Dartz
Predecessor | Russo-Balt |
---|---|
Headquarters | Riga , Latvia |
Products | Dartz Prombron |
Owner | Leonard F. Yankelovich |
Parent | |
Website | dartzmotorz |
Dartz Motorz Company (Latvian: Dartz Motorz Uzņēmums; Russian: Dartz Моторз Kомпании) is a privately held Latvian-based company, subsidiary of Estonian corporation Dartz Grupa OÜ, that designs, manufactures, and sells high performance armored vehicles.[1][2][3] The company constituted itself from a renovated former Russo-Balt factory in Riga, Latvia.[4][5]
Product lineup[]
In 2009, Dartz attained notoriety with its Prombron model, in part because it was originally available in upholstered leather made from the foreskins of whale penises,[6] which the company subsequently dropped after the controversy was publicized.[7]
The Prombron came in nine distinct models: Iron Diamond, Iron Xtal, Monaco Red Diamond Edition, Black Dragon, Black Russian, Gold Russian, Aladeen, White Horse, and Monako.[8]
Since September 2014, the product line consists of Prombron Black Shark[9] and Black Snake.[10] The Prombron is available in either the Saloon (sedan) or the Pullman (wagon), offered in standard, short, or long wheelbase.[11]
In 2010, Red Sea Distribution announced that the T-98 Kombat would be available in North America for a list price starting at $225,000.[12][13] However, just two years later the T-98 Kombat was phased out, and the Prombron was released.
Dartz's Prombron Monaco Red Diamond Edition was shown at the 2010 Top Marques in Monaco,[14] with an expected price of €1,000,000 ($1.25 million), it would become the world's most expensive SUV.[15] The features included white gold-ruby[clarification needed] encrusted embedded badges as well as gold-plated, bullet-proof windows, an exhaust system made out of tungsten, diamond-ruby[clarification needed] encrusted gauges, and Kevlar exterior coating. It also comes with three bottles of the world's most expensive vodka, RussoBaltique.[16]
In 2021, Dartz announced a plan to sell the small Wuling Hongguang Mini EV as the Dartz FreZe Nikrob, with a starting price in certain European countries at around 9,999 Euros.[17][18][19]
See also[]
- Kombat Armouring continues production of the T-98 Kombat
References[]
- ^ "Investor Relations". Dartz World. Dartz Motorz (dartz.us). 2012. Archived from the original on 2012-06-15. Retrieved 2012-06-29.
- ^ "Contact Us". Dartz World. Dartz Motorz (dartz.us). 2012. Archived from the original on 2012-06-15. Retrieved 2012-06-29.
- ^ "Dartz Motorz Company". Dartz World. Dartz Motorz (dartz.us). 2012. Archived from the original on 2012-06-04. Retrieved 2012-06-29.
- ^ "Factory Tour / Dartz Motorz Company". Dartz World. Dartz Motorz (dartz.us). 2012. Retrieved 2012-06-29.
- ^ "History". dartzkombat.com. Retrieved 2012-06-29.
- ^ "Exclusive: Dartz Monaco Red Diamond Edition". Archived from the original on 2009-10-08.
- ^ "Foreskin Removal: Dartz Prombron drops the whale penis". Autoblog. 2009-11-10.
- ^ "Models". Dartz Motorz (dartz.us). 2012. Archived from the original on 2012-07-11. Retrieved 2012-06-29.
- ^ "Black Shark". Dartz Grupa. 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-03-15. Retrieved 2015-03-19.
- ^ "Black Snake". Dartz Grupa. 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2015-03-19.
- ^ "PROMBRON' - general info, body styles, main car models". MODELS. DARTZ MOTORZ (dartz.us). 2012. Archived from the original on 2012-06-15. Retrieved 2012-06-29.
- ^ Red Sea Distribution official Website
- ^ Ramsey, Jonothan (October 2010). "zenvo-st1 gets a US distributor and a price". AutoBlog.
- ^ "Road Test: Dartz Prombron Wagon". GT Spirit. 2010-06-08. Retrieved 2012-06-29.
- ^ tom (2012). "World's Most Expensive SUVs". most-expensive.net. Archived from the original on 2012-06-15. Retrieved 2012-06-29.
- ^ Blackburn, Richard (2009-10-16). "The 4WD with seats made of whale penis". Fairfax Digital. Archived from the original on 4 March 2011. Retrieved 15 May 2011.
- ^ "World's Craziest Automaker Reveals Dirt Cheap EV". 31 January 2021.
- ^ "Meet the Dirt Cheap Dartz FreZe, the Most Affordable EV in Europe". 3 February 2021.
- ^ "Tiny Wuling Hongguang Mini EV Has Locked in 50,000 Orders". 21 August 2020.
External links[]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dartz vehicles. |
- Truck manufacturers of Latvia
- Manufacturing companies based in Riga
- Estonian brands
- Latvian brands