The KiraVan is apparently what you get from a room full of brilliant engineers with a bottomless budget. And of course, one objective: bring everyone’s high-tech adventure vehicle fantasies to life.
We first heard of this rolling battleship more than a year ago, but Motherboard’s Ben Ferguson just got the opportunity to take a tour and he was kind enough to bring some cameras. I know you’re used to seeing hyperbole on the internet, but man, this thing is nothing short of unbelievable.
The truck, house or rolling battlestation, whichever you prefer, is the brainchild of designer Bran Ferren and his “think tank” called Applied Minds.
(Un)specifically, Applied Mind’s Director of Production Dennis Dries described the outfit as “a very creative, design, engineer, concept, R&D, rapid prototype, make-tank.” I think that translates to “smart people,” ostensibly coming up with ideas other people are buying.
What their general mission or source of income is was kept vague, but why are you still reading? Hurry up and look at the video so we can discuss this many-wheeled animal!
I may surprise you by saying I actually find the KiraVan kind of offensive. It goes against every principle of adventure I grew up on and while impressive looking, I can’t imagine a situation in which this thing would make any kind of practical sense.
Too large to work on technical terrain and it seems intimidatingly complex to repair should something break. To say nothing of how enticing all that bling would look to thieves and vandals.
I say spend $10,000 on a truck and the rest of the budget on food and hotels, you’ll have a lot more fun than you would living out of this Star Trek-mobile. But what do you think, is this worthy of your Powerball cash?
Image/video via Motherboard
Contact the author at andrew@jalopnik.com.