FBI Director Swaps Chevy Suburban For Armoured BMW X5 Luxury SUVs As “Less Conspicuous" Choice

The United States domestic intelligence and security service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) director Kash Patel recently swapped the Chevrolet Suburban for a fleet of new, armoured BMW X5 SUVs. The Chevy Suburban has been the long-standing transport vehicle for the FBI leadership, and the agency called the purchase as “less conspicuous”, calling it much easier to blend in with regular cars. The purchase has raised concerns about government spending and the use of taxpayer money. The number of armoured X5s purchased for Patel’s fleet remains unspecified.  

The FBI confirmed the purchase to MS Now, stating that it was part of a planned vehicle refresh. The bureau further said that the armoured BMW X5s were a less expensive choice compared to the armoured Suburbans. The report quoted FBI Spokesperson Ben Williamson saying, “Government agencies, including the FBI, routinely evaluate, replace and update vehicle fleets based on usage, security needs or budgetary decisions.” 

He added, “The specific decisions referenced in this article were evaluated partly as a way to save taxpayers millions by picking cheaper selections or making cost structures more efficient.”

While the shift from the Suburban to the X5 may seem new for the FBI director, the U.S. government does use the same BMW SUV to transport State Department officials and diplomats in high-risk international areas.

BMW X5 Protection: What Makes It Special?

The Chevrolet Suburban has been the symbol of America’s justice system and is nearly synonymous with the bureau. That said, the BMW X5 is American-made with the SUV produced at the automaker’s Spartanburg facility in South Carolina. The X5 Protection brings a mix of a luxurious cabin coupled with VR6-level protection to its occupants. This includes armoured steel and bulletproof safety glass. The doors, side frame, roof, and bulkhead are made out of high-strength steel, and an aluminum splinter guard for the underbody. Furthermore, it gets a self-sealing fuel tank with a special casing to protect it from bullets, and 30 mm thick bullet resistant glass that can survive assault rifles such as the AK-47.

Visually, the BMW X5 Protection is identical to the standard version. Buyers can get upgrades including an intercom system, flashing LED lights mounted on the grille, flashing rear lights, and roof-mounted light beacons. The SUV can be retrofitted with a roof antenna and a receiver for a digital two-way radio.

Inside, the armoured BMW X5 Protection is available only as a four-seater, and gets all the creature comforts including the curved display, four-zone climate control, leather upholstery, electrically adjustable front seats with massage function and more. Power on the SUV comes from the 4.4-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine paired with the 48-volt mild-hybrid system. This is the same unit from the M5 and churns out 523 bhp and 750 Nm of peak torque. The X5 Protection also gets an adaptive M suspension, an M Sport differential, and active roll stabilisation.