Zarooq SandRacer 500 GT, a supercar for the desert

The Zarooq SandRacer 500 GT is a supercar designed to go beyond the asphalt and venture into the ever challenging desert dunes and all kinds of terrain. Created in the United Arab Emirates by Zarooq Motors, the SandRacer 500 GT is a two-seat mid-engined coupé that combines the typical performance of a supercar with the wide capabilities of an off-road vehicle.

The SandRacer has been developed from a very lightweight competition chassis built by Campos Racing, to which the customary safety roll cage of sports cars has also been fitted. This chassis is covered by a body made of carbon fibre.

Under the bonnet of the SandRacer, Zarooq offers two possible engine options. The simpler one is a 3.2-litre six-cylinder petrol engine that delivers 309 CV of maximum power. The more powerful and brutal one is a V8 petrol engine producing 507 CV of power and a not inconsiderable 660 Nm of torque which, given that the whole vehicle weighs only 1,200 kilos, seems more than sufficient to propel the SandRacer across the desert sands.

Coupled to the engine, a five-speed sequential gearbox transfers torque exclusively to the rear axle. It has no low-range gearbox or any kind of aids, and the suspension is designed to allow dual use of the vehicle: daily driving through city streets or on the road, and leisure use to enjoy the desert sands. To do this, it also features a suspension offering two possible stiffness settings, which vary the ride height so it can cruise as comfortably on the road as over the dunes.

Its interior finish is pure luxury. It features a digital instrument cluster, climate control, an on-board infotainment system compatible with CarPlay, electric windows, seats and steering wheel trimmed in leather (hand-stitched by the Belgian specialist Mansory), a high-fidelity sound system with LCD screen, …

The SandRacer’s initial design was unveiled by Zarooq, a new supercar manufacturer, during the Abu Dhabi Formula 1 Grand Prix in November 2015. Now, Zarooq Motors announces that after extensive testing and the introduction of numerous mechanical and design improvements, its luxury supercar is ready for production.

Sales of the first limited-edition series of 35 units have already begun. They were purchased by very exclusive customers in the United Arab Emirates themselves, at almost 400,000 euros per unit, and will receive their cars in early 2018.

As was mentioned some time ago, Zarooq’s original idea was to create a one-make off-road cup with the SandRacer, in which customers would compete. The races would be held on an estate near Dubai where an off-road circuit is being built, whose layout resembles the spelling of the word Dubai written in Arabic script.