UAE Company Readies Desert Racer

Zarooq Motors, a startup company based in the United Arab Emirates, says it will launch its first model—a performance car designed for desert conditions—early next year. In addition to selling the vehicle in select Middle Eastern countries, Zarooq plans to launch a one-make race series for the vehicle at an off-road track it is building near Dubai.

Dubbed the Sand Racer, the new off-road performance coupe is powered by a rear-mid-mounted 3.5-liter V-6 engine that can be tuned to make as much as 500 hp. The all-wheel-drive car has as much as 17 inches of suspension travel to help clear off-road obstacles, according to Zarooq.

The Sand Racer was designed by Anthony Jannarelly, who also penned the limited-edition Lykan Hypersport supercar used in the latest Fast & Furious movie. Frederic Juillot, an advanced composites expert, also contributed to the vehicle, which weighs about 2,100 lbs.

Zarooq says the two-seater will feature a well-appointed interior but didn’t provide any details. The vehicle will start at $80,000, and top-end models will cost double that amount, according to the carmaker.

The company says the car fills a gap in the market between traditional 4x4s, dune buggies, all-terrain vehicles and race cars. It hopes to eventually offer a range of similar models.