Paramount Marauder – yep, the one from Top Gear

The Marauder lays waste a wall

We knew the Hamster was off to South Africa to play with a vehicle that made the Hummer look like a Tonka Toy.

And we knew – because they ‘hinted’ at it when we spoke to them last week – that the whole Top Gear segment had more than a little to do with the Paramount Group in South Africa, purveyors of innovative armoured vehicles.

So, as suspected, we were treated to Richard conquering the Urban Jungle of Johannesburg in the Paramount Marauder, an aptly-named, go anywhere, seemingly indestructible piece of military hardware made street-legal. In South Africa, at least.

We were treated to the Marauder ploughing through brick walls, being blown up by 7lbs of plastic explosives and driving away – when the same amount of explosives left the Hummer looking like a Tracey Emin take on a road crash – and fending off a pack of Lions, albeit at the cost of a windscreen wiper or two.

So as we’ve been inundated with emails since last night on the Marauder wanting more details (and one very nice email from a Mr G. Adaffi in Tripoli asking about early delivery), we thought we’d get Paramount to send us a photo or three and some specs (below).

They happily obliged, and we even have a video of much of what was on Top Gear last night – minus the Hammond bits – and a bit more besides.

(10 photos – click any thumbnail for full gallery)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLQDrJ_tNuM

By Cars UK