USSV Isn't Fooling Anyone With Their Rhino XT

Here's the thing: I hate copycats. I don't like car companies that do something merely because 'that other company is doing it too". It takes away from the creativity and originality that put that car company on the map in the first place. But, what I REALLY don't like are car companies that think they can fool those of us who are enthusiasts by taking a car that's previously made an appearance under a different name plate, and try to pass it off as their own. Case and point: USSV.

If you've ever heard of the company, USSV (U.S.Specialty Vehicles), you're most likely aware that they aren't a mass-production sort of company. And if you've ever seen one of their cars in person, you know that when it comes to toughness and versatility, they don't mess around. But, what most people don't know, is that these cars are not all-original. Take their first car, the Rhino GX, for example. They may not say it on their website, but anyone with a trained eye knows that underneath all of that utilitarian armor and kevlar-clad protection sits the body and components of a sort of highly modified Ford F-series pickup.

Photo: USSV website

What's even funnier, is the fact that what is essentially an armored F-350 carries a price tag of a small planet ($230,000+ for a used one) where as the humble and hard working F-350 in its own skin sits at a much more modest $33,000 starting price brand new. The Rhino GX then is for the sort of person who believes that at any moment, they could come under attack with things like biological weapons or nuclear bombs of some sort - you know, the type of person that, without the necessary means to own such a monstrous vehicle, might be relegated to wearing tin foil hats in their basements.

Don't get me wrong though, I do admire the boldness and the absolutely unnecessary means of protection on the Rhino GX. It's commanding stance and angular, kevlar coated fenders demand attention and say to anyone that dare's get in its way: "I wouldn't stand there, mate". It's crazy features and unhinged styling will certainly turn heads at any stoplight as it struggles to keep its wide stance within its own lane. Sure, they could have gone with a more subtle approach and disguised the armor under the venire of a traditional SUV, but that's not really what USSV is about. I could deal with the GX. And the same can be said for the newest addition to the USSV lineup - the Rhino XT

Photo: USSV Website

If you remember the now-defunct company, Hummer, then you'll remember some of the stuff they were trying to do in their later years with new models and concepts that aimed to capture more of the market share, before GM pulled the plug in 2008. One of those concepts was the HX. Originally, it was a hark back to the roots of Hummer's AM General days and the H1. With its futuristic interior styling, a sloped rear roofline, and enough ground clearance to get over most sky scrapers, the HX was a true off-roader for the future, and it really wanted to tell prospective Hummer Customers that they were going to get away from the lazy off-road engineering disaster that was the H2, and really bring back the pride in off-road ability that the Hummer name had once stood for. Unfortunately, with GM pulling the plug on Hummer shortly after, the Hx never saw production - that is, until recently, when USSV decided to bring it back to life.

The Hummer HX. Image: CarBase

Alright, so maybe I'm stretching it a bit by saying they've taken the actual HX and put it into production, but if you look at the side-by-side pictures below, you wouldn't be blamed for thinking just that. But, it's actually quite different once you take a closer look.

On the outside, you notice subtle differences with the lighting and other smaller details that depart from the original design of the HX concept, but everything more or less was purposefully designed to closely resemble the concept Hummer. Inside, the ultra-futuristic interior from the HX has been substituted for a much more tame arrangement. And if you're thinking that they've taken parts from a current Generation Jeep Wrangler, you'd be mostly right, because the underpinnings of the Rhino XT actually come from the Wrangler. What this is then is a capable off-road SUV that's been dressed in a Hummer HX-inspired costume.

Underneath the hood is Jeep's 3.6 Liter V6 engine from the Wrangler, which makes 285 horsepower and has 260lb-ft of torque, though in the XT, that engine has to work slightly harder as the curb weight is upped about 300 pounds thanks to the new bodywork, and with an 850-pound payload capacity, don't expect to be able to haul anything bigger than a pop-up camper if you plan on spending the night in the woods. It should however be just as nimble off-road as it's Wrangler brother. The only other drawback really is the price. A 2017 Jeep wrangler starts brand new at a modest $23,000. The Rhino XT will dig further into your wallet, commanding a starting price of just over $80,000. To me at least, that's quite a hike for some new sheet metal on the outside and some minor interior alterations inside. Buying this then, is a bit like buying a bottle of VOSS water, when you could have just opted for the Ice Mountain - you're getting the same product, but what you're paying for really is just the name.

So, on paper, the Rhino XT fills the ambitious shoes of the Hummer HX rather well. And that despite its price, you'd still commend the person who bought it, because it's a true attempt at bringing a concept car back from the dead and putting it back on the road. But what if Jeeps aren't your thing? What if you hate the fact that Hummer's HX has been revived with an FCA base rather than coming from its GM origin? Well, if you fancy a true all-American interpretation of the HX, you might want to take a look at a small Czech company called "Bureko" and their 4x4 called the "H2X".

Images: Bureko website

After looking at the numbers, it can be argued that Bureko did a better job than USSV at resurrecting the HX concept. The roofline is much more similar to the original concept, and thanks to the underbody of a modified H2 chassis (hence the name of the car), it has a much higher, and much more aggressive stance. And, if you fancy the thunderous roar of a V8 motor over a V6, you've come to the right place, because the H2X comes with a modified 8-cylinder under the hood, good for loud noises and powering through the muddiest of bogs.

Sadly though, according to comments on this reddit post, it seems that Bureko doesn't make the H2x anymore, but maybe if you come with an H2 and a lavish check for somewhere close to the $100,000 mark, you might get lucky. But because these are built in Europe, getting one to the U.S. might up the price substantially thanks to things like import and registration fees.