If you chose an isolation from civilization amidst proud mountain spires, then this unhinged van-to-snowmobile conversion may be just for you. If not, it still totally deserves a look for craziness value alone.
Responsible for the project is MAN Truck & Bus, from Austria. The source vehicle is MAN TGE 3.180 4×4, a nine-seat all-wheel-drive van technically identical to the Volkswagen Crafter. Tracks instead of wheels is the only major modification here, and swapping ones for the others only takes about an hour thanks to a special adapter. The result is 2.4 meters (7.87 feet) wide and weighs 300 kg (660 lbs) more than a stock van.
Watch both minute-long videos to see just how easily the track-endowed TGE rolls around snowy slopes, mud puddles and open terrain. Depending on the conditions, driving is recommended in gears 1 through 3 at speeds reaching 25-50 km/h (16 – 32 mph). A 30mm (1.2-in) suspension lift prevents damage to the underbody, and MAN claims its van is already motorized sufficiently for optimum performance in snow.
Would you like to drive one, too?