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March 17, 2022
by Jarryd Neves Reveal / 5 Comments
Think of this as the road-legal version of Sebastian Loeb's crazy desert racer.
Best known for its work on limited-edition Subarus and myriad motorsport projects, Prodrive is now looking to become a fully-fledged carmaker. Last year, the UK-based engineering group announced its intentions to create a road-going version of its Dakar racer, called the Hunter. Less than a year later, the company has unveiled its incredible all-terrain vehicle.
The striking Hunter is powered by a Ford-sourced 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6, which produces around 600 horsepower and a mountainous 516 lb-ft of torque. This, estimates Prodrive, is enough motivation to get the Hunter to 62 mph in less than four seconds and on to a top speed of around 186 mph.
While quick, we're guessing those grippy 35-inch off-road tires - still smaller than what you can get on a Ford Bronco Raptor - will hinder outright performance somewhat.
Then again straight-line speed is of little interest to the Hunter's key demographic; they probably already have a Bugatti Chiron for that. The road-going derivative receives the Dakar racer's engine and drivetrain but, crucially, it also retains the superb suspension setup. Power is sent to all four wheels via a six-speed paddle-shift transmission.
Incredibly, the road-legal Hunter boasts 50% more power than the competition model and better suspension travel. The double-wishbone suspension features twin adjustable dampers on each corner, providing approximately 15.7 inches of suspension travel. This provides a smooth ride on even the harshest surfaces and allows the Hunter to traverse rough terrain with maximum stability.
Chairman David Richards said, "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 [Sebastian] 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."
Something designed to take repeated beatings needs to be strong and Prodrive has delivered. The Hunter utilizes a high tensile steel space frame chassis which aids rigidity and enhances suspension geometry. What's more, an FIA standard safety cage is put in place to protect occupants from undesirable incidents.
To slow you down as quickly as possible, the Hunter is fitted with six-pot racing brake calipers and vented discs. No mention of curb weight is made, but with a body fashioned out of a carbon fiber composite, we're guessing this desert destroyer is a lightweight. Certainly, there's nothing in the cabin that's weighing it down.
