Now this looks proper: a supercar for the dunes, an export of the United Arab Emirates by a company conceived by individuals with a definite few motorsport-derived feathers in their cap, and powered by GM’s LT1 atmospheric V8.
The formula looks like one we’ve seen quite recently in the form of the Rally Fighter from Local Motors, but where this Zarooq Sand Racer 500 GT differs how it approaches the idea of fast grand touring on sand.
Being from this part of the world, it’s most certainly a more luxurious vehicle, with a leather and exposed carbon fibre two-seat interior assembled by Mansory - who were also responsible for the crafting the body - the same German outfit known for taking many ultra expensive vehicles and personalising them to the extremes - or in accordance with the tastes (or lack thereof) of their ultra wealthy clients.
They say that it was penned by a hypercar designer, the identity of whom was not readily disclosed. Given where the Sand Racer hails from, this has to mean it’s Anthony Jannarelly, the Frenchman who was primarily responsible for the fantastically angular Lykan Hypersport from W Motors. We can definitely see some resemblance.
Elsewhere, Zarooq Motors’ first car is built around a lightweight (~1,300kg) composite and aluminium body and chassis that houses that American V8, which churns out 390kW and 660Nm, in a mid-engine layout around an integrated roll cage. The engineering came from Spanish motorsport team Campos, no doubt from connections derived by Zarooq’s co-founders Mohammed Al Qadi, formerly COO of the Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi and Bruno Laffite, a former F3 racer.
Unusually, the Sand Racer’s drive is sent to the rear wheels exclusively, which is incongruent with its endurance rally-derived components such as its Dakar-grade Intrax dampers and sequential racing gearbox. Perhaps they feel that its featherweight body is light enough to dance across the sand without getting bogged down, removing the need for a heavier all-wheel drive system.
The suspension itself can be lowered or heightened based on it being set to either Road or Sand mode, enabling a suspension travel up to 45cm while the latter is engaged. It should be a very fun thing to thrash around, then. Although, with a starting cost of roughly £350,000 (or a shave under AU$600,000), we would understand if one may have reservations about driving it in such a manner in the dangerous and unpredictable desert.
Production is apparently already underway for the first 5 units of the 500 GT, with a planned production run totalling at just 35 over the next few years, with nearly all being catered specifically to their buyers’ personalisation whims.
