The Mercedes-Maybach S 600 Pullman Guard is less an example of gilding the lily and more a case of armor plating it.

When the first deliveries of this 6.5 metre long, 5.6-tonne limousine begin in earnest in the second half of 2017, clients will get a vehicle that challenges any Rolls-Royce or Bentley in terms of interior space and creature comforts. The Pullman Guard offers rear face-to-face seating so that four passengers can conduct a moving meeting while quaffing champagne from bespoke crystal glasses.

And when the conversation is over, the two seats in the third row recline, just like on a business class flight, complete with adjustable calf rest so that passengers can take a nap.

But, because this car conforms to protection class VR9 and Directive ERV 2010, even an attack from a rocket-propelled grenade shouldn't raise you from your slumber.

Everything from the floor to the windows is reinforced to withstand bullets, shrapnel and explosive devices. The armor plating on the doors is so dense that Mercedes has had to fit motors to the hinges so that someone other than Superman can open and close them easily without rupturing a muscle group.

The reason why it's able to offer such high levels of protection is because the reinforcing and other security elements are integrated into the car's basic structure, rather than added later. This approach also means that although the vehicle is considerably heavier than a ‘stock' Pullman (the S 600 Pullman is Mercedes' current absolute flagship), it should still behave like car, not a tank, on the open road.

Its V12 bi-turbo engine has been tuned for power over speed. There's 530hp on tap but a huge 830Nm of torque available at even low revs, so it will always be able to pull away. And though Mercedes has electronically limited the top speed to reduce the severity of a potential collision, it will still hit 100mph (160km/h).

"Besides providing spacious seating in first-class comfort for high-ranking passengers, the Mercedes-Maybach Pullman is of course the embodiment of exclusivity at its highest level," said Ola Källenius, Mercedes-Benz Cars head of sales and marketing. "One can sense the significance and greatness of it in every detail."

Prices for the Pullman Guard will begin at €1.4 million.