There is always a next level, Even
The arrival of the new RS-7 from KALMAR Beyond Adventure marks what could be the final Safari version of the legendary, versatile and ever popular 911 to be converted into a potent Safari car? The perfect blend of capability whether you’re plunging through fes-fes or traversing a billiard table smooth stretch of highway.
Why the last? The answer is simple. The 997-donor used for the RS-7 is the final version to feature a full steel chassis. Even with over a decade of experience crafting safari cars the KALMAR team doesn’t “dare” take on the challenge presented by the latest generation 911s, as they are constructed from a complexed mix of aluminum and steel, glued and bonded together.
As Jan Kalmar highlights, “It must be possible to fix a safari car with a hammer and a welder when you are somewhere in the middle of nowhere, and many race teams running the newer versions have learned the nice stiff chassis cracks easily with even with relatively small impacts.”
Sculpted for safari
The RS-7 is a culmination of the vast experience the Beyond Adventure team has developed, but this time also the optics have been subject to a full redesign.
The changes are far from subtle, but all made with functionality in mind. The fender flares have grown more muscular, which combined with a larger radius means the arches now accommodate the larger offroad tyres from Michelin.
The aggressive front air intakes have grown in size and the rear end opened up to shed heat. Traversing heavy terrain at a slow speed places very different demands on the cooling system compared to munching miles on the autobahn in triple digits.
The additions are completed by a sporty ducktail and a purposeful LED rally light pod that turns night into day, both adding to the overall visual definition of the RS-7. All the new parts are made from durable but lightweight Kevlar composite, to ensure they can resist the relentless onslaught of safari conditions.
As is always the case with Beyond Adventure team, who take pride in their reputation as useful overland car constructors, the RS-7 is just as potent under the skin.
Full aluminum underbody protection and additional bracing means the car is capable of taking on most offroad challenges: the larger tyres coupled with extended shock absorbers and dropped subframes give huge ground clearance, while retaining the driving DNA of the donor; essential if one is to not end up with a good looking but bad driving safari car. Thanks to a fastidious approach to weight reduction the final car has only a minor weight gain compared to the road going version despite all the added protection.
However, the RS-7’s real party trick is its suspension; fully active with adaptive damping and hydraulic ride height adjustment; the result of years cooperation with specialists TrackTive Suspension. And to be ready for the full safari experience, even the anti-roll bars have been removed to provide greater independent wheel articulation with the body roll controlled by the active shock absorbers.
Ground clearance of 170 mm in low setting and 210 mm in high exceeds this of a Porsche Cayenne and the hydraulic option means you can be rather sporty on the tarmac or leave the beaten path click a button and conquer dunes or mud between you and your destination.
Special limited slip rear differential has found it way into the 6speed manual transmission for optimized grip on especially loose surfaces including sand and snow.
Tailored made for adventure
The drivetrain is kept factory to ensure the reliability needed but of course at heart, the sister company KALMAR Automotive are tuning nerds and as with their other creations the power output can of course also be changed on request.
The first Beyond Adventure RS-7 has been finished as a road going safari car with a focus on high comfort feel for all the additions. With Recaro CS sets covered in classic Pepita. Removal of all the hifi / navi system for weight reduction have made spade for a lightweight Bluetooth loudspeaker. The center consol now have the display for the shock adjustment and digital map on a tablet – which is essential for the long overland drives this car is capable of. However, if you want something more hardcore then the team will take on the challenge of creating a more spartan and utilitarian interior.
If you are interested in more information on the RS-7 then please reach out to us so we can create your dream safari car. Conversions start from 99.997 euro + a donor car and desired extras.
