RE: 1.0-litre Formula Ford laps Norschleife in 7:22

[Hellbound]

When all is said and done, we'd all like to see Ford churning these out from their dealers for a bargain basement price.

I really doubt many of us would go to the trouble of building our own track/road car.

Anyway, where's the sound system go?

[RMac]

MINT

[RX7]

Whilst the BAC Mono is a truly wonderful thing, i have argued the price tag on other threads! Is it really that hard or expensive to do what Ford have done here?

[Speed addicted]

So how much power does a formula ford usually put out? Are they the 1.6?


I'm for the just buy one and fit numberplates option. They would be enough fun for a while without changing the engine.
Of course the Hayabusa turbo option could be explored in the future.

[patmahe]

Well done Ford, now squeeze this engine into a front engined rear wheel drive new puma that handles as well as the original and you've got a Gt86 rival which if they price it correctly could be a massive hit.

Bring on the battle of the small coupes that put handling ahead of power

[craig7l]

- hayabusa Vs Ecobost


size?
Weight?
Torque?
cost?
reliability?
fuel consumption on trackday at full pelt?
could a radical chassis be adapted / gearbox?

[slikrs]

I can see the 1.6 or 2.0 ecoboost engines making it into mainstream kit car use but not a 1.0 in my honest opinion. Driveability in a heavier body shell will be compromised by the low torque and fuel economy compromised by having to thrash it everywhere - the bigger capacity units with their lazier delivery are better propositions and lest we not forget the potential for serious power as desired whereas the little engine is stretched delivering the standard 2.0 output. Ditch the emissions hardware and watch the power and fuel economy rise even further!

[anonymous-user]

Ok, it's a fun marketing excercise, but come on, lets not kid ourselves with the "why bother with a Mp4-12c or 458" bolleux! Why? well, just off the top of my head:

1) crash protection (both occupant and pedestrian)
2) Worldwide emissions and OBD homologation (inc aged at 100k miles)
3) NVH
4) 2 seats vs 1 seat
5) you don't get wet when it rains
6) you can take some stuff with you, not just a toothbrush
7) It doesn't take 10 mins to get into and belted up in a 12c
8) You can hear yourself think in a 12c
9) ABS, stability, traction, radio, cd, DAB, SAT NAV (in fact this list is endless
10) i suspect the ordinary man on the street could lap the ring faster in a 12c


The problem with "race cars as road cars" is that they are just a one trick pony. they go fast, that is all. (and if that FF gets 57mpg over the EUDC with the gearing they did the ring with i'll eat my hat) ***


;-)

*** i don't actually have a hat

[A Scotsman]

Switch said:

I can see one of these making it's way into my old Cappuccino soon....

Haha.. I suggested that to the Cappo Club when it came out. It would be ideal.. Sadly I've sold my Cappo now...

[johnhenry]

I will give up christmas and birthdays for life if this ends up being a crate engine.

[Donkey62]

Speed addicted said:

So how much power does a formula ford usually put out? Are they the 1.6?


I'm for the just buy one and fit numberplates option. They would be enough fun for a while without changing the engine.
Of course the Hayabusa turbo option could be explored in the future.

Original FF were around 8 valve 100bhp up through 90's then power grew to 16 valve 165bhp around 97/98 with massive intake restrictors limit power with next to zero downforce!

[Renomaxi]

I have said this before the engine makes minimal difference, a zetec engined formula ford or even a Kent engine would still show any road car the way round. One of our customers entertained us by taking his Bugatti veyron around donington park on a test day and we gave him a reality check by going around 3 seconds quicker in a 100bhp formula ford! People, road cars are exactly that whether you twist and tune them they are a compromised package and pretty much any single seater will destroy them.

[Olivera]

Prof Prolapse said:

I don't get it. Where's the catch?

The catch? It's not road legal and never will be. It's not eligible for almost all track days due it being an open wheeled car. The Nordeschliefe even has a ban on some open wheeled cars in races. All in all it's thoroughly useless as a road or track car.

