Prodrive, the company that prepared Sebastian Loeb’s Dakar Rally ride, has unveiled a road-legal modification of it called the Hunter. With a sub-4-second sprint time even on rough terrain, it can be yours for £1,250,000, or around $1,650,000 USD.
The newcomer largely mimics the rally car it is based upon (see video), which won silver at the latest rally. The development team says it was not restricted by any motorsport regulations while designing the road version and were able to improve some units and components further.
For instance, the 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 gained around 50 percent of power, rising to 600 PS (592 hp / 441 kW) and 700 Nm (516 lb-ft) of torque. The sequential gearbox made room for a six-speed transmission equipped with convenient paddle shifters. The top speed is now estimated at 300 km/h (186 mph).
The off-roader boasts a stainless-steel space frame and rides on pre-wheel suspension with dual wishbones and dual shocks on each wheel. Suspension travel increases by 50 mm (2 inches) to 400 mm (16 inches). The tires are 35 inches large.
Ian Callum, ex-Jaguar designer who also came up with the design of the Prodrive Hunter, made road-friendly alterations in its “civilian” version. The interior stays true to the spirit of “bid motorsports”, but now features a conventional center console complete with an infotainment system display and various controls.
Prodrive CEO David Richards said the company’s intention was to let Hunter buyers experience the feeling of driving a Dakar rally vehicle. It will be primarily marketed in Middle East countries, where there are still vast unexplored areas away from highways.