Skip to main content

Be the Ultimate Super Hero (or Villain) with this Bulletproof 4×4 SUV

karlmann king exterior desert
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Have you ever looked at your boring old SUV and thought, “This would be a lot cooler if it was bulletproof?” Unfortunately your dad-mobile isn’t Batmobile material, but the Karlmann King is.

Billed as a “ground stealth fighter” and an “unprecedented visual feast,” the Karlmann King originally made its debut at the 2017 Dubai International Motor Show. However, we’re taking the time now to marvel at what would be the ultimate ride for a super hero (or villain — we don’t judge).

An intense video — that plays less like a commercial and more like a James Bond film trailer — shows the Karlmann King racing through the open desert and the streets of Dubai. However, if you’re planning on a high-speed chase, you’re going to have to keep it relatively within the speed limit as this hulking beast, which clocks in at over 9,920 lbs, only has a top speed of 87 miles per hour.

Karlmannking complete video

While many of the Karlmann King’s specs come standard, this behemoth is custom-made to each client’s needs. The exterior is comprised of carbon fiber and steel, which is already pretty impressive, but if you need a little extra protection for saving the world (or your villainous pursuits), then you can splurge on the bulletproof option.

Recommended Videos

The exterior is an uncompromising, black, angular shell, but the interior allows for more freedom of choice. Karlmann teases several unique colorways (that you can peep below), each of which is flashier than the next.

According to the brand’s website, you can control features like the lights, air conditioning, seats, television, refrigerator, coffee machine, and something called the SOS Emergency with a handy app. There’s also a sweet entertainment system complete with a PS4, although the satellite TV and phone will cost you extra.

Honestly, the entire vehicle is a bit “extra,” and all of these over-the-top additions come with a hefty price tag: $3.8 million. But nobody said that the hero lifestyle came cheap — just ask Bruce Wayne.

Nicole Raney
Nicole Raney is the former Managing Editor of The Manual. You can also hear her on older episodes of The Manual Podcast, a…
Mercedes-Benz reveals Concept AMG GT XX high-performance EV platform front runner
Mercedes concept boasts 1,3421 horsepower and 223 mph top speed
Mercedes-AMG Concept AMG GT XX left front three-quarter view.

The dramatically orange vehicle photos accompanying this article represent the future of Mercedes-Benz's performance EVs. Mercedes-AMG introduces the Concept AMG GT XX four-door sports car as the "first series-production model" of Mercedes's comprehensive AMG.EA high-performance architecture.

Mercedes-AMG did not reveal a price or production date, but didn't hold back on performance numbers. The Concept AMG GT XX has a combined 1,341 horsepower from three axial flux electric motors, 223 mph top speed, and the capability of charging 248 miles of range in about five minutes.
The tech behind the performance numbers

Read more
Summer heat killers: EVs with the least range loss
Recurrent tracked the effect of summer heat on more than 29,700 electric vehicles.
Ford Mustang Mach-E

Suppose you are considering an EV purchase or lease this summer and are concerned about battery range during heat waves. In that case, the results of a new study published by EV analytics firm Recurrent Auto can provide valuable guidance. Recurrent calls out the winners and losers in EV range hot temperature-sensitivity.

It's safe to say that EV battery range is affected by extremes in temperature, both hot and cold. As is the case with most general statements, that one, too, is subject to multiple "buts" and "howevers." Most studies of the effects of extreme cold on EV battery range or how hot temperatures can hamper your travel plans report on average EV travel range differences collected across a wide variety of EV brands and models. Some compile results from thousands of EVs of the same brand.

Read more
Indigenous designer Jeremy Arviso creates limited-edition Indian Motorcycle streetwear line
Arivso blends Indian Motorcycle DNA and indigenous visual elements
The Jeremy Arviso limited indigenous streetwear collection for Indian Motorcycle.

Indian Motorcycle announced a collaboration with well-known indigenous streetwear designer Jeremy Arviso. This limited-edition collection brings together Arviso’s bold style and the adventurous spirit of Indian Motorcycle. The nine-piece lineup celebrates a deep connection to land, community, and tradition.
Why Arviso created the collection

"Creating such a meaningful, modern expression of Native American style with a legendary brand like Indian Motorcycle, is both an honor and a  privilege,” Arviso said. “For this collection, I drew inspiration from the brand DNA of Indian Motorcycle, while carefully integrating vibrant color and  indigenous visual elements that symbolize movement and direction throughout the collection. Adorned with arrow motifs, each piece embodies a deep connection to land, community, and heritage.”

Read more