Sherp The Ark, the extreme Russian off-road vehicle that's coming to shake things up

From time to time we feel like exploring the most extreme side of off-road vehicles: vehicles built to tackle difficult terrain, where you need far more than an urban SUV to overcome obstacles. Russia is an ideal setting for this kind of vehicle, since its geography is vast and includes some very demanding terrain. To conquer it, a Russian manufacturer has created Sherp The Ark.

The Sherp has already been on the Russian market for several years, but now they have launched a new version, the Sherp The Ark, a version of this off-roader that includes a trailer able to carry up to 20 people. And the special features of the Sherp are joined by those of the trailer.

Sherp The Ark

This off-road model can clear obstacles up to 70 centimetres high thanks to its huge self-inflating tyres. Its amphibious capability lets it move through water at a speed of 6 km/h. It weighs 1,300 kg, which makes it quite light for this kind of terrain. The engine powering this open-country beast is a Kubota four-cylinder, 1.5-litre diesel. Its top speed isn’t very high, but the combination of its engine, its tyres and its five-speed manual gearbox lets it move freely over any terrain. That speed, by the way, is 45 km/h, more than enough to focus on overcoming obstacles on the ground.

In the new version, designed to tow this trailer, the engine has been improved: power rises from 44 CV to 74 CV and maximum torque reaches 208 Nm, with a five-speed manual gearbox and all-wheel drive. In open country, and with the trailer in tow, it can reach a top speed of 30 km/h.

Trailer with driven wheels

The trailer attached to the Sherp The Ark has a capacity of up to 20 people. What makes it special is that it has six driven wheels, allowing it to move without problems across the same terrain the tractor covers.

The Sherp The Ark can travel on both land and water, since it is amphibious and can keep its occupants safe if it drives into a ford where it floats. The speed in this case is 6 km/h, as I mentioned earlier, but this capability is very appealing for the adventures this vehicle is meant for.

The engine’s power and speed may seem modest, but we are talking about a vehicle designed for truly extreme terrain, not built for racing but to be the best ally on complicated and genuinely difficult routes. The Sherp costs the equivalent of about 44,000 euros, and that price rises considerably with the addition of the trailer, although the final price of this new variant has not yet been announced.

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