Moscow - The Russian tyre manufacturer Avtoros unveiled a super Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) with eight wheels on four axles. at the Moscow Motor Show for use in the lonesome wilds of Siberia.

Painted in bright orange, the gigantic prototype Avtoros Z-83 makes a Unimog or Hummer look like a baby in comparison. It measures 6.2 metres in length, weighs 3.7 tonnes and is powered by a 2.4-litre diesel engine with an output of 96 kW/130 hp.

The eight wheels, that are almost as high as a human being, are individually driven. The first and fourth axle can be steered.

"The bigger the wheel, the more ground clearance and the wider the wheel the less pressure on the ground," Vladimir Volchonsky from Avtoros said at the presentation in Moscow.

He stressed that the Z-83 was still a prototype and needed further testing. If successful, the tyre manufacturer is planning a small production run of 50 vehicles next year. The price is pegged at 2.5 million roubles (around 65,000 euros or 96,000 dollars.

But with a maximum speed of only 80 km/h on open roads, the Z-83 is certified in Russia as a tractor. (dpa)