Photo: US Specialty Vehicles
When it comes to big mean black machines, the US Specialty Vehicles Rhino GX Sport is in a class of its own. One unit of this rarefied breed of intimidating behemoths is on sale on the duPont Registry for a hefty $180,680.
If you haven’t heard of US Specialty Vehicles, we’ll gladly tell you that it’s a boutique automaker from California. USSV founder Tim Tang is adamant that he poured “millions of dollars” of engineering work into the Rhino project, but we have our doubts about that claim. Other than the Ford F-450 lights, no other visual element will lead you to believe that this is a glorified F-Series pickup truck on steroids.
In terms of off-road capability, the 7.3-foot tall and 8-foot wide truck wears 38-inch rubber boots. But tires are not enough to climb every mountain and ford every stream. Therefore, heavy-duty springs, shocks, and a Smart Hydraulic Suspension system have been added. Other than helping with off-road prowess, the suspension also enhances the gentle giant's ride comfort.
As we mentioned beforehand, the skeleton of the USSV Rhino GX Sport comes from a Ford F-450 Super Duty 4x4 chassis, yet the body shell is all custom. Made from dual 20 gauge cold steel and composite materials, the larger-than-full-size SUV boasts a rough, tough, and ominous appearance. The beehive metal construction hides a touched-up cabin. Wood veneer and soft quality leather is the name of the game here.
On the technological front, an infotainment system from Pioneer will have to suffice. Many hand-built details can be seen inside this rugged road warrior, but there’s no escaping the fact that the glove box, center console armrest, and steering wheel come from a utilitarian full-size pickup truck. Performance stats? Don’t expect the USSV Rhino GX Sport to sprint to 60 mph (96 km/h) in under 10 seconds...
A 6.8-liter V10 blunderbuss can be found under the hood of this gargantuan SUV. While the archaic SOHC design and the 3-valve-per-cylinder layout don’t translate into great performance, its specialty is go-anywhere prowess. With 362 horsepower and 457 lb-ft (620 Nm) channeled to the wheels via a 5-speed automatic, the Rhino is (not surprisingly) slower to 60 mph than a cheap and cheerful Fiat 500 city dweller.
If this example of the breed isn't what you're looking for as a replacement for the Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG in your garage, customization options are virtually limitless. As long as your account balance can handle it, the sky's the limit for those in the market for a bad boy SUV such as the US Specialty Vehicles Rhino GX.
In terms of off-road capability, the 7.3-foot tall and 8-foot wide truck wears 38-inch rubber boots. But tires are not enough to climb every mountain and ford every stream. Therefore, heavy-duty springs, shocks, and a Smart Hydraulic Suspension system have been added. Other than helping with off-road prowess, the suspension also enhances the gentle giant's ride comfort.
As we mentioned beforehand, the skeleton of the USSV Rhino GX Sport comes from a Ford F-450 Super Duty 4x4 chassis, yet the body shell is all custom. Made from dual 20 gauge cold steel and composite materials, the larger-than-full-size SUV boasts a rough, tough, and ominous appearance. The beehive metal construction hides a touched-up cabin. Wood veneer and soft quality leather is the name of the game here.
On the technological front, an infotainment system from Pioneer will have to suffice. Many hand-built details can be seen inside this rugged road warrior, but there’s no escaping the fact that the glove box, center console armrest, and steering wheel come from a utilitarian full-size pickup truck. Performance stats? Don’t expect the USSV Rhino GX Sport to sprint to 60 mph (96 km/h) in under 10 seconds...
A 6.8-liter V10 blunderbuss can be found under the hood of this gargantuan SUV. While the archaic SOHC design and the 3-valve-per-cylinder layout don’t translate into great performance, its specialty is go-anywhere prowess. With 362 horsepower and 457 lb-ft (620 Nm) channeled to the wheels via a 5-speed automatic, the Rhino is (not surprisingly) slower to 60 mph than a cheap and cheerful Fiat 500 city dweller.
If this example of the breed isn't what you're looking for as a replacement for the Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG in your garage, customization options are virtually limitless. As long as your account balance can handle it, the sky's the limit for those in the market for a bad boy SUV such as the US Specialty Vehicles Rhino GX.
Google News