20 Badass Adventure Vehicles from 2018

It’s what fans of of this iconic beast have been yearning for, and now it’s finally here. The new Land Rover Defender Works V8 will go down in history as the storied models fastest, most powerful example to date. But with only 150 units produced, this limited-edition Defender may not find its way into your garage anytime soon.

Completely re-engineered, the new Defender is powered by a 5.0L naturally-aspirated petrol V8 powertrain, making 405-hp and 515 lb.ft of torque paired to an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission with sport mode, uprated brakes and handling kit. Compare that to the model’s standard 122-hp, it all begins to make sense.

Read the full story – Power Meets Adventure: The New Limited-Edition Defender Works V8

Most of us know Nissan’s flagship SUV as a full-size suburban family hauler. We had no idea the Armada doubled as an expedition vehicle around the world — dubbed the Nissan Patrol — replacing snow bunnies with stranded skiers on the slopes. 

To celebrate winter, Nissan ramped up their 7-passenger sport ute with the new Nissan Armada Snow Patrol, making a world debut at the 2018 Chicago Auto Show. Rolling on beefy 20-inch satin black wheels wrapped in Pro Comp MT2 maximum traction extreme off-road rubber, and sitting on a three-inch suspension lift kit, this one-off Armada is no-doubt built to handle the white stuff.

Read the full story – The Nissan Armada Snow Patrol: Suburbs to the Slopes

This custom Wrangler was up for bids at Barrett-Jackson auction for anyone in the market for something a bit more invasive strolling down the streets, hovering over the Commoners with a 5″ suspension life gate and FOX racing gas shocks.

Sitting on huge, custom 24-inch custom wheels wrapped in 37″ Mud Terrain tires nestled inside custom wide-body fenders, the Terminator series Wrangler gets a 3.6L 6-cylinder engine under the hood paired to a 6-speed automatic transmission and a MagnaFlow exhaust system.

Read more – 2018 Jeep Wrangler Terminator Custom by Nevada-Based KAO Auto Styling

Airstream is renowned for their sharp-looking trailers with that classic look and clever cabin layouts. But the new Nest is something totally different for the Georgia-based company, and by their own admission, “doesn’t look like anything we’ve made before,” designed by Bryan Thompson. 

Starting at US$45,900, the Nest is Airstream’s first non-aluminum trailer in over 60 years; sporting a fiberglass body with automotive-inspired design, this compact trailer weights a light 3,400 lbs, so keep your crossover or sedan handy and ditch the full-size SUV.

Read the story here – New Airstream Nest by Bryan Thompson Design is Compact, Clever & Affordable

If you’re looking for well-maintained 1970s SUV with some flair, this 1976 International Scout Traveler 2 is up for grabs for US$43,900 from the group at Atlanta-based MotorCar Studio.

A Jeep competitor back in the day, these badass utilities really were ahead of their time. Produced between 1961 to 1980, the International Harvester Scout first started out as an SUV, later transforming into more of a 2-door truck with removable hard-top as the second-generation Scout II pickup.

Read more – An International Harvester Scout for Sale: Vintage SUV That’ll Turn Some Heads

Kia’s new SUV isn’t available just yet, but the all-new 8-passenger family hauler made a Texas-flavoured appearance at New York Fashion Show this past weekend before the production-ready 2020 Telluride officially hits dealerships early next year.

But don’t expect the all-new 3-row Kia SUV to look anything like what you’re seeing here. The Korean automaker teamed up with women’s luxury fashion designer Brandon Maxwell for this bespoke 2020 Telluride’s rare unveil at New York Fashion Week.

Read more – Kia’s New Large SUV Makes Bold Debut: Full-Size Telluride Arrives Early 2019

When survival on the roads is key, you need a tactical vehicle – whether it’s defending off militants in war-torn countries or fighting off the crazies at the local Walmart parking lot.

Israeli-based Plasan knows a thing or two about armoured vehicles, deploying over 32,000 of them in over 20 countries world-wide, including the popular Navistar MaxxPro MRAP and Oshkosh M-ATV.

Read more – Yagu Armoured Vehicle by Israeli-based Plasan | The Next-Level, Ballistic ATV

An all-electric boat isn’t out of the question for Tesla Motors. But until that actually happens, Moroccan designer Belkharmoudi Aziz gives us a glimpse of what the company’s future battery-powered watercraft could look like.

The Tesla E-Vision GT Boat is Aziz’s concept creation powered by two Model S powertrains to propel this 60-footer with 1800-hp under the deck.

Read more – The Electric Boat Concept Powered by Twin Tesla Model S Motors

Originally shown in February as a “work-in-progress” at the One Moto Show in Portland, Oregon, the completed Rural Racer Concept bike was unveiled at the Handbuilt Show in Austin, Texas this weekend. 

The custom XSR700 was designed and built using Yamaha’s 689cc cross plane parallel twin engine by premium gear company Velomacchi and Yamaha Motors, in collaboration with DJI Drones, Yoshimura exhaust, Champion, and Race Tech suspension.

Read more – This Custom XSR700 Combines Classic American Heritage with Innovative Modern Tech

Back in October 2017, we got a look at the Rezvani Tank — a 500-hp tactical urban vehicle like a Toyota FJ on steroids. But hey, when a $178,000 street-legal fighter doesn’t cut it, the California-based company just introduced a special version with the Rezvani Tank Military Edition.

This beast gets some insane features, like a rear smoke screen at a push of a button, electrified door handles, military grad run flat tires, some blinding lights to severely piss off the bad guys, a security survival kit with military grade gas masks, plus a hypothermia and first aid kits.

Basically, a bad-ass urban tank for the super loner or introverts? Starts at $295,000US for the ultimate alone-time for when that 5 o’clock traffics hits.

