The prototype was designed to provide protection discreetly

BMW knows that some of us want a security detail that doesn’t draw attention to itself.

Just look at the German luxury marque’s latest prototype: the Concept 7 Protection. The saloon is equipped with all manner of armour and other safety gadgetry but looks almost identical to the standard version of the brand’s luxury flagship.

This isn’t the first armoured 7 Series we’ve seen. The company sells factory-made Protection variants of the gas-powered four-door and its battery-powered sibling, the i7. The Concept 7 Protection is not meant as a replacement for either, and instead is pitched as “[expanding] the extensive offering” of armoured Bimmers.

The most striking thing about the photos of the Concept 7 Protection is how closely it resembles the standard version of the automaker’s commanding saloon. Sure, the sixth-generation model, which was refreshed earlier this year, is big, but there are no outside signs that this version of it is armored. That is by design, with all the four-door’s armoured features, which include thick bulletproof glass, various ballistic steel, and fibre-reinforced composite support, discreetly hidden from view. The cabin also comes equipped with an intercom, so the driver and passengers can communicate with the outside world without having to open the door or crack the windows.

The Concept 7 Protection’s subtlety is a result of it being designed to provide security while moving quietly through the regular world, as opposed to an active war zone. The prototype was built to comply with the new BayB standard. This means it can safeguard against common handgun ammunition, among other everyday threats. Those looking for military-grade armour should look elsewhere, though the prototype will provide more than enough protection for the overwhelming majority of us.

The armoured 7 Series is based on the M760e xDrive plug-in hybrid. This version of the four-door is equipped with a 3.0-liter inline-six and a front-mounted electric motor that combine to produce 603 hp and 590 ft lbs of torque. The Concept 7 Protection won’t handle or move the same as the non-armored version, but it won’t feel sluggish either.