S Sport VX
PetrolTed reports on this stunning sports car -- and it's nearly here
I've been following the progress of S Sport for some time now. I first visited them about 18 months ago. At that time the company was experimenting with prototype bodies and it was difficult to tell how good the final product would be.
A lot has happened since I first saw those unpainted, glass fibre prototypes. Last week I saw the final product and to put it simply - it's stunning.
The VX-S is made by S-Sport with the full support of Vauxhall who obviously recognise the halo effect that this car will create for them. The cars are built on new chassis (although conversions of existing cars are also possible).
Seeing it in isolation you'd almost be forgiven for thinking it's a slightly modified VX, but once you take in the true dimensions or see it next to a standard car, the increase in size becomes far more apparent.
Increasing the size of the car hasn't upset the balance of the design but it has given the car a lot more presence.
Inside, S Sport has transformed the cabin. No longer is it a minimalist shrine to aluminium. The changes are all well executed, with a wooden veneer floor (looks better than it sounds) and tasteful changes to the soft furnishings and trim. The dash pod is particularly well designed.
Behind the driver sits the 300bhp General Motors 3.2 litre V6 (a twin turbo is ; windowHandle.focus();)
also being considered). Given the light weight of the chassis, 300bhp is sure to provide a sensational experience. The motor is mounted in a custom built subframe which is mounted on to the original chassis. A good poke around underneath showed the mods to be well engineered - this is no cut and shut. Huge brakes were mounted on the show car - with that much power and the legendary Lotus chassis, the size of those discs may well be justified.
Subtle changes to the bodywork give the car a much more purposeful appearance and increases the size of the car to more GT style proportions.
New cars will be priced at around £45K. That pitches it below some of its obvious competitors and should bode well for S Sport and Henley Heritage who will be building them. The production target is just 10 cars next year. Build time is around 100 hours.
A track-ready version is being prepared for the Autosport Show in January and we hope to get behind the wheel of that in the new year. If it goes as well as it looks then we could be in for a real treat.
The show car is currently at Henley Heritage and they'd welcome visitors. Give them a call prior to visiting to make sure the car isn't being whisked off elsewhere though!
More here: www.henley-tvr.com
Plotloss said:
VXT £17K and a AMD Stage 5 conversion (290Bhp) for about £6K
Makes it look a little overpriced IMHO...
I really like the look of this but, Plotless is bang on, a few quid more on your VXT and you've got the equivalent with spare change to a but a run about for the rest of the week.
Personally I prefer the looks of the VX over the S2 Elise but I think this one has to been seen in the flesh before judgement is passed.
300bhp in a 950Kg car means it will be fairly quick but £45k is a large amount of cash for this kind of car. Exclusivity is is one thing but £45k buys you plenty of new cars and a second hand Ferrari 355.
Any performance numbers for it yet?
Rob
www.elises.co.uk
TVR Sagaris said:
45k!!!!!
bit expensive for my liking.
and it looks like a child of a lotus elise and toyota mr2 2 me.
Also im confused by all of this lotus vauxhall stuff, does it just hav a lotus chasis or more????
som1 in the kno plz reply
This from a man who thinks a new TVR is worth £50k+ ?
You must live in a different world to me old boy...and Im from Blackpool and own a TVR!
Whats confusing you? It is built on the Lotus Elise/VX220 platform with additional length. It is hardly going to be anything other than Lotus/Vauxhall is it?
Personally I think £45k
DJC said:
45k!!!!!
bit expensive for my liking.
and it looks like a child of a lotus elise and toyota mr2 2 me.
Also im confused by all of this lotus vauxhall stuff, does it just hav a lotus chasis or more????
som1 in the kno plz reply
This from a man who thinks a new TVR is worth £50k+ ?
You must live in a different world to me old boy...and Im from Blackpool and own a TVR!
Whats confusing you? It is built on the Lotus Elise/VX220 platform with additional length. It is hardly going to be anything other than Lotus/Vauxhall is it?
Personally I think £45k
what i was saying was that is this car really worth 45k?
in my opinion a tvr is.
and i was confused about which factory the vauxhall
and this thing are made at.?
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