[CampDavid]

Olivera said:

The catch? It's not road legal and never will be. It's not eligible for almost all track days due it being an open wheeled car. The Nordeschliefe even has a ban on some open wheeled cars in races. All in all it's thoroughly useless as a road or track car.

It isn't open wheeled

[Mikey G]

johnhenry said:

I will give up christmas and birthdays for life if this ends up being a crate engine.

Just got a price off a friend, doesnt include ancillaries, and anyway you'll probably want a new turbo and ECU for it for more power anyway

[Bill]

Olivera said:

The catch? It's not road legal and never will be. It's not eligible for almost all track days due it being an open wheeled car. The Nordeschliefe even has a ban on some open wheeled cars in races. All in all it's thoroughly useless as a road or track car.

It's got cycle wings, so it's no more open wheeled than a Caterham.

[anonymous-user]

well i never, PH getting excited about a 1 litre engine, how the mighty have fallen................ ;-)

[handbraketurn]

According to the top gear article on same subject it is road legal despite some of the comments on here.

http://www.topgear.com/uk/photos/formula-ford-nurb...

They also state it does 118mpg at 35mph.

It sounds pretty good for a 1L too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bexyLla5NAE&fea...

[Speed addicted]

Donkey62 said:

Speed addicted said:

So how much power does a formula ford usually put out? Are they the 1.6?


I'm for the just buy one and fit numberplates option. They would be enough fun for a while without changing the engine.
Of course the Hayabusa turbo option could be explored in the future.

Original FF were around 8 valve 100bhp up through 90's then power grew to 16 valve 165bhp around 97/98 with massive intake restrictors limit power with next to zero downforce!

In that case 165nhp would be plenty!

I had a go of one at a knockhill trackday once, there was only one car I could get into at all being 6'2" and powerfully built.
I managed to spin it, and got so far off the track that they had to come looking for me to tow it back.

It would be a laugh on an open trackday hoofing it past pretty much everything that's got windows.

[Zad]

Max_Torque said:

Ok, it's a fun marketing excercise, but come on, lets not kid ourselves with the "why bother with a Mp4-12c or 458" bolleux! Why? well, just off the top of my head:

1) crash protection (both occupant and pedestrian)
2) Worldwide emissions and OBD homologation (inc aged at 100k miles)
3) NVH
4) 2 seats vs 1 seat
5) you don't get wet when it rains
6) you can take some stuff with you, not just a toothbrush
7) It doesn't take 10 mins to get into and belted up in a 12c
8) You can hear yourself think in a 12c
9) ABS, stability, traction, radio, cd, DAB, SAT NAV (in fact this list is endless
10) i suspect the ordinary man on the street could lap the ring faster in a 12c

I realise you are comparing to a 458 and MP4-12C, but realise that PH has a lot of TVR and Lotus Elise (and Ariel Atom, KTM X-Bow... etc) fans. Now look at those again and realise that most of those reasons why it wouldn't sell are reasons exactly why it would sell.

1. Crash protection for the driver may be exceptionally good, depending on what the chassis is made from. Given the driver's visibility, I would say that low speed collisions would be less likely than typical small cars.

2. Lifetime emissions? From a lightweight car with a tiny turbo engine? Most of which will be well maintained and not be scrapped.

3. One man's NVH is another's seat-of-the-pants feel.

4. How many lightweights have passengers anyway?

5. If you go out when its wet in a car like this, you do so knowing the consequences, just as with a Caterfield or any bike.

6. Take what with you, and where? These are for driving, not going to work/hotel/ on holiday. I'm sure bike style panniers would be easily fabricated.

7. I bet it takes <30 seconds to belt up.

8. Some people might say the 12C is rather too over-sanitised anyway. Rather have a vehicle you can enjoy viscerally rather than standing at a distance in an expensive suit looking thoughtful and moody.

9. "ABS, stability, traction, radio, cd, DAB, SAT NAV." My perfect car has none of these.

10. I disagree about the 12C lap time. Feel free to prove me wrong.