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{{Short description|Latvian designer, manufacturer, and seller of armored vehicles}} {{About|the vehicle maker|the British musical group|Dartz!|New Zealand post-punk band|DARTZ (New Zealand band)|the Yu-Gi-Oh! character|Dartz (Yu-Gi-Oh!)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}} {{Infobox company | name = Dartz Motor Company | native_name = | native_name_lang = <!-- Use ISO 639-1 code, e.g. "fr" for French. For multiple names in different languages, use {{lang|[code]|[name]}}. --> | romanized_name = | former_name = | trading_name = | logo = Dartz-logo-yellow-640x550.jpg | logo_size = | logo_alt = | logo_caption = | logo_padding = | image = | image_size = | image_alt = | image_caption = DartZ MotorZ Logo | type = | traded_as = | ISIN = | predecessor = [[Russo-Balt]] | successor = <!-- or: | successors = --> | founder = <!-- or: | founders = --> | defunct = <!-- {{end date|YYYY|MM|DD}} --> | fate = | area_served = | key_people = | industry = | genre = <!-- Only used with media and publishing companies --> | products = Dartz Prombron | brands = | production = | services = | revenue = | operating_income = | net_income = | aum = <!-- Only for financial-service companies --> | assets = | equity = | owner = Leonard F. Yankelovich <!-- or: | owners = --> | members = | num_employees = | parent = [[Dartz Grupa OÜ]] | divisions = | subsid = | website = {{URL|DartzMotorz.com}} | footnotes = | foundation = <!-- [if known: {{start date|YYYY|MM|DD}} in] [city], [country] --> | location_city = Riga | location_country = Latvia | locations = <!-- Number of locations --> | bodystyle = }} '''Dartz Motorz Company''' is a privately held [[Latvia]]-based company, subsidiary of Estonian corporation Dartz Grupa OÜ, that designs, manufactures, and sells high performance [[armored vehicles]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Investor Relations |work=Dartz World |publisher=Dartz Motorz (dartz.us) |year=2012 |url=http://www.dartz.us/en/dartz-world/index-121399 |accessdate=29 June 2012 |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20120615201455/http://www.dartz.us/en/dartz-world/index-121399 |archivedate=15 June 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Contact Us |work=Dartz World |publisher=Dartz Motorz (dartz.us) |year=2012 |url=http://www.dartz.us/en/dartz-world/index-121397 |accessdate=29 June 2012 |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20120615201449/http://www.dartz.us/en/dartz-world/index-121397 |archivedate=15 June 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Dartz Motorz Company |work=Dartz World |publisher=Dartz Motorz (dartz.us) |date=2012 |url=http://www.dartz.us/en/dartz-world/index-121461 |accessdate=29 June 2012 |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20120604045911/http://www.dartz.us/en/dartz-world/index-121461 |archivedate=4 June 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The company constituted itself from a renovated former [[Russo-Balt]] factory in [[Riga|Riga, Latvia]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Factory Tour / Dartz Motorz Company |work=Dartz World |publisher=Dartz Motorz (dartz.us) |date=2012 |url=http://www.dartz.us/en/dartz-world/index/factory-tour-121403 |accessdate=29 June 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=History |url=http://dartzkombat.com/en/history-13025 |publisher=dartzkombat.com |date= |accessdate=29 June 2012}}</ref> ==Product lineup== In 2009, Dartz attained notoriety with its ''Prombron'' model, in part because it was originally available in upholstered leather made from the foreskins of [[whale penis]]es,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gtspirit.com/2009/10/06/exclusive-dartz-monaco-red-diamond-edition/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091008085638/http://www.gtspirit.com/2009/10/06/exclusive-dartz-monaco-red-diamond-edition/|archive-date=8 October 2009|title=Exclusive: Dartz Monaco Red Diamond Edition}}</ref> which the company subsequently dropped after the controversy was publicized.<ref>{{cite web |title=Foreskin Removal: Dartz Prombron drops the whale penis |publisher=Autoblog |url=http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/10/foreskin-removal-dartz-prombron-drops-the-whale-penis/ |date=10 November 2009}}</ref> The ''Prombron'' came in nine distinct models: Iron Diamond, Iron Xtal, Monaco Red Diamond Edition, Black Dragon, Black Russian, Gold Russian, Aladeen, White Horse, and Monako.<ref>{{cite web |title=Models |publisher=Dartz Motorz (dartz.us) |year=2012 |url=http://www.dartz.us/en/english--121265 |accessdate=29 June 2012 |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20120711101601/http://www.dartz.us/en/english--121265 |archivedate=11 July 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> [[File:Dartz Prombron - Flickr - The Car Spy.jpg|thumb|Dartz Pombron]] Since September 2014, the product line consists of ''Prombron'' Black Shark<ref name="dartzgrupa.com">{{cite web |title=Black Shark |publisher=Dartz Grupa |year=2015 |url=http://www.dartzgrupa.com/us/black-shark |accessdate=19 March 2015 |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20150315011515/http://www.dartzgrupa.com/us/black-shark |archivedate=15 March 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and Black Snake.