Patria vehicles of Finland is working on a new 8x8 wheeled armored vehicle to be known as AMV or the Armored Modular Vehicle. The general idea is to build one chassis with a common wheel base carrying a forward compartment mounting the engine, driver, and commander. The rear half of the vehicle could then be built with any of several modules (which could only be changed with a major factory rebuild). The two basic types would be a low module (the same height as the driver/commander compartment) which could be as an armored personnel carrier or (with a turret) an infantry fighting vehicle, and a high module which would provide more internal volume for missions such as command, cargo, or ambulance. To reduce production and life cycle costs, many of the automotive components are commercial types. The transmission has seven forward and one reverse speeds. The tires have run-flat inserts. A central tire inflation system can adjust the tires from the driver's seat to account for the terrain. Suspension is independent hydropneumatic for each wheel, and for an extra cost the buyer can have equipment included that allows the driver to "crouch" the vehicle and reduce its height in exchange for some mobility. Several levels of armor protection are available up to one that would protect the vehicle from 30mm discarding sabot ammunition across its frontal arc. With standard armor and no crew, turret, or other equipment, the AMV tips the scales at 14 tons. With crew, fuel, ammunition, extra armor, and combat equipment the weight can climb to 24 tons.--Stephen V Cole