Armored Cadillac Prototype Gauges New Security Needs

General Motors Corp. is displaying an armored Cadillac DeVille at the Greater Los Angeles Auto Show to gauge interest in the model after Sept. 11 terrorist attacks increased security concerns.

The armored DeVille, designed to stop a bullet from a .44-caliber Magnum handgun, was originally conceived for overseas markets, said Dave Ransom, Cadillac manager of professional vehicles.

Inquiries for armored cars have increased 40% at Scaletta Moloney Armoring Corp. since the attacks, said President Joseph Scaletta, whose company helped build the prototype. Orders for cars with additional armor have increased 25% at the Bedford Park, Ill., company.

The DeVille would compete with armored versions of Bayerische Motoren Werke’s 7-Series and DaimlerChrysler’s S-Class sedans.

The Cadillac would have run-flat tires, bullet-resistant windows and a modified chassis designed to hold the extra weight of the car. Although Ransom wouldn’t give a price for the model if it were built, he said it will be competitive with the Mercedes and BMW models that range from $100,000 to $154,000.