Latest US AMV Hybrid for Iraq: Halo Inspired?
Cool news for Halo fans! With the upcoming movie on 2009, everybody is wondering how the live action adaptation will turn out to be. Though expectations are high for producer Peter Jackson and director Neill Blomkamp, everybody is on the look out for any clues on how Halo might look like out of the 3D.
Imagine the surprise we had, then, when we saw the new AMV prototype being tested by the US army for the troops in Iraq. Undeniably, there are some similarities between the new innovations versus the M12 LMV Warthog shown in the previous two Halo installments. Aside from the choice of color, the over all look of the new vehicle looks close to the design of the well known ground vehicle from the video game. From the shape of the front bumpers to the slant of the hood, the two side by side exhibit similarities that are not easy to ignore.
A few weeks ago, The US army, in a tie up with Quantum Technologies has announced an improvement in their new AMV for Iraq. Aptly called the “Aggressor“, this could possibly be the first hybrid vehicle to grace the streets of the mid-eastern country.
After concentrating on hydrogen fuel cells for the Aggressor, the US Army has decided to try out batteries in running the new prototypes. This makes the AMV better equipped for stealth missions, since it now generates a reduced thermal signature while still exhibiting extended range and power.
Aside from this feature, what makes the current prototype unique is that it is also built for speed. The current body which is wider compared to the 2004 model that never even made it to military testing allows for high performance acceleration. The new models can rev up to 40 mph in four seconds and top out at 80mph.
Though no evidence shows that the Warthog inspired the Aggressor, and though it is quite unexpected for the army to claim that their designers are Halo fans at heart, I guess this innovation shows just how much the gaming universe is shaping the world we live in now. I wonder what comes next, purple jets? 
