors to the hinges so that someone other than Superman can open and close them easily without rupturing a muscle group.

The reason why it's able to offer such high levels of protection is because the reinforcing and other security elements are integrated into the car's basic structure, rather than added later. This approach also means that although the vehicle is considerably heavier than a ‘stock' S 600 Pullman, it should still behave like car, not a tank, on the open road.

Its V12 bi-turbo engine has been tuned for power over speed. There's 530hp on tap but a huge 830Nm of torque available at even low revs, so it will always be able to pull away. And though Mercedes has electronically limited the top speed to reduce the severity of a potential collision, it will still hit 100mph (160km/h). 

Prices for the Pullman Guard will begin at €1.4 million (approx. RM6.45 million).

Not long from now, Maybach limousine's may even be self-driving, with Mercedes already testing its CityPilot project on the Future Bus.