It may look like it’s straight out of a Bruce Wayne fever dream, but the Karlmann King is real – and it’s spectacular.
Designed by a team of more than 1,800 people, the Karlmann King is built around the chassis of a Ford F-550 and has a 6.8-liter V10 under the hood. On the outside, the SUV’s bodywork was intended to resemble a stealth bomber instead of a truck and make observers feel as if they are “looking into the eyes of a falcon” while they are gazing upon the Karlmann King.
Limited to a production line of just nine vehicles, the Karlmann King’s base price – BASE PRICE – is $3.8 million, making it the most expensive SUV in the world. That price can increase based on a customer’s specific customization choices as each one of the vehicles is handmade and built to order.
That’s a lot of bucks, but don’t expect a lot of bang from the King with regard to speed as the 400-HP beast tops out at just 87 MPH. That means, in the event of the zombie apocalypse the King looks made for, outrunning the undead won’t be a great option – but running over them with the 13,000-pound vehicle will.
Brutish on the outside, the King’s interior is considerably softer. Capable of holding either two or four seats, the King’s limousine-level passenger compartment contains a 40-inch TV, refrigerator, bar, LED mood lighting system, coffeemaker, USB ports and, because why not, a PlayStation and DVD player.
The Karlmann King (Karlmann)“The Karlmann King is something very unique and shows the power of its owner,” sales director Michael Nothdurft told RealClearLife. “[The King] represents a new design language and is a piece of art. It is predestined and extremely attractive for car collectors.”
So, besides gaining the ability to drive around like an action hero with an unlimited gas budget, what type is the limited-edition models’ intended market?
“People should see it as an investment,” Nothdurft said. “The price of this piece of art will increase.”
Also? “The chance to meet a second Karlmann King on the road is extremely rare.”
Unless it’s during the end of days, in which case the nonet of Karlmann Kings may be the only vehicles left on the road – and certainly the only ones capable of playing “Zombieland” on DVD.
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