Skip to main content

Electric shocks, Kevlar, and retinal scanners? Dartz’s Black Shark SUV is built for spies

Dartz Prombron Black Shark
Image used with permission by copyright holder
I get the feeling that the product designers over at Dartz aren’t told ‘no’ very often.

An SUV covered in gold? Please do. Ruby encrusted gauges? Easily approved. A 155-mph, 2000-horsepower armored yacht tower? Dear god yes.

Recommended Videos

The Latvian manufacturer has created yet another example of concentrated Soviet chutzpah, one that the company calls the “first real SpyKar.”

Designated the Prombron Black Shark, the Kevlar-coated titanium SUV was devised to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Dartz’s militaristic ancestors, the Russian Motorized Infantry.

To honor its battle-hardened past, Dartz has equipped the Black Shark with an array of superspy-worthy gadgets. The most notable is the “anti-paparazzi shock device” fitted to the disappearing door handles, but there’s also a retinal scanner, a rotating bulletproof grill, and a BlackJet system that allows drivers to book private international flights with just two clicks of a button.

It doesn’t get any more “SpyKar” than that.

Moreover, the Mercedes GL 63-based Black Shark can be armed with one of two AMG engines, a biturbo V8 or a biturbo V12. With the larger engine, Dartz offers a maximum output of 1500 hp.

Related: The Dartz Kombat Gold is 24 karats and 6,600 pounds of pure, unadulterated hubris

If the Black Shark doesn’t make it into the upcoming Bond 24 movie, something is wrong with the world.

Imagine Daniel Craig roaring around the streets of an ominous Slavic village, his sleek Aston Martin howling in the wind like a crazed wolf. Behind him, an enormous, tank-like brute thrashes through cobblestone byways, its cacophonous engine punctuated by the sporadic gunfire of a thousand unnamed baddies.

I don’t know about you, but I’d pay to see it. Dartz will fully detail the Black Shark on October 19th.

Andrew Hard
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Andrew first started writing in middle school and hasn't put the pen down since. Whether it's technology, music, sports, or…
Tesla and Elon Musk sued over use of AI image at Cybercab event
tesla and spacex CEO elon musk stylized image

Tesla’s recent We, Robot presentation has run into trouble, with one of the production companies behind Blade Runner 2049 suing Tesla and its CEO, Elon Musk, for alleged copyright infringement.

Tesla used the glitzy October 10 event to unveil its Cybercab and Robovan, and also to showcase the latest version of its Optimus humanoid robot.

Read more
Qualcomm wants to power your next car with the Snapdragon Cockpit and Ride Elite platforms
Qualcomm Snapdragon Cockpit Elite and Ride Elite automotive platforms

It’s been a big year for Qualcomm. Alongside its massive launch into laptop chips through the Snapdragon X Elite series, Qualcomm is now entering the automotive space. The company has announced the new Qualcomm Snapdragon Cockpit Elite and Snapdragon Ride Elite platforms at its annual Snapdragon Summit, which it flew me out to attend.

The two platforms are designed for different purposes, and can be used togetheror separately. The Snapdragon Cockpit Elite is built for in-vehicle infotainment systems and services, while the Snapdragon Ride Elite is built to power autonomous vehicle systems, including all the cameras and sensors that go into those systems.

Read more
Scout Traveler and Scout Terra forge a new path for EVs
Scout Traveler and Scout Terra.

Electric vehicles are inseparable from newness, whether it’s new tech, new designs, or new companies like Rivian, Lucid, and Tesla. But the Volkswagen Group’s new EV-only brand also relies heavily on the past.

Unveiled Thursday, the Scout Traveler electric SUV and Scout Terra electric pickup truck are modern interpretations of the classic International Harvester Scout. Manufactured from 1961 to 1980, the original Scout helped popularize the idea of the rugged, off-road-capable utility vehicle, setting the stage for modern SUVs.

Read more