As its name implies, the Cheetah is Spectrum’s rapid response vehicle. Sleek and easily recognizable thanks to its unique single row of headlights in the middle of the chassis, this car is highly maneuverable and capable of great acceleration and speed, which is ideal for both long distance and city chases.

The aerodynamic silhouette of the Cheetah helps it not only on the road, but also in the air. When trying to avoid obstacles or if a burst of speed is required, the driver can pull on a lever on the middle console to deploy the glide mode, which allows it to fly short distances using retractable wings, a tail fin and a combination of jump jets on the wings and booster jets in the back.

Since this requires a lot of fuel, the car cannot fly for a long time and this feature is only for limited use. Should things go wrong, the roof can be ejected to facilitate a quick escape.

The four steps to gliding mode. First row: activation and booster powering up. Second row: gliding and landing.

Since it is often involved in pursuits and dangerous situations, the Cheetah is built with bulletproof body work and windows. The front bumper is also reinforced so that it can be used to ram into objects if need be. Since the headlights are located on the center of the body and windshield, this also leaves room for two machine guns mounted where headlights are traditionally located. The details of the weapon system are classified.

Much the same as the Rhinos, a number of Cheetahs are hidden in secret locations where only Spectrum agents can access them. The vehicle is also equipped with a lockdown feature that requires a retinal scan to disengage. Such safety features are essential considering the power the Cheetah packs.

(Sources: Materials from Granada Ventures Limited, Anderson Entertainment Ltd./GAP PLC©, Gerry Anderson's New Captain Scarlet Funfax, Spectrum Agents' Handbook, New Captain Scarlet's Magazine, New Captain Scarlet DVD set and other materials. Special thanks to Dominic Lavery for providing blueprints, sketches, artworks, and other exclusive materials and to Isabelle Saucier for text and additionnal pictures.)