BRITISH motorsport and advanced engineering outfit Prodrive has revealed the Hunter – the world’s first all-terrain hypercar.
And renowned Scots automotive designer Ian Callum, of Aston Martin and Jaguar fame, has been heavily involved in the project.
The Hunter is powered by a 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 engine, developing more than 600bhp and 700Nm of torque, driving all four wheels. Prodrive reckons it can hit 62mph in less than four seconds and will redline at about 185mph.
A six-speed paddle-shift set-up provides smooth gear changes while the suspension system, bespoke 35in off-road tyres and special brakes ensure the adventure vehicle has an unrivalled ability and performance across any landscape, says the Oxfordshire company.
The car has a high-strength steel chassis and lightweight carbon-fibre composite bodywork, as well as a FIA-standard safety cage to protect occupants.
Based on the Bahrain Raid Xtreme competition car driven by rally ace Sebastien Loeb in the incredibly tough Dakar event, it will thrive on desert sand, dunes and rough mountain tracks.
But as the Hunter does not have to comply with strict competition regulations, the hypercar not only has a 50 per cent increase in power but also has greater capability and is more refined.
Dumfries-born Callum, who styled the exterior of the rally vehicle, has created a new interior more in keeping with everyday use than racing.
A digital display gives the driver all the important information they need, while the centre console houses the more traditional controls found on a road car.
Costing £1.25million before taxes, customers in the Middle East are currently getting the chance to drive a prototype and confirm personal specs for production cars that will be delivered later this year.
Prodrive boss David Richards said: “The Hunter is about giving owners the opportunity to experience what it is like to drive Loeb’s Dakar car across the desert, but with all the comforts of a road car and the ability to drive it from your home, through a city, to any destination of your choice.”
