This is the SV Rover by Southern California-based Scarbo Vintage, and it takes the Bowler Wildcats of yore and makes them look like domesticated kittens. It’s one of the crazier projects we’ve been introduced to so far in 2024, and yes, it’s street-legal. We don’t know how, either.
What we’ve got here is a two-seat, rear-mid-engined, four-wheel-drive layout with two powertrain options: a 1,100hp supercharged V8 (eight-speed automatic) or a 1,005hp electric alternative. Regardless of which you choose, you’ll have more power than a Bugatti Veyron beneath your right foot, and that’s absurd in a...‘car’ like this.
Depending on the situation, you can even play around with the SV Rover’s modes to enable two-wheel drive, toggle between low- and high-range gearing, and even select where the locking differentials are biased. Clever, right?
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Other technical details include pushrod front and rear air suspension with as much as 30 inches of free travel, so it’s pretty athletic. Big Brembo brakes and 40-inch tires are also planted at each corner and set the tone for a raw exterior design that feels very 20th century.
You get circular LED lamps out front and a rear end that seemingly amalgamates a classic Land Rover’s box shape with a modern Defender’s funky twin light cluster. But more important than all that, just look at its dimensions. The massively flared arches and the sheer amount of metal between the ground and where you’re sat is...quite frightening. That’s before you consider the carbon-fiber-and-aluminum composite bodywork.
Given the size of this thing, making your way to one of the entry points itself will feel like walking a marathon. But when you do get there, you’re greeted by a minimalist cabin featuring dual 12-inch displays, alcantara seating, and...that’s about it. But that’s fine since the target audience will likely be those who gurn at a flawless Gymkhana run.
Joe Scarbo, the CEO of the brand, commented: “The SV Rover represents a new extreme in terms of off-road power, maneuverability, and capability. We are 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.”
No word on pricing yet, but expect it to hover around the £500,000 (roughly P35.2 million) mark. We say this because Scarbo Vintage’s two other products, a classic Formula 1-inspired racer and a reinterpretation of a Singer Porsche, sit at £197,000 (P13.9 million) and £738,000 (P52 million) each. So, placing the SV Rover as the midrange option would seem like a fair call.
More photos of the SV Rover:
NOTE: This article first appeared on TopGear.com. Minor edits have been made.
