Avtoros Shaman 8x8 - The Ultimate Off-Road Vehicle

If you've ever been stuck in the snow, mud, or a huge swamp, you're sure that regular off-road vehicle horsepower isn't enough to get you back to the ground safely. But don't despair - there's a new off-roader on the global market! It can overcome all swamps, quagmires, and dunes without any difficulty. It's the Shaman 8x8 made by Russian truck maker Avtoros, which claims to be able to conquer almost any terrain without any difficulty.

Avtoros Shaman 8x8, floating

Avtoros Shaman 8x8 is a unique heavy-duty vehicle equipped with eight wheels instead of the usual four (or six). This truck was developed to conquer complex Russian terrains such as steep climbs, heavy snowdrifts, and deep quagmires. In addition to its excellent ground performance, Avtoros Shaman 8x8 has a completely sealed chassis that can be optimized for floating, so it can also travel like an amphibious vehicle when needed, it can reach speeds of 7 km/h.

Engine

Equipped with an Iveco F1C3.0-liter turbodiesel engine and a ZF6 S400 six-speed manual transmission, the Avtoros Shaman8X8 has a powerful 146 horsepower. Its top speed is only 80km/h (50mph) - that's because it's not designed for smooth paved surfaces. On the contrary, it's best suited for rugged terrain such as frozen tundra and mountains, where it showcases its great off-road capabilities.

Avtoros Shaman 8x8

The Avtoros Shaman is equipped with 1.2x0.5m low-pressure tires that can be adjusted via a switch in the cockpit. The eight wheels are always powered (that's why they call it 8x8), but each axle also sports independent steering with some bending mobility options.

Steering Mode

The Avtoros Shaman 8×8 ATV has three steering modes: the first is road or cruise mode, with four wheels providing guidance in all directions; the second is an off-road mode, with active steering at the rear wheels for sharper turning radius; and crab mode, where all eight wheels turn sideways to allow the truck to move like a crab. The Shaman 8x8 can also be upgraded with a 45-degree ramp drive, which is very practical in Russia's mountainous wilderness.

Weight & Dimensions

Avtoros Shaman 8x8, Dimensions

Avtoros Shaman 8x8, Interior

This Russian monster truck is huge: 6.3 meters long, 2.5 meters wide, 2.7 meters high, weighs about 4.8 tons, and can carry 1.5 tons. In other words, it's big enough for 10 adult passengers without compromising and easy to drive.

How much does a Shaman 8x8 cost?

Avtoros Shaman 8x8, Config PHOTO CREDIT: avtoros.com

The Avtoros website lists the base price of its car at 234,615 euros or about $244,917 in current dollars; and visitors to their site can choose from a variety of exterior colors, tires, and interior options. Personally, I think that this price is a great value for money to get such an all-around off-roader!

Your biggest concern is probably whether the Avtoros Shaman 8×8 is street-legal.

The Russian-based Avtoros claims that the size of its truck “allows it to use general roads without creating inconveniences for other drivers.” And while this may be technically true of the 8.8-foot-wide vehicle, Digital Trends reports that the Shaman is not road legal in the U.S.