There’s something about American SUVs which gives them a certain authenticity. After all, it was in America that the original SUV was born and from the end of the 20th century, the rest of the world decided that they also liked SUVs. And just as with passenger cars, there are companies that specialise in customising SUVs for a small clientele.
One of them is MILITEM, an Italian company started by Hermes Cavarza, an entrepreneur from Milan with 40 years of automotive experience in the Gruppo CAVAUTO company (MILITEM is a brand of the company). Over the part 5 years, MILITEM has taken America models, specifically from RAM and Jeep, and given them more exclusive looks as well as Italian craftsmanship.
Extreme Utility Vehicle
The brand has been steadily expanding its reach beyond Italy and has just opened its first dealership in Germany. For this special occasion, MILITEM had the world premiere of a new model, the FEROX500 which it refers to as an EUV – Extreme Utility Vehicle. The FEROX500 tops out the range which has the FEROX, another SUV, and the FEROX-T pick-up.
The FEROX500, which started life as a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392, is the fifth model in the brand’s range. Priced ex-factory from 149,500 euros (about RM700,000), it comes with a typical American engine – the V8 HEMI with a displacement of 6417 cc and power output of 470 ps at 6,000 rpm, with 637 Nm of torque at 4.300rpm. That gives it supercar acceleration with a claimed 0 – 100 km/h time of 4.5 seconds.
75% of the massive torque is available at the low end of the rev range. To ensure that all of it reaches the road, there’s 4WD and the transmission is a robust, proven 8-speed automatic TorqueFlite unit. To maximise off-road capability, the adjustable suspension has been re-engineered by the MILITEM team.
Cylinder deactivation to save fuel
While the engine has a big displacement, owners can still bring fuel consumption down with Fuel Saver technology in the engine management system. This deactivates half the cylinders when maximum power output is not required.
Fitted as standard are MILITEM Performance Shocks dampeners, which have separate twin gas and dual-effect hydraulics. The suspension is made of aluminium and coated in carbonfibre. The system also includes the Track Bar (torsion bar) that can be calibrated and is an efficient steering damper.
The black performance Dual Mode exhaust system was engineered in-house by MILITEM and is fitted with 4 tailpipes and valves. These can be activated via a dashboard button to match that sound to the setting and route taken.
The brake system is exclusive to the FERO500 and developed in collaboration with Powerbrake. It is one of the model’s strong features, with large slotted, semi-floating discs with radial expansion and contraction featuring 72 ventilation channels and a surface coating. The radial calipers are of turned aluminium machined from billets with internal fluid crossovers and 6 pistons crafted from stainless steel.
Completing the set-up are high-performance brake pads and aircraft- grade cables in low-expansion braided steel. In the rear, the brakes adopt 4-piston calipers, also with high-performance components and tubing in low-expansion braided steel.
Differentiation for a flagship
While sharing the same name as the rest of the range, the FEROX500 has been given unique features to distinguish it. While the ‘wide body’ design is common for all FEROX models, the bodywork of the FEROX500 has been enhanced with modifications to the front end and rear. There are more refined, colour-matched, chrome inserts but the elegant looks are balanced by the strong sporty edge.
Aesthetically, it is recognizable from the logo on its flanks and the spare wheel on the rear door is also omitted. This allowed the model to be completely redesigned, which saw the elimination of the airscoops too. The styling change has made the vehicle more elegant and modern than the original, while also improving rear visibility.
Facing forward, the carbonfibre grille in matt boasts a new Dual Colour with a black and red finish. This colour choice is also repeated in the cabin. The logo on the bonnet is all-black like the hooks, bonnet inserts and side grilles set behind the front wheelarches.
A more luxurious cabin
The cabin has been completely refurbished to be much more luxurious than the Wrangler. Much of the work is handcrafted with the materials and finish appropriate to the high status of the vehicle.
The seats have been redesigned by MILITEM and have a racing-derived shell shape, with integrated headrests. Hand-fitted nappa leather and ALCANTARA finish is in contrasting colours sporting MILITEM stitching. The leather finish can also be extended to the dashboard, instrument panel, steering wheel boss, gear knob, door panels and luggage compartment lining, pairing well with the carbonfibre and all-black inside.
With the same versatile characteristics of the Wrangler 392, the body-coloured hardtop comes in 3 sections to make it easier to remove. It is also possible to have an electric soft-top fitted, combined with removable rear windows for a wider panorama and a cabriolet drive.
Keyword: MILITEM turns the Jeep Wrangler into a luxury Extreme Utility Vehicle