Defender-inspired SV Rover packs 1100bhp supercharged V8 or 1005bhp EV set-up
JONATHAN BRYCE
American motorsport firm Scarbo Vintage has revealed the SV Rover – an outlandish off-road weapon that it claims to be “the world’s first street-legal hypertruck”.
Available with either a mighty supercharged V8 engine or a battery-electric powertrain, it is the third car from the California-based company. It follows the SV F1, a tribute to the 1967 Ferrari 312 Formula 1 car, and the Porsche 911-derived SV RSR, which was the basis for Ken Block’s ‘Hoonipigasus’ stunt car.
Said to “comfortably tackle technical off-road trails and traverse desert terrain at extra-legal speeds”, the SV Rover takes visual cues from the classic Land Rover Defender 90.
It has a body clad entirely in carbonfibre and aluminium, huge flared wheel arches, thick underbody protection and a wheelbase significantly extended to accommodate a rear-mid-mounted engine.
Power comes from either a 1100bhp supercharged V8 with an eight-speed gearbox or a 1005bhp electric set-up – expected to be a motor on each axle – and 75kWh battery.
The Rover is fitted with selectable two- and four-wheel drive, locking front and rear diffs and adjustable-height pushrod suspension that sits inboard and allows for a massive 30in of wheel travel.
It also has four-wheel steering, 40in off-road tyres and carbon-ceramic brakes.
The cockpit is a fusion of modern technology and utilitarianism. Its 12.3in digital instrument cluster and 12.8in infotainment screen are flanked by exposed welds and bare-metal panelling and its indicator stalks are finished in what appears to be aluminium. It also features air-con and Alcantara Sparco bucket seats.
Scarbo hasn’t said how many Rovers it will build or given an indication of pricing, but a $935,000 (£739,000) price for the SV RSR suggests it could approach six figures.
