Prodrive slams down 447kW Hunter

PRODRIVE has unleashed its 600hp (447kW) four-wheel-drive adventure machine. The provocatively named Hunter is said to deliver “unrivalled ability across any landscape”.

Prodrive says the Hunter, which looks like a vehicle from a movie set, was born out of the Bahrain Raid Xtreme competition car driven by nine-time World Rally Champion Sebastian Loeb and, like that vehicle, is equally capable of tackling desert sand dunes and rough mountain tracks.

Powered by a front-mid mounted 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 engine producing peak torque of 700Nm, the beastly Hunter runs a six-speed paddle shift sequential gearbox and massive suspension travel (400mm) to absorb the harshest terrain.

The Hunter’s strengthened steel-tubular structure and carbon-fibre composite body is suspended by double-wishbone suspension all-round with twin adjustable dampers per wheel.

Prodrive says the Hunter is faster, and even more capable, than Loeb’s race car, but also more refined.

Penned by Ian Callum (the ex-Aston Martin and Jaguar car designer), the Hunter’s design offers a reworked interior its maker says is “more in keeping with everyday use than racing”, replete with a digital instrument display and centre console with all of the “traditional controls found on a road car”.

“There are numerous hypercars on the market. However, they all need good roads or even race tracks to show their performance,” said Prodrive chairman David Richards.

“We identified that in certain parts of the world, particularly the Middle East, there are vast expanses still to be explored that go way beyond the access provided by asphalt roads.

“Therefore, why not create a vehicle that gives the opportunity to explore these regions with performance way beyond that offered by any off-road vehicle before?”

Mr Richards estimates the Hunter can accelerate from zero to 100km/h in under four seconds and go on to a top speed of “nearly 300km/h”. The Hunter rides on 35-inch off-road tyres, features an FIA-standard safety cage and stopping ability is provided by six-pot calipers.

“We took the deliberate decision to keep the Hunter hypercar as close to the original as possible. It’s 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,” added Mr Richards.

Prodrive says the Hunter has been designed to minimise overall weight and optimise the vehicle’s weight distribution and centre of gravity. All the bodywork is made from lightweight carbon composite, which includes recycled materials produced by Prodrive Composites.

Inside, the Hunter features race-ready components such as carbon-fibre seats, six-point safety harnesses, dual fire extinguisher system, a lightweight lithium-ion battery, and a 480-litre safety-cell fuel system.

“The first development vehicle is currently touring the Middle East where customers are being offered the opportunity to drive the Hunter and confirm their personal specification for production vehicles to be delivered later this year.”

The Prodrive Hunter is available to order for the sum of £1.25m ($A2.23m) plus local taxes.