Dongfeng M-Hunter - An Off-Roader For People Who HATE Doors
So, those crazy cats at Dongfeng have decided to give "stripped-down" a whole new meaning. I'm talking about this off-road marvel they call the M-Hunter. Brace yourself, because it's about as minimalist as vehicles get.
This thing screams "military surplus sale gone wild." It channels its inner Hummer while also being the world's most expensive dune buggy. Giant off-road tires? Check. Giant winch on the front? Yep. Exposed roll cage instead of an actual body? Why, of course! Don't forget those X-shaped headlights and the inexplicable glowing logos because clearly, the standard headlights aren't enough.
Inside, if you can even call it that, things get interesting. Two bucket seats that, wait for it… are power-adjustable? Someone thought comfort was a priority in this open-air, door-less monster. The space usually meant for more people is now home to two spare tires, because if you're buying this thing, you're planning to get flats…often.
Now, let's get to what I care about: the powertrain. We all know Chinese cars love cramming electric motors everywhere, and based on their bigger brother, the M-Hero 917, this thing could have three… or four motors. And here's the interesting bit: this M-Hunter might be fully electric, or maybe a range-extended EV. Frankly, if you're tackling the wilderness, I'd take the option with a bit of gasoline backup. Oh, and if you wondered why it costs more than a small house ($138,000 USD!), it's probably due to all that military-grade tech and carbon fiber.
Here's where things get juicy for an off-road nut like me: think about the insane torque from all those electric motors! We're talking about scrambling over rocks like a crazed mountain goat. The M-Hunter could give any proper off-roader a run for its money in the dirt.
Of course, with no actual roof or proper doors, there's always the issue of what to do about the whole… weather situation. I suppose if you're the kind of person who drops that kind of cash on a glorified go-kart, you can probably spring for a fancy bespoke tarp or something.
All jokes aside, there's a certain audacity to the Dongfeng M-Hunter that I can't help but admire. It's a niche within a niche, an off-roader built for those who crave maximum open-air exhilaration and the tech to climb pretty much any obstacle. If that's you, then go nuts – just maybe pack an umbrella or two.
