The 2008 TIV 2 (Tornado Intercept Vehicle 2) is a heavily modified Ford F-450 truck built specifically for storm chasing and tornado intercept missions. Designed by filmmaker and storm chaser Sean Casey, it was created to safely approach and film inside tornadoes for the IMAX documentary Tornado Alley.The TIV 2 features a welded steel frame and armor plating up to a quarter-inch thick, making it resistant to flying debris. Its windows are made from bullet-resistant polycarbonate, and the vehicle is equipped with hydraulic skirts that lower to the ground, reducing the risk of strong winds lifting it.Powered by a 6.7-liter Cummins diesel engine, the TIV 2 weighs around 14,000 pounds (about 6,350 kg), giving it both stability and durability. Unlike the original TIV, the 2008 version was designed to be faster and more reliable, capable of reaching highway speeds, which was crucial for chasing fast-moving storms across the Great Plains.With its futuristic, armored-tank-like appearance and unique purpose, the TIV 2 became an iconic vehicle in storm chasing history and was featured on the Discovery Channel series Storm Chasers.