Military vehicles come in all shapes and sizes, but
this French one, dubbed the Arquus Scarabée, while adopting the latest trends
in the field, has some extra tricks up its sleeve as well. The covers were first taken off
about 12 months ago, but Jalopnik reports that its first video of the vehicle
has only just been released, and it shows the Scarabée driving through a
makeshift course which highlights its maneuverability.
What makes the Scarabée unique from other military
vehicles is that it features four-wheel steering. Footage shows that, when the
rear wheels turn in the opposite direction to the front, the vehicle is capable
of exceptionally tight turning. Should the driver wish, all four wheels can
turn in the same direction so the vehicle can move laterally.
Details concerning its powertrain are limited, but
it is reportedly driven by a diesel engine with some form of electrification.
This means it can bealso driven silently, presumably allowing it to creep up
close to the enemy without being heard.
The Scarabée is compact enough to fit inside a
military aircraft yet still offers comfortable seating for four. It also comes
equipped with an adjustable suspension to ensure it can tackle all kinds of
different terrains without getting stuck.
Arquus has been building vehicles for the French
Army for more than 50 years and it is presumed that the Scarabée will be
adopted by the French military at some stage in the future. It certainly looks
the part and, this video, while only showing the vehicle driving across gravel,
indicates that it should be more than capable of dealing with the battlefield.