<ref>{{cite web |title=Black Snake |publisher=Dartz Grupa |year=2015 |url=http://www.dartzgrupa.com/us/black-snake |accessdate=19 March 2015 |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20150402094717/http://www.dartzgrupa.com/us/black-snake |archivedate=2 April 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The ''Prombron'' is available in either the Saloon (sedan) or the Pullman (wagon), offered in standard, short, or long [[wheelbase]].<ref name="dartz1">{{cite web |title=Prombron' - general info, body styles, main car models |work=Models |publisher=Dartz Motorz |year=2012 |url=http://www.dartz.us/en/english-/english-121475 |accessdate=29 June 2012 |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20120615201703/http://www.dartz.us/en/english-/english-121475 |archivedate=15 June 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> [[File:Dartz - Flickr - The Car Spy (1).jpg|thumb|left|Dartz Kombat]]<!-- picture outdated, uploading new || Any news on that?--> In 2010, Red Sea Distribution announced that the [[T-98 Kombat]] would be available in [[North America]] for a list price starting at $225,000.<ref>[http://www.redseadistribution.com Red Sea Distribution] official Website</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Ramsey |first=Jonothan |title=zenvo-st1 gets a US distributor and a price |publisher=AutoBlog |url= http://www.autoblog.com/2010/10/19/zenvo-st1-gets-a-u-s-distributor-and-a-price-1-225-000 |date=October 2010}}</ref> However, just two years later the T-98 Kombat was phased out, and the ''Prombron'' was released.{{Citation needed|date=July 2022}} Dartz's ''Prombron'' Monaco Red Diamond Edition was shown at the 2010 Top Marques in [[Monaco]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Road Test: Dartz Prombron Wagon |publisher=GT Spirit |date=8 June 2010 |url=http://www.gtspirit.com/2010/06/08/road-test-dartz-prombron-wagon/ |accessdate=29 June 2012}}</ref> with an expected price of [[Euro|€]]1,000,000 ([[United States dollar|$]]1.25 million), it would become the world's most expensive SUV.<ref>{{cite web |author=tom |title=World's Most Expensive SUVs |publisher=most-expensive.net |year=2012 |url=http://most-expensive.net/suv-world |accessdate=29 June 2012 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120615033611/http://most-expensive.net/suv-world |archivedate=15 June 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The features included white gold-ruby{{clarify|date=December 2018|reason=which is it?}} encrusted embedded badges as well as gold-plated, bullet-proof windows, an exhaust system made out of [[tungsten]], diamond-ruby{{clarify|date=December 2018|reason=which is it?}} encrusted gauges, and Kevlar exterior coating. It also comes with three bottles of the world's most expensive vodka, ''RussoBaltique''.<ref>{{cite web |last=Blackburn |first=Richard |title=The 4WD with seats made of whale penis |publisher=[[Fairfax Digital]] |date=16 October 2009 |url=http://smh.drive.com.au/motor-news/the-4wd-with-seats-made-of-whale-penis-20091016-gzsq.html |accessdate=15 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110304221607/http://smh.drive.com.au/motor-news/the-4wd-with-seats-made-of-whale-penis-20091016-gzsq.html |archivedate=4 March 2011 }}</ref> In 2022 the company announced plans to drop its [[Z (military symbol)|"Z" logo]], to apparently portray itself away from its Russian origins in the [[Russo-Balt]] company. A diamond skull sign replaced it.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.krone.at/2665033 |title=Symbol für Putin-Krieg Militärautobauer Dartz entfernt Z aus dem Logo |publisher=[[Kronen Zeitung]] |access-date=5 May 2023}}</ref> Their web shop however, was as of May 2025 still marketing luxury "Z" incrusted products interspaced with weaponry images.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://shop.dartzmotorz.com/ |title=Opulent Boutique - opulence |publisher=Dartz |access-date=23 May 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240715092200/https://shop.dartzmotorz.com/ |archive-date=15 July 2024 }}</ref> Its website explains what animal skin the interior couches are made of, or how it smells, without actual information about the armor rating or vehicle's performance.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Black Stallion |url=https://dartzmotorz.com/black-stallion/ |access-date=2 August 2022 |website=DARTZ |language=en-US}}</ref> ==See also== * [[Kombat Armouring]] continues production of the [[T-98 Kombat]] == References == {{Reflist}} ==External links== {{Commons category|Dartz vehicles}} *[http://www.dartzgrupa.com Parent company website] *[http://www.dartzmotorz.com Official website] {{Automotive industry in Latvia}} {{Russian Automotive Makers}} {{Authority control}} [[Category:Truck manufacturers of Latvia]] [[Category:Manufacturing companies based in Riga]] [[Category:Estonian brands]] [[Category:Latvian brands]]
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