The company that brought you the vehicle adjudged best equipped to survive a zombie apocalypse, the Knight XV, has unveiled an equally imposing-looking gargantuan designed for less life-threatening commutes: the Conquest Evade.
The Evade is the first unarmoured SUV from the Canadian manufacturer, and is designed for the driver that wants the military-inspired looks of the hardcore Knight XV but doesn’t require its ability to withstand 24 hours of sustained gunfire.
The new body styling (which the Knight XV will also inherit) sports redesigned headlights and tail-lights, narrower wheel arch flares, a new grille and bonnet scoop, the addition of a third tandem sunroof and a wider backdoor to allow for easier access to the cabin.
Built on the chassis of the Ford F550 Super Duty truck, the Evade is significantly lighter than the six-tonne Knight XV thanks to its unarmoured aluminium/steel body and stainless steel running boards, hinges and steering wheel.
With 11.3m3 of space in the cabin – roughly equal to the size of a small office – Conquest says it is targeting limousine-style levels of comfort and luxury. High-grade leather and alcantara covers the interior surfaces including the executive-style 2+2 reclining seats, while customers can option in either a driver partition or a retractable flat-screen television.
Front and rear night-vision cameras and 360-degree joystick-controlled searchlights are part of the extensive standard features list.
While the Knight XV boasts both engines, the Conquest Evade comes with the option of either a 243kW/626Nm 6.8-litre V10 petrol engine or a 224kW/895Nm 6.7-litre V8 diesel. A five-speed automatic transmission sends power to all four wheels, regardless of your choice.
With production set to start later this year, the Evade will cost US$579,000 ($548,000) in North America, making it US$50,000 cheaper than the Knight XV, although still some US$200,000 more expensive than a Lamborghini Aventador.