Murders and kidnappings are less common than they used to be in Russia, as United Nations data have it, but Moscow is still where the world's top auto makers prefer to show off their latest bulletproof cars.

At this year's motor show in the Russian capital, it is Germany's BMW AG that is hoping to win over well-heeled, security-conscious customers with an armored version of its X5 sport-utility vehicle which it describes as AK-47-proof.

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