Armored vehicles where first made popular by Al Capone. The most sturdy luxury vehicle he could purchase had doors of simple sheet metal. Riding in his new car was like sitting in a coffin. He had so many enemies that he had no choice but to tack steel plates to his car.

Today nothing has changed ... vehicles are still made with simple sheet metal that act as a skin to a tubular or U frame design topped with a wonderful surround of thin glass. People still find themselves sitting in a big giant target with wheels.

To combat this risk Cadillac has stepped up to meet the needs of high profile people. Not satisfied with just air bags, roll cages and hydro-formed steel beams, Cadillac has created a line of armored vehicles to go beyond accident protection and reach the realm of attack protection.

With children caring guns to school for fun, drug addicts doing anything for money and and co-workers going crazy, terrorists are not the only danger lurking around the corner. ... time has come for every day individuals to protect themselves.

It is while traveling that people are most at risk of armed or violent assault. An armored vehicle gives travelers the critical extra time needed at the moment of attack to escape with their lives.

Unlike in films, armored vehicles do not deflect bullets without damage, and do not usually have offensive weaponry. They are designed for defensive use, to withstand a certain type and number of hits fired from a certain type of firearm at a certain speed.

While they are not impregnable, an armored vehicle manufactured by a reputable company like Cadillac, using the proper techniques, will afford you the time that you would not otherwise have had in an unarmored car. That time to escape can be the difference between life and death.