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Classic Recollections: Looking for brawn or a swift steed?

Shopping for a high-end SUV but want something different from the Range Rovers, Bentleys and Cadillacs cruising our streets? Add the Karlmann King to your list of potential candidates.

The vehicle was created by IAT Automobile Technology, a Beijing-based company that debuted the vehicle at last fall's Dubai International Motor Show.

Its creased, origami-like bodywork was designed after a stealth fighter plane and if that isn't enough to catch your eye, the rig's sky-high price surely will. The rolling black behemoth rings up at $2.2 million.

The custom SUV sits on a Ford F-550 chassis with power coming from a 6.8-liter V-10, good for a top speed of 87 mph. It doesn't sound like much, but speed isn't the King's game — protection is.

The vehicle's exterior can be upgraded with bulletproof panels and the King can operate in temperatures from as low as minus 40 degrees to as hot as 194. Inside, occupants are given the royal treatment, wrapped in a stately, luxurious cabin that boasts such features as LED starlight lighting and reclining leather seats.

If Bruce Wayne hasn't scooped them all up, nine examples will be custom built and made available for sale.

Italdesign Zerouno Duerta

Italian design house and supercar creator Italdesign has chopped the top off its stunning Zerouno coupe, creating the Zerouno Duerta.

Duerta means “open” in Piedmontese dialect, a romantic language spoken in northern Italy, and this stunning supercar is sure to have speed, and open air, enthusiasts swooning.

As with the coupe, lightness and aerodynamics were core elements in the Duerta's design, which starts with a Lamborghini Huracan chassis.

The entire bodywork, along with many of the interior components, is composed of carbon fiber. The car's Lambo-sourced, naturally aspirated 5.2-liter V-10 propels the vehicle to a top speed of 198 mph. The roof is removed manually and even though there's no place in the car to stow it, there is an emergency soft top in case of rain while out driving.

Pricing hasn't been released but if you want one, be prepared to “duerta” your wallet wide. The coupe (of which only five were built) came in around $1.7 million dollars, so figure this new convertible will cost somewhere above that.

• Share your car's story with Matt at auto@dailyheald.com.

The origami-like bodywork will make the Karlmann King stand out on the road. Courtesy of IAT Automobile Technology
The Zerouno Duerta is a custom car built using a Lamborghini chassis and engine. Courtesy of Italdesign
The Duerta convertible version of the Zerouno coupe boasts a top speed of 198 mph. Courtesy of Italdesign
Duerta means "open" in the Piedmontese dialect of northern Italy. Courtesy of Italdesign
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