Like a Hummer on steroids, the UNICAT All-terrain vehicle can drive comfortably through almost any desert, jungle, snowstorm, or flood nature can stir up. But the 25,000 pound giant decided to plow through the tamer streets of Burien on a recent demonstration. It picked up four thrilled grade school children from their Normandy Park homes, and delivered them in rugged splendor to Marvista Elementary school.

UnicatAmericas, Inc. CEO, Avi Meyers, who distributes and imports the $600,000 vehicle, dieseled up to the Seattle area from his Palo Alto business at 8-mpg to show it off at the Fall RV Show at Qwest Field & Event Center September 13th-16th.

"You take it to a boatyard for service, said Meyer. "The operating systems are straight out of marine industry, like the electrical panel."

Andrew Cull, CEO, Remote Medical International, located at Fisherman's Terminal, dropped by the Burien Plaza parking lot to see the parked UNICAT. An expert at offshore medical support, he said he drove a UNICAT in New Orleans after Katrina hit as a search and rescue vehicle. "This thing was really solid," he said.

The school children were also impressed. "I could go camping in it, and not have to take a tent," said Alex Seifert, 10, who seems ready for a vacation after his first week of school.

"I love the TV by the bed!" exclaimed his sister, Jaclyn, 7.

Although the UNICAT is not typically utilized as a school bus, it does come in yellow.