The brand and logo aren't enough anymore for the mega-rich. Now, business is booming for armored cars with bullet-proof windows. INSIDE EDITION takes a look.
A man with an AK-47 pumps six bullets into a BMW. But he's not crazy. He's demonstrating the latest must-have accessory—the armored vehicle.
INSIDE EDITION went to Texas Armoring Corporation in San Antonio where Jason Forston showed us how it works.
Forston explained, "The first step in the process is stripping the vehicle down to the entire frame. We even remove the whole dashboard assembly. Everything comes out."
Workers install bomb-proof steel plates, then they place bulletproof plastic shields inside the doors.
"We put it in all the doors it will stop an AK-47 or M-16 cold in its tracks," said Forston.
The bullet-proof glass is one-and-a-half inches thick. Inside the tires are run flat bullet-proof plastic inserts in case a gunshot blows them out.
Forston pointed out, "Now, lets take a look under the car. You can see that we fully armored the fuel tank. So, it's wrapped and protected. It will defeat a grenade a small bomb blast or an IED."
Armoring a car isn't cheap. It costs as much as $600,000. So, who is buying them?
Kanye West just bought two armor plated SUVs for a whopping $1.2 million each.
New York Knicks guard J.R. Smith drives a $450,000 Gurkha F5, just like the one Dwayne Johnson rode in Fast Five.
In Hollywood, the biggest status symbol is no longer just the nameplate on the outside of the car. It's now about what's underneath. The armored plating and bullet proof glass that that gives celebrities a real sense of security.
Action hero Steven Seagal and America's Got Talent judge Mel B also bought armoured cars.
For security-conscious celebrities, there's nothing safer on the road.
