The Knight XV from Conquest Vehicles “defines the future of the ultra-luxurious, handcrafted fully armored SUV. This one-of-a-kind, V10, 6.8-litre, Bio-fuel powered SUV was inspired by the Gurkha military vehicle and features security appointments that are unrivaled in today’s SUV marketplace”.
Designed as “an armored vehicle and not a vehicle that has been armored”, the Knight XV is manufactured using military-grade armoring materials, and sits atop a specially modified Ford super duty chassis, making parts and service easily accessible around the globe in case your tank breaks down and needs a tune-up.
The 6.8L V10 runs on E-85 if you feel like giving the environment a break, and is certified as legal in all 50 US states. 400 horsepower and 498 ft. lbs. of torque are produced by the massive engine, but don’t expect 0-60 times to wow you, because all that power is definitely going to be needed when the vehicle weighs in at over 10,000 pounds!
Four wheel drive with locking hubs, a 4.30 ratio limited slip differential, and a 5-speed transmission ensure that you’ll never get stuck when the road gets tough, and 40 gallons of fuel in the tank will ensure that even when the going does get tough, you can just keep on going.
Inside, wool carpeting and leather seating keep the passengers comfy, while TV monitors and a full entertainment system including a PlayStation 3 keep them entertained. Plus, two forward looking infrared radar systems (one mounted front and one rear with separate screens for each) come standard on all Knight XVs sold in North America, so if you need to turn the lights down low, you can still make your way around town in complete darkness without hitting a thing.
All told, the Knight XV takes 1,500 hours to build by hand, and only 100 of them will be made for their ultra rich, ultra paranoid buyers.
Don’t expect luxury and protection like this to come cheap though, as each Knight XV will cost its owner a cool $295,000.
[Conquest Vehicles - Knight XV]
EarthRoamer Xpedition Vehicles are designed to take you to the end of the world and back in extreme comfort without the need for external power or utility hook ups.
In addition, they’re also designed to preserve the environment that they roam through, with solar energy used as the primary power source for lights and appliances, and biodiesel options for those looking to avoid fossil fuels.
The EarthRoamer XV-LT is based on the Ford Super Duty F-550, and is designed for two adults and two children to camp for extended periods of time. The truck will hold 90 gallons of diesel and 85 gallons of fresh water, and includes conveniences like granite counters, a convection microwave, air-conditioning, a king-size bed, and an enclosed shower/bathroom. In addition, with a 17,950 pound gross vehicle weight and 10,000 pound towing capability, you can bring all of your toys along for the ride.
The EarthRoamer XV-JP is based on the Jeep Rubicon Unlimited, and is designed for two adults who want to use the most technical of four-wheel drive trails to reach remote camping destinations. Once in camp, the Loftop gives you nearly 9 feet of interior height, as well as a full queen-size bed in the loft. A drop down rear tent provides bug free living space, and 25 gallons of fresh water will keep you going for as long as you’re willing. Conveniences include an inside cassette toilet, inside shower, sink and cooking facilities, an electric fan, and a forced air furnace for when the nights get a little bit colder and you want to keep things a little bit cozier.
Whether it’s a trail in the middle of the Baja or a pristine secluded beach or a four-month expedition through Alaska, EarthRoamer vehicles are designed to get you through the country in comfort and convenience that few other vehicles can provide.
[EarthRoamer]
[Via: Uncrate]
The Hummer HX concept is one truck that I would love to see make it to the showroom floor without getting smoothed over by the penny pinchers at GM.
Designed to be a Jeep Wrangler competitor, the HX features a 3.6-liter SIDI E85 FlexFuel engine, four wheel drive, a six-speed automatic transmission, and a modular roof that can be opened convertible style.
Considering the fact that the styling isn’t too far off when compared to the current H2 and H3, I can only hope that this is a nearly-there preview of the H4 to come.
[Via: Autoblog]
SEMA was, as expected, amazing.
If you’ve never been (given the chance, I think everyone should go), then picture this: More automotive eye candy than you can imagine, and I walked around for two full days and still didn’t see everything. It’s that big.
Though the name of the game is new and improved, and everyone is trying to one-up the next to grab that photographer’s eye, there were a couple trends that I noticed:
- Orange is the new black. Orange was definitely the go-to color scheme for any car that was trying to show off, and even cars that were painted other colors seemed to have some sort of orange accent.
- Bigger is better. To grab your attention, rims have now crossed the 30” barrier, and the more gaudy, the better. There were rims with TVs in them, rims with solid gold bars in them, rims with jewels in them, and rims that were painted just about any color you can imagine. If you can dream it, someone else can put it on a rim.
- Heat-treated is the new chrome. To add to the wheel spectrum, many manufactures are now offering a “heat-treat” option, which takes your shiny new wheel and adds some color to it with a heat-treating process. I like the look, so I hope to see more of it.
- Horsepower numbers need four digits to impress. With everyone pumping 300 horsepower out of their Civic, it takes something special to show off now, which is why many of the tuners were demoing cars that easily passed through the thousand mark in the horsepower column.
- Conversions are big. Four door cars became two door, two door cars became four door, convertibles became single seat roadsters, and some cars just lost all hope of being original and simply transformed into something new entirely. There are definitely some automotive Dr. Frankensteins out there, and for the right funds, they can build you just about anything that you can think of.
Though there were many cars that impressed, my favorite car of the show was easily the Tractorri; a half Mustang, half Lamborghini concoction that looked like it just stepped off the showroom floor. The execution was flawless, and it was hard to believe that this car started out as two entirely different machines. Though I couldn’t decide if it should be called a Forghini Musardo, or a Lambord Gallardang, it was easy to decide that John Haugh (the owner of the Tractorri) is one lucky man.
Starting with a 2007 body in white Ford Mustang, the Tractorri soon began to take shape. The 5.0-liter, 520 hp Lamborghini V10 was midmounted behind the front seats, and then mated to the Gallardo’s four-wheel drive, paddle-shifted E-gear transmission, and Aluminum double wishbone suspension.
Other amenities include 8 piston front and 4 piston rear brakes, custom wheels, Lamborghini interior, PPG paint, and Gallardo taillights (to remind fellow drivers that there is a reason you’ll only ever see the back of this car).
If heaven has cars, then they all look like this, because the Tractorri was simply stunning.
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