Dartz Prombron Black Dragon announced for Chinese market

Who combines post-Soviet capitalism with outlandish Eastern European money-trash ideas quite like Dartz? The simple answer is, no one.

Last year, the Latvian automaker rather notoriously asked, “Why isn't somebody building an F-117-inspired, 2,000-hp, armored yacht hauler?” While we've seen no more of the resultant Nagel since then, the company is introducing a China-only version of its Prombron armored SUV.

The Black Dragon--presumably more fearsome than Rolls-Royce's straight-up “Dragon” appellation--sports a 23-inch stretch, pandering to the Chinese preference for extended-wheelbase vehicles, satellite television with a 42-inch LCD monitor and electrochromic glass for those private moments. Lest we forget, the SEMA-special wheels feature bullet-shaped spokes.

Dartz has announced plans for 12 of the vehicles at a price of about $7 million a pop. It's just the ticket for the Middle Kingdom plutocrat who's made a few enemies and relishes making a few more.

By Davey G. Johnson