Prospective buyers get behind wheel for first time – then enjoy ride of a lifetime with double Dakar winner Roma
Dubai, UAE -: Prospective buyers for the world’s first all-terrain hypercar have been putting the vehicle through its paces in Dubai, with the help of international rally raid star, Nani Roma.
The original Prodrive Hunter was built to tackle the notoriously tough Dakar Rally, and Roma, a two-times winner of the event, has played an important role in the development of the new road-going version unveiled in Dubai this week.
Super car enthusiasts and potential buyers got behind the wheel of the 600 bhp, four-wheel drive Hunter in the Al Qhudra dunes, before switching to the co-driver’s seat alongside the Spanish driver for a ride they will not easily forget.
Designed to negotiate the most demanding desert regions, the Hunter is also in its element on urban highways and in downtown traffic. Its power and versatility give the Prodrive Hunter unrivalled performance across any terrain. This makes the UAE a prime market for Prodrive, which is building a limited number of Hunters to the unique specification of individual buyers.
“We came to Dubai, to give prospective buyers the opportunity of driving the car for the first time and experience the power and all-round performance of the Hunter in their local terrain” said Prodrive chairman, David Richards.
“It was good to have Nani Roma on hand to demonstrate the full performance of the Hunter and explain what makes it such a unique vehicle.”
The hypercar was born from the competition car driven by Roma, nine-time World Rally Champion Sebastien Loeb, and Argentine Orlando Terranova, in this year’s Dakar back in January.
More recently, Loeb and fellow French driver Guerlain Chicherit took Prodrive Hunters to successive victories in the World Rally-Raid Championship.
The hypercar is even more powerful than the rally version, boasting a 50% increase in power from its 3.5 litre V6 twin turbo engine, and more suspension travel to absorb the harshest of terrain.
It is also far more refined, with a stylish interior, better air conditioning as well as other features more in keeping with everyday use than a vehicle that was originally designed to win the world’s toughest car rally.
The car can accelerate from 0-100 kph in less than four seconds, with a top speed of nearly 300 kph. The Hunter starts at £1.25m plus local taxes.
HUNTER HYPERCAR SPECIFICATION
ENGINE
Front-mid
3.5 litre V6 twin turbo
Single plenum/throttle
Dry sump
Power over 600 bhp
Torque 700 Nm
INTERIOR
High resolution digital display
9” touchscreen multimedia player
Carbon fibre seats
Six-point safety harness
Dual fire extinguisher system
Lightweight lithium-ion battery
SUSPENSION
Double wishbone
Two adjustable dampers per wheel
Electronic ride height Adjustment
TRANSMISSION
4-wheel drive
Six speed paddle shift gearbox
Front, centre and rear Differentials
WHEEL & TYRES
8.5J x 17” forged aluminium rims
37/12.5-17 off road tyres
FUEL SYSTEM
200 litre in safety cell
CHASSIS
High strength steel tubular structure
Carbon fibre composite bodywork including recycled materials
BRAKES
Six pot front calipers
Six-pot rear calipers
Vented discs
COLOUR
(Any) Bespoke options available
PRICE
£1.25m plus local taxes
