WILDCAT FOR THE STREETS

A road-going version of the legendary Wildcat off-road racer has been launched – described by its maker as ‘The meanest road legal off-road vehicle’. And its creation is all thanks to 4x4 specialists Qt Services, which recently took over Wildcat production.

Powered by a 4.0-litre Rover V8, the Wildcat 300STR is capable of three-figure speeds over completely unmade terrain – making it unique on today’s market. And the secret lies in the suppleness of its chassis and suspension, derived from the off-road Wildcats that have competed in such torturous events as the Paris-Dakar Rally. The 300STR is said to be capable of a 0-60mph sprint in just 5.8 seconds.

The latest Wildcat not only has all the usual features that you’d expect – including a fully welded tubular chassis, four-wheel drive, five-point harnesses, plus heavy duty differentials and drive-shafts – it also offers creature comforts like air conditioning, Bluetooth, an iPod dock and stereo system. 

The boss of Qt Services, Dave Marsh, denies his wife wanted one modified for shopping but does admit to the chassis’ versatility allowing for a certain amount of customising: ‘If you consider that the 300STR is essentially a two-seater, there are a number of options open to you, and this first production 300STR has been specified with rear storage for the new owner's golf clubs. We'd love to be there when he rocks up to the clubhouse and parks it next to the Astons and Mercedes! Definitely a head-turner…’

Depending on your style of driving, there are three Wildcat variants to choose from: the 300STR shown here, the 400NSR (a full competition model designed for hill rallies and all-terrain events) and the top spec 500DKR, which has the full rally raid package for serious and seasoned competitors. For further details or to download a brochure, go to www.qtwildcat.com.