Wildcat off-roader bares its talons
British low-volume mud-raker may well be the ultimate cross-country weaponA Porsche Cayenne Turbo clearly isn't the only way to go cross-country in a hurry --say hello to the Wildcat 300STR, a British-built all-terrainer that's billed as the "meanest road-legal off-road vehicle".
The Land Rover Defender-based chariot is built by Qt Services, which bought the rights to the Wildcat brand from Bowler Offroad.
The 300STR is powered by a 4.0-litre Rover V8, and it's claimed to be "capable of three-figure speeds (and they mean in miles per hour!) over completely unmade terrain".
Qt Services quotes a rapid 0-60mph (0-96km/h) split of 5.8 seconds, yet the 300STR is allegedly not a complete glutton in terms of fuel consumption.
Its maker says the 300STR's incredible all-terrain pace comes from the suppleness of its chassis and suspension, which is derived from its big brothers that compete in rally-raid events such as the gruelling Dakar Rally.
The black beast pictured alongside comes equipped with a robust fully welded tubular chassis, four-wheel drive, five-point harnesses and heavy-duty differentials and driveshafts.
It's not a barebones stripper though, as creature comforts such as air-conditioning, bluetooth and an iPod dock and stereo hi-fi are fitted as standard.
The boss of Qt Services, Dave Marsh, denies his wife wanted one modified for shopping but does admit to the chassis' versatility allowing for a certain amount of customising.
"If you consider that the 300STR is essentially a two-seater, there are a number of options open to you and this first production 300STR has been specified with rear storage for the new owner's golf clubs," said Marsh.
"We'd love to be there when he rocks up to the clubhouse and parks it next to the Astons and Mercedes! Definitely a head-turner."
Depending on your needs, there are three Wildcat variants to choose from -- the 300STR described here, the 400NSR, which is a full competition model designed for hill rallies and all-terrain events, and the top-spec 500DKR, which has the full rally-raid package for serious competitors.
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