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News

SV Rover: road-legal ‘hypertruck’ has supercharged V8 or EV energy

American motorsport outfit 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 both a screaming supercharged V8 engine or a battery-electric powertrain, it is the third automotive from the California-based agency, following the SV F1, a tribute to the 1967 Ferrari 312 Formula 1 automotive, and the Porsche 911-derived SC RSR, which was the premise for Ken Block’s ‘Hoonipigasus’ stunt automotive.

Said to have the ability to “comfortably tackle technical off-road trails and traverse desert terrain at extra-legal speeds”, the SV Rover takes visible cues from the traditional Land Rover Defender 90.

It has a physique clad completely in carbonfibre and aluminium, enormous flared wheel arches, thick underbody safety, LED entrance and tail lamps and a wheelbase considerably prolonged to accommodate a rear-mid-mounted engine.

Power comes from both a 1100bhp supercharged V8 with an eight-speed gearbox or a 1005bhp electrical system – anticipated to comprise a motor on every axle – and a 75kWh battery. 

Scarbo Performance CEO Joe Scarbo stated: “The SV Rover represents a brand new excessive when it comes to off-road energy, manoeuverability and functionality.

“We’re thrilled to unveil this revolutionary vehicle, which combines the nostalgia of classic British design with modern American muscle and technology to deliver a driving experience beyond anything this side of a trophy truck.”

The Rover is fitted with interchangeable two- and four-wheel drive, locking entrance and rear differentials and adjustable-height pushrod suspension that sits inboard and permits for an enormous 30in of wheel journey. 

Motorsport

Jeep Will Now Sell You A Two-Door Wrangler With 35s From The Factory

Off-roaders, rejoice. Jeep is making it a bit simpler to outfit a brand new Wrangler for rock crawling due to a brand new Xtreme 35 Tire Package. It consists of 35-inch Goodrich KO2 all-terrain tires and prices $4,495 on the two-door variations of the Wrangler Rubicon and Willys trims. Plus, the two-door Rubicon X with the turbocharged 2.0-liter engine will get the massive rubber as commonplace going ahead.

The Xtreme 35 package deal features a set of LT315/70R17C BF Goodrich KO2 all-terrain tires. They mount to a set of 17-inch beadlock-capable wheels with 5 pairs of spokes. Jeep features a 1.5-inch suspension raise and a 4.56:1 ratio for the rear axle, whereas the rear swing gate will get reinforcements to deal with the bigger spare.


News

H2X Darling: A Hydrogen Van with Lightweight Chassis by KTM

KTM, the well-known track car and motorcycle manufacturer, has teamed up with Australian company H2X Global to create a hydrogen fuel cell van. This collaboration allows H2X to benefit from KTM’s expertise in lightweighting technology.

KTM, famous for its X-Bow track car and the GT-XR supercar, joined forces with H2X last year to develop a “revolutionary” lightweight platform called the ‘Smart chassis’. Their goal is to reduce the cost of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, including cars, trucks, and buses.

Under this partnership, the two companies announced their plans to collaborate on a new ‘origami’ chassis specifically designed for H2X’s light commercial vehicles. This chassis is said to be easier to produce, maintain, and provide greater flexibility for different models compared to a traditional chassis.

KTM states that this new platform will not only enhance the sustainability of their manufacturing processes but also reduce the costs associated with tooling, which is typically a significant expense in sheet metal forming processes.

The first product resulting from this collaboration is a hydrogen-powered version of H2X’s Darling, a mid-sized van comparable to the Ford Transit and Vauxhall Movano. The Darling comes in various sizes, ranging from 4670mm to 5324mm in length.

Although still in the early stages of development, H2X has revealed a prototype of the Hydrogen Professional Van and is currently in discussions with a key supplier to verify its viability. The van claims to have a payload capacity of 3500kg, a towing capacity of up to 2550kg, and a range of up to 248 miles.

While technical details about the hydrogen-powered Darling remain undisclosed, KTM Technologies’ technical project manager, Andy Schumacher, expressed excitement about collaborating with H2X Global. He acknowledged H2X’s innovative vision and dedication to pioneering hydrogen-powered solutions for the automotive industry. Schumacher emphasized KTM’s commitment to environmentally friendly and groundbreaking vehicles.

Hydrogen fuel cells are particularly appealing to light commercial vehicle manufacturers due to their long range and quick refueling times, which benefit commercial operators. Stellantis already offers a range of mid-sized fuel cell vans in Europe, and various start-ups, including First Hydrogen from the UK and Canada, have plans to commercialize their own versions of hydrogen-powered vehicles.

This announcement from KTM and H2X comes shortly after Toyota revealed its priority shift towards the development of fuel cell technology for commercial vehicles. Toyota has experienced limited success with its Mirai FCEV passenger car.