New version of the South African SVI Max armoured vehicle.

SVI Engineering is well-known for its 4x4 and 6x6 wheeled armoured personnel carriers and luxury armoured cars. The company has designed a new version of its Max vehicle, now benefiting from larger window surfaces.

SVI's Max is now proposed in a new version, with larger window surfaces (Picture source: SVI)

SVI has long been focusing on designing armoured vehicles adapted to some African requirements. Hence, no surprise if the company claims some present customers have already expressed an interest for this new variant. In fact, the company has already produced armoured civilian vehicles, armoured luxury vehicles, remanufactured military and police vehicles, water cannons, gun ports, guard houses and towers, etc. It has designed and qualified over ten vehicle models.

The Max is an 8-seater (driver and seven passengers with a payload capacity of 3000 kg). It incorporates specially designed features starting from the hull which can withstand blast levels normally associated with much larger far more expensive vehicle (Ballistic protection – STANAG1 with optional upgrade, Blast protection – STANAG 4569 AEP 5 level 3A/3B).

The vehicle is designed to be adaptable to many different roles depending on customer requirements, from purely a transporter of personnel, to weapons platform (turret mounted), to law enforcement, peacekeeping or even configured into a battlefield ambulance.

The vehicle has 5 doors, with the rear main door automatically operated from the driver’s seat to facilitate speed entry, fast recovery of wounded patients, and speedy exit from hostile situations.

MAX is powered by a trusty efficient, yet powerful and reliable Cummins 6.7-litre turbocharged diesel engine, driving through a specially built 6 speed Allison Automatic Gearbox, sent to Axletech front and rear axles, and good for 110km/h. Modern CAN bus electrical system provides a digital dashboard display to the driver, while being more reliable and efficient to maintain and upgrade when necessary.