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Billed as a “ground stealth fighter” and an “unprecedented visual feast,” the Karlmann King originally made its debut at the 2017 Dubai International Motor Show.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…
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
Adidas and Mercedes-AMG F1 launch Silver Arrows fanwear collection before British Grand Prix
The Silver Arrow collection is on sale worldwide at select Adidas retailers and the Adidas website.
F1 drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli wearing Mercedes fan wear with a Mercedes-Benz W196 racecar.

Working with the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 team, Adidas launched the Silver Arrow pack, a collection of fanwear inspired by the Mercedes-Benz W196 race car. Current Mercedes F1 drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli posed with items from the Silver Arrow collection along with professional models.
Why celebrate the W196?

The W196 wasn't the first Silver Arrow. The first Mercedes to be called a Silver Arrow was the Mercedes W25, which debuted in 1934. However, driver Juan Fangio won the 1954 and 1955 F1 World Championships with the W196, which was among the several models referred to by the group name. The Adidas Silver Arrow collection celebrates the 70th anniversary of the W196's first F1 Championship season.

Read more