What's the ultimate off-roader? Is it the Jeep Gladiator kicking around in the DRIVEN park this week? Maybe it's the Ford Ranger Raptor — a fast-paced gravel maestro. Or, perhaps it's the enormous Bushmaster Protected Mobility armoured vehicle?
Forty three of the big Australian-built behemoths are on their way to New Zealand, following confirmation of a new supply contract between the New Zealand government and Thales Australia.
Thales produces big bulky Bushmasters in Bendigo, Victoria (Thales Australia being a subsidary of France's Thales Group). Originally designed in the mid-1990s, the Bushmaster is an 11-tonne bruiser capable of carrying up to 10 passengers and a four-tonne payload.
Propulsion comes from a Caterpillar-sourced 7.2-litre six-cylinder turbo-diesel making a somewhat small 224kW of power and a beastly 1166Nm of torque; more than enough to tow the jetskis to the bach.
More to the point, that torque is more designed to assist with the hauling of tropps, weapons, ambulance equipment, and more. New Zealand has ordered five different variants of Bushmaster as part of the order. Deliveries are slated for late 2022.
New Zealand Defence Minister Ron Mark cited the need to replace the current fleet of Pinzgauer vehicles due to their "age and lack of protection".
“This is the second fleet of protected mobility vehicles approved for purchase by the government. It follows delivery this year of the Polaris MRZR fleet of side by side all-terrain vehicles that were announced last year to replace the quad bikes and other small vehicles used by the New Zealand Army.
“The Bushmaster is the right vehicle for our community, nation and region.”