- SVI completes B6 discreet kit for Hilux.
- 360-degree protection against assault rifles.
- Ballistic overlaps around doors and windscreen.
- B6 package from R945 239 excluding VAT.
- Build time approximately three months.
SVI Engineering has equipped the new Toyota Hilux with a 360-degree B6 discreet armouring package, which provides the highest grade of civilian protection available in South Africa without a special permit. The conversion gives local buyers of the country’s best-selling bakkie an armoured option rated against assault rifles, including the AK47, R1 and R5.
The 9th-generation Hilux, built at Toyota’s Prospecton factory in KwaZulu-Natal, launched locally earlier this year. SVI secured a flagship Hilux 2.8GD-6 Legend 4×4 double cab for the project. “This is the first to feature our 360-degree B6 discreet armouring package, and it’s likely also the first such example in South Africa,” said SVI Business Development Director Nicol Louw.
How the Hilux B6 armour works
The Bashewa-based firm’s B6 package uses custom-fabricated armoured steel plates, composite materials and 38 mm ballistic glass curved to OEM specification. Ballistic overlaps are fitted around all door apertures, all side windows and the windscreen.
The steel panels are cut and bonded to the inside of the passenger cell’s sheet-metal areas, so the bakkie looks virtually the same as a standard model. The driver’s window can be lowered by around 150 mm using purpose-manufactured actuators that replace the original winding system. A suspension upgrade and uprated door hinges are standard.
Safety systems and Hilux powertrain
Driver-assistance systems, including those relying on sensors behind the windscreen, remain fully operational after the conversion, and critical powertrain components are also protected. The Hilux’s body-on-frame construction and payload capacity accommodate the added mass, while the standard 150 kW and 500 N.m 2.8-litre turbodiesel engine remains unchanged.
SVI Hilux armour prices and build times
SVI also offers a B4 discreet package for the Hilux double cab, protecting against handguns up to .44 Magnum, at R624 054. The B2 SVI LITE partial-armouring kit covers selected closures only, is rated to stop 9 mm, 124-grain handgun rounds and costs R74 950 per closure.
The B6 discreet package is priced from R945 239 and includes a complimentary full-day driver-training course. Options include roof armour, floor armour and imported heavy-duty runflat rings for the tyres. All prices exclude VAT and the cost of the base vehicle. Build time for the B4 and B6 packages is approximately three months, while B2 LITE fitment takes around two weeks.
Supplied by QuickPic (SVI)
This story is based on aggregated news, press release(s) or other sources and was prepared with the help of AI tools, which can make mistakes. Prices, specifications, general information and availability may change, so confirm the details with the manufacturer, other news sources or a dealer.