We normally don’t talk about armored vehicles as they tend to be as far from performance cars as possible in terms of driving dynamics. However, that was before we learned of the Plasan Wilder. Israeli-based company, Plasan, provides armored solutions for various military vehicles, used in different armed forces around the world, with their technology being applied to over 40,000 vehicles every year. One of their latest products, the Wilder, changes the paradigm of what a light armored vehicle is, and judging by the specs, it can only be described as the Lotus Elise of modern armored vehicles.

The term “light” is widely used in the world of armored vehicles and even something that’s weighing over 10.0 tons (22,046 pounds) can be considered “light”. That said, Plasan Director of Design, Nir Kahn, shared that they wanted to “go back to jeep World War II dimensions but adding armor.” The Plasan Wilder is based on a monocoque chassis with front and rear sub-frames. It also has coil-over suspension and a mid-mounted Cummins R, 2.8-liter turbodiesel. It produces 161 horsepower (119 kilowatts) and 310 pound-feet (420 Nm). A ZF, eight-speed automatic sends power to all four wheels and allows for an electronically-limited top speed of 75 mph (121 km/h).

Among the other achievements of the lightweight, mid-engine armored vehicle is the 50-degree approach angle and 70-degree departure angle. Thanks to a 25.1-gallon (95-liter) fuel tank, the Wilder boasts an operating range of up to 435 miles (700 km). A power-steering front axle comes as standard and allows for a 49.2-feet (15-meter) turning circle. However, with the optional rear-axle steering, the turning radius goes down to 32.8 feet (10 meters).

The all-wheel-drive system is managed by two electronically operated, locking differentials, mounted in such a way that they feature longer drive shafts. This allows for up to 320 mm of wheel travel, which is impressive for a vehicle with a width of just 76.14 inches (1,934 mm). At the same time, the Wilder is 172.84 inches (4.39 meters) long, 82.4 inches (2,093 meters) high, has a wheelbase of 125.98 inches (3.2 meters), and a ground clearance of 13.2 inches (335 mm).

The design of the Plasan Wilder features many slopes and angles, and benefits from the company’s “Kitten Hull” modular armor technology. It’s based on a weld-free principle where all armor panels are assembled with bolts. The Wilder can be spec’d with different protection levels up to EN1522 B6 level or STANAG 4569 (NATO standard) Level 1 or 2 with anti-mine protection at Level 1.

Access is gained by two hinged doors. The interior provides enough space for four passengers with the driver positioned centrally, allowing for 180-degree visibility while the passengers are positioned in a second row. There’s also a usable cargo area. The Level 2 variant has a payload of 1,764 pounds (800 kg), which leaves 661 pounds (300 kg) for additional armor with the four-man crew on board. Plasan’s clever engineering has resulted in the Plasan Wilder weighing 9,921 pounds (4.5 tons), making it one of the lightest armored vehicles currently on offer, with a power-to-weight ratio of 36 horsepower/ton. At the time of writing this, Plasan hasn’t announced official pricing for the Wilder, but a price tag of $200,000 to $250,000 a piece is being hinted at.