Read more – The Rezvani Tank Military Edition Should Checkoff Most of the SUV Must-Haves

Because you can’t go RV’ing without a helicopter. The Furrion Elysium Concept RV – a 45-footer arriving early 2019 – comes equipped with hot tub, a few 75″ 4k TVs, and a helicopter when driving just won’t cut it.

The US-based company founded in 2004 by three founders, believe in innovation and to “make the future perfect.” A bold statement, but Furrion is a bonafide tech company looking to shape tomorrow with a team of over 60 engineers, focused on clean energy, exo-bionic technologies, design, manufacturing, and crazy-ass RVs like this one.

Read more – Furrion Elysium Concept Might Be the Ultimate American RV

According to this Hungarian-based company, they’ve just created the world’s first electric jet ski. With sleek looks and sharp edges, the Narke Electrojet may put the Seo Doo to shame for those jet ski fans who care about our oceans.

Powered by pure electric energy, the Narke won’t spill oil puddles or spew nasty exhaust fumes; as the builder states, this is a “whole new genre of sailing.” By employing environmentally-conscious raw materials, a streamlined design, and an electric drive that’s both efficient and on the quieter side, this is jet-skiing on a new level with a lot of upsides.

Read more – Narke Electrojet is an Electric Jet Ski the Oceans Will Love

You can’t buy the Bürstner Harmony 3 Concept Caravan (yet) but we can certainly enjoy gawking at it. Part of the Harmony line of camper vans sporting a low-frame chassis for those smooth highway drives, the Harmony 3 trailer isn’t a production model but more than anything, gives us a glimpse into what small future campers should aspire to be: a modern hotel on wheels. 

Some cool features include a rainfall shower, a wall integrated espresso machine, sleek pendant lamps, and overall surprisingly ample interior space with dining for four.

Read more – Bürstner Harmony 3 Concept Caravan is the Ultimate Hotel Room on Wheels

Want to join the yacht club? Take a look at this new luxury sailer by Lexus — the LY 650 — the third flagship boat from the Japanese automaker.

Based on the Lexus Sport Yacht Concept we saw earlier this year, the LY 650 gets the production green light and expected to be finished around fall 2019 with an official world debut later that year.

Read more – Lexus LY 650 Luxury Yacht by the Marquis-Larson Boat Group

We know the venerable Land Rover Discovery as an off-road workhorse built for weekend excursions to proper long-term expeditions. But what we didn’t know is that the British automaker and the Red Cross have paired up for over 60 years providing disaster relief to people around the world.

To ensure this work continues, the Austrian Red Cross has just entered into service this ultimate Emergency Response Vehicle — a 258-hp, 3.0L TD6-powered Discovery sitting on a 4-corner air suspension system paired to 255/55 R20 wheels wrapped in Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac M&S tires.

Read more – Land Rover X Red Cross Discovery Emergency Response Vehicle

If you’re looking for a fuel-efficient, family-friendly vehicle now’s your chance to bounce. This diesel-powered, 500-hp Hummer SUV is perhaps the ultimate off-road H1 we’ve come across. And we’re pretty sure it’s not a fuel-sipper.

Built by Michigan-based Mil-Spec Automotive, the Launch Edition #004 is a rugged, four door hardtop configuration beast paying homage to the company’s first Launch Edition prototype built in 2015.

Read more – This $250k Hummer SUV is an Off-Road H1 Done Right

You got to give it to South Cali-based automotive startup Rivian, who have been working in near secrecy for almost a decade, building an all-electric pickup officially revealed last night at the historic Griffith Observatory ahead of the 2018 LA Auto Show press day tomorrow.

With the likes of Tesla making all the electric news, this small company with 600 employees has flown under the radar. Well, the secret is finally out.

Read more – Rivian’s R1T All-Electric Pickup Is Adventure-Ready Flossing Capabilities You Wouldn’t Expect

Drawing inspiration from the roots of the original Scrambler scene of the early 1950’s, Triumph recently removed the covers off the Scrambler 1200 XC and Scrambler 1200 XE line up. 

Promising “A category redefining level of performance, specification and finish, fused with Triumph’s iconic Scrambler DNA and all the capability of a genuine adventure motorcycle,” we won’t be able to speak to those claims until we actually get to swing a leg over them and put them through their paces, but they certainly look the business.

Read more – Paying Homage: Triumph Debuts 1950s-Inspired Scrambler XC & XE For 2019

Most are happy with a 585-hp G-Wagen. But then there are those who need more. Well, that’s where Brabus comes in. Their latest creation, the Brabus 700 4×4² “one of ten” Final Edition, steps up the G 63 Mercedes-Benz SUV with a 5.5L twin-turbo V8 putting down 700-hp and 708 lb-ft of torque, paired to a 7-speed automatic transmission.

Sprinting 0-62 mph in a respectable 5-seconds, the Final Edition is damn quick too. This SUV beast sits 23-inches off the ground, sports an electronically adjustable Brabus suspension, and rides on huge 22-inch rollers wrapped in Pirelli Scorpion ATR off-road tires.

Read more – 700-HP Mercedes-AMG G 63 Gets the Ultimate Brabus Touch

Now this is how to you camp in style — and in compact form. The Migrator Off-Road Camper by FIM Caravans out of Romania is small in size but still manages to comfortably pack in features outdoor enthusiasts demand. A mini caravan built for overlanders and campers alike.

Measuring only 400cm in length, just over 200cm in width, and standing 196cm tall, the Migrator sleeps 2 people, offers a kitchenette with a dish washing area, a fridge, and USB ports to charge your goods.

Read more – Migrator Off-Road Mini Caravan Built for Explorers

Take a look at our favourite off-road and recreation machines from the previous year: 22 Best & Most Badass Off-Road Vehicles, SUVs, and Adventure Machines of 2017.