Behind the wheel of the $1.6 million Prodrive Hunter

Published on Nov 25, 2022 at 6:02 PM (UTC+4)
by Kate Bain

Last updated on Nov 25, 2022 at 6:02 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by Kate Bain

This is the $1.6 million 600-hp Prodrive Hunter, the world’s craziest all-terrain supercar. 

Once created for the toughest motorsport race in the world, the Dakar rally, the Prodrive Hunter has now been refined as a road-legal hypercar. 

And Supercar Blondie’s Dominika Sofroniciova got to experience what it felt like behind the wheel. 

Watch her review here!

The Prodrive Hunter started out in life as a dune-bashing Dakar beast, so it thrives in desert sand and rough mountain tracks. 

In fact, everyone loved it so much, that they begged Prodrive to make a road-legal version. 

And Prodrive delivered, giving us the enormous off-road beast we see today.

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You might think they had to strip back its power, but Prodrive did the opposite. 

The Hunter is now even more extreme that the one driven by World Champion driver Sebastien Loeb at the Dakar.

Prodrive Hunter power

In fact, it has a 50 percent increase in power thanks to the 3.5-liter V6 twin turbo engine. 

This means it can go from 0-60 mph (100km/h) in less than four seconds and reach a top speed of almost 186 mph (300km/h). 

It also has even more suspension to absorb whatever terrain you want to tackle. 

While the Hunter is even faster and more capable than the original Dakar car, it’s also more refined.

What’s changed from the race car?

Inside, the Hunter has a 9-inch digital display and a center console fitted with all the traditional controls you would find in your average family SUV. 

They also cut the fuel tank down from 500 liters to 200 to create some room for your luggage. 

The Hunter has the same engine and suspension as the Dakar competition car, but it’s been improved for better, more comfortable daily driving. 

This includes the manual sequential gearbox, which has been replaced by a six-speed paddle shift.

The entire car has also been designed to minimize overall weight. 

All the bodywork has been made from lightweight carbon composite, including recycled materials. 

Prodrive Chairman David Richards said the Hunter was unlike any hypercar in existence. 

“There are numerous hypercars on the market, however they all need good roads or even race tracks to show their performance,” he said. 

“We identified that in certain parts of the world, particularly the Middle East, there are vast expanses still to be explored that go way beyond the access provided by asphalt roads. 

“Therefore why not create a vehicle that gives the opportunity to explore these regions with performance way beyond that offered by any off-road vehicle before.”

Richards said the team wanted to make the Hunter hypercar as similar as possible to the original, beloved Dakar competition car. 

“It’s about giving owners the opportunity to experience what it is like to drive Loeb’s Dakar car across the desert, but with all the comforts of a road car,” he said.

Prodrive Hunter specs 

  • Prodrive hunter price is $1.7 million 
  • Engine: 3.5 liter twin turbo V6 
  • The Prodrive hunter makes 600hp and 700nm 
  • Transmission: 4 wheel drive with six speed paddle shift gearbox 
  • Carbon fiber bodywork 
  • 37 inch wheels, 17 inch rims with AP Racing brakes 

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Kate Bain is the Page Editor at supercarblondie.com. She is based in Dubai and coordinates coverage of the latest news across automotive, technology, and lifestyle. Kate has a bachelor's degree in business and post graduate in journalism. She is an experienced editor and journalist who has worked for News Corp, Daily Mail Australia, and Sky News. When she's not at work, you'll find her attached at the hip to her dog, Thor.