Moving to Thailand demanded a lot of changes. One of them is transportation. Using Bolt all the time (an Uber-like ride sharing service) gets expensive when traveling all over the Chon Buri province and Bangkok for skydiving, school meetings, orthodontist appointments, and grocery shopping. I needed a daily driver that had the right balance of cool, fast, and useful. Meet the Interceptruck, the new family vehicle that replaced my Batmobile and Tomatito.
Background: vehicle requirements
- Cool and fun
- A sturdy and nimble vehicle with right hand driving like in England, in the traffic density of Chicago, with the narrow streets of Rome, and surrounded by more clueless drivers than in Guadalajara or Boston
- Jacked up because streets and roads often flood due to constant rains
- Good fuel economy because I’m on an ecological binge
- Strong “fuck you” vibes because drivers and moto riders often aim their vehicle at pedestrians and other vehicles, in a constant game of chicken
- Enough mass and sharp edges to cause significant damage to the other vehicle in case of a collision
Interceptruck: specs
- Ford Ranger Stormtrack with the Hamer eXtreme package, dealer installed
- 20″ wheels
- Raised high enough to be uncomfortable to climb in, and higher than common flooded road depths
- Ready for towing, pulling, or ramming big and heavy things
- Turbocharged diesel engine
- Inverted V exhaust pipes to prevent water entering the exhaust system on flooded roads
- All kinds of fun electronics in the super comfy cockpit, including the 12.5″ screen and remote AC and engine activation
- Rolling cover and locks for the truck bed
- LiDAR and parking proximity sensors
- Built-in, front-facing, always-on dash/windshield camera
- Black like night with red accents because those are the pr3d4t0r Speed Team colors
- Lots of bright lights pointing in all directions, enough to be as blinding as a UFO from Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Why Interceptruck?
I love toys, and I give my cars whimsical names, often based on popular culture icons. I had several cars nicknamed Batmobile, like my Viper SRT10 with the high performance package and the Trans Am.
I’ve always been a huge fan of the Mad Max films. My first thought when I saw the truck at the dealership was, “this has a strong Mad Max chic æsthetic.” So, after some soul-searching and about 5 minutes of careful consideration, I decided to name the new vehicle The Interceptruck. Interceptruck fits the naming conventions and styling of vehicles in the Mad Max universe, especially as a play on “Interceptor,” Max Rockatansky’s iconic police muscle car, and “truck,” suiting a heavier, pursuit-oriented vehicle. It aligns with the universe’s blend of function-driven, evocative names for hybrid vehicles.
Interceptruck characteristics in-universe
- Aggressive, armored design: heavily fortified against hostile environments, featuring steel plating, roll cages, and spiked or bladed body work to support ramming in defense, like in the Interceptor Pursuit Special and other vehicular designs
- High-powered engine: turbocharged engine, loud and aggressive exhausts (OK, it’s super quiet, but bear with me), capable of high speed or strong torque
- Utility and versatility: unlike the sleek Interceptor, Interceptruck is designed to carry a team (5 people), confiscated goods, or serve as a weapons platform with large cargo areas or reinforced bumpers for vehicular combat
- Distinctive paint and markings: the MFP police vehicles are often black and custom add-ons for pursuit and sport an intimidating presence
- Hostile environment modifications: extra fuel tanks, water storage, all-terrain suspension, winches and hitches
Conclusion
Interceptor, Pursuit Special or War Rig are common descriptive vehicle monikers in the Mad Max universe, based on function and modifications. Interceptruck fits this tradition by naming a pursuit-capable, heavily modified truck in the same linguistic style.
Have an awesome day!