A lot of people say that cars are considered ‘toys for the big boys’. Well, even the big boys of the world aren’t quite ready for the latest all-terrain vehicle that’s blazing some serious trails out on the desert.

The said vehicle is called the Sand-X and it is, by all accounts, a speed demon on sand. The brainchild of snowboarder extraordinaire, Urs Eislelin, the Sand-X was borne out of the Swiss snowboarder’s idea of combining a quad bike and a snowmobile to see how it performs under, well, sandy conditions. To his surprise – or enjoyment, whichever version you prefer – the Sand-X blew away all of his expectations, vastly outperforming the two vehicles from which it came from.

You know how sand traps are used to slow down cars – including those of the Formula One variety? Well, the Sand-X debunks all of that by going as fast as 114 mph on the sandiest of sands. Ever more impressive is the fact that this ATV can go from 0-60 in 2.8 seconds, on sand no less. 2.8 seconds. Yes, that’s faster than what the Ferrari Enzo is capable of on dry concrete!

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The Sand-X is made for all-terrain for a number of reasons. It comes with a Rotax fuel-injected two-stroke 800cc engine with a specially modified liquid cooling system so it doesn’t overheat in the hottest of climates. The ATV can also produce as much as 160bhp, or in automobile lingo, the same amount of bhp a full-fledged Mazda MX-5 can produce. The chassis is made from an aluminum ’tunnel’ design, with jet-ski-type runner boards instead of foot pegs, while suspension modifications made on the Sand-X allows it to drive on tarmac, mud, or snow at a whopping 100mph. It also has an extremely low center of gravity making this ATV tailor-made to run on almost any surface without the risk of tipping over.

The Sand-X is now available to anyone who can fork over £16,000 to purchase this bad boy. The ATV is now a popular item in the Middle East with its first dealership in the UAE. Considering how much sand they have in the area, that doesn’t surprise us in the least bit.

Now, if you happen to be in the area riding on a camel and you see this speed monster zooming past you, don’t worry, it’s not a mirage. You’re actually seeing the latest and soon-to-be-in-demand ‘toy for the big boy’.