RE: Vuhl 05 revealed

Wednesday 3rd July 2013

Vuhl 05 revealed

285hp Ford Ecoboost power, 695kg dry weight and £60K pricetag for new Mexican track day special



So, after a bit of teasing the cover is off the Vuhl 05 and PH has had a quick chat with one of its creators. More on this in due course but first the numbers Vuhl has been keeping under wraps so far.

We knew the Vuhl was going to be a back to basics speedster style track day toy in the mould of the Lotus 2-Eleven or KTM X-Bow. And with the knowledge it would have Ford power we took a punt on the 3.7-litre V6 used by Ginetta, Morgan and others. Well, we were half right.

Stripped back and set up for the purist driver
Stripped back and set up for the purist driver
The Vuhl actually uses the 2.0-litre Ecoboost turbo engine, derived from that in ‘our’ Focus ST but, perhaps more relevantly for this comparison, also used by Radical for its SR3 SL. The road-going Radical would have to be a pretty close rival for the Vuhl but the Mexican wins hands down on the beauty stakes and gets 285hp from the Ford unit against the Radical’s 240hp, though a 300hp upgrade is available. The Vuhl has a weight advantage though, tipping the scales at 695kg against the Radical’s 775kg – both dry weights. It’s also £10K cheaper than the Radical’s £70K, the base Vuhl starting at just over £59K. If very slightly down on power and slightly less exotic compared with the KTM X-Bow R it’s bang on the money for weight and performance and, given the looks, this is the car most will compare it to.

At the insistence of Guillermo Echeverria, one of the brothers behind the project, it also has a manual gearbox. “This was an important topic,” he told us. “It’s what we wanted for the car, you are the difference!” In keeping with the purist ethos there’s no ABS either, Guillermo promising fantastic pedal feel from the Brembo-based braking system.

£60K is bang on the money against rivals
£60K is bang on the money against rivals
Good for 400hp per tonne, the Ecoboost’s punchy 310lb ft of torque should ensure plenty of get up and go, Vuhl quoting 0-62mph in 3.7 seconds and a top speed of 152mph. Though it’s safe to say lap times are the kind of numbers the Vuhl will really be chasing.

Based around a bonded/extruded aluminium structure like an Elise, the Vuhl comes as standard with GRP bodywork though the moulds can also be used to create carbon bodywork, saving a further 25kg. Guillermo wasn’t willing to discuss how much this would cost but did reveal a more cost effective weight saving package would also be available, cutting 18kg.

Vuhl is gearing up to build 50 05s per year, the first 20 of which will be Edition One versions with entirely black anodised aluminium on the inside, matt silver bodywork, 17-inch/18-inch wheels (standard cars use 16s up front and 17s at the rear) and a number of other special upgrades not available on the standard car. These will cost just shy of £70K and go on sale from spring next year.

You can see the car in action at Goodwood next week where PH will be hitching a ride for an early taste of what the car can do in anger. Stay tuned for this and more from our chat with Guillermo.

 

Author
Discussion

Civpilot

Original Poster:

6,235 posts

239 months

Wednesday 3rd July 2013
quotequote all
That's actually pretty cool looking and if in the market for a x-bow it would certainly catch my eye.

Love the bottom picture with Sir Moss cheekly sitting on the front wing hehe

soad

32,829 posts

175 months

Wednesday 3rd July 2013
quotequote all
Looks a bit generic? I'm not knocking it down though.

Daniel1

2,931 posts

197 months

Wednesday 3rd July 2013
quotequote all
Civpilot said:
That's actually pretty cool looking and if in the market for a x-bow it would certainly catch my eye.

Love the bottom picture with Sir Moss cheekly sitting on the front wing hehe
I agree with you, it would catch my interest as well.

Not sure about the turbocharged engine though. In a light car where high mid range torque isn't a priority but throttle response is, I find it at odds. It's like having a vtec engine in a van.

treetops

1,177 posts

157 months

Wednesday 3rd July 2013
quotequote all
A £60k plastic hot tub (minus the water)

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah!!

Greg_D

6,542 posts

245 months

Wednesday 3rd July 2013
quotequote all
the interior doesn't look £70k worth to me, more a tonka toys version of an elise.

Stirling moss really is shameless in what he will endorse nowadays, isn't he. He will go to the opening of an envelope if the money is right....

ewenm

28,506 posts

244 months

Wednesday 3rd July 2013
quotequote all
How big is the market for £60-£70k trackday toys with no weather protection option? Have KTM sold many X-Bows? Have BAC sold many Monos? This market feels like a bit of a vanity project for the company owners rather than serious attempts to build a business.

The advantage of cars like the Elise/Exige/VX220/Caterham/Ginetta/etc is that they can be driven happily on usual British summer days, so showery, bit chilly, bit of sunshine.

Good luck to all the guys in this market but I see it as fighting over a very small customer base.

Daniel1

2,931 posts

197 months

Wednesday 3rd July 2013
quotequote all
ewenm said:
How big is the market for £60-£70k trackday toys with no weather protection option? Have KTM sold many X-Bows? Have BAC sold many Monos? This market feels like a bit of a vanity project for the company owners rather than serious attempts to build a business.

The advantage of cars like the Elise/Exige/VX220/Caterham/Ginetta/etc is that they can be driven happily on usual British summer days, so showery, bit chilly, bit of sunshine.

Good luck to all the guys in this market but I see it as fighting over a very small customer base.
More to the point has BAC made any Mono's? hehe

soad

32,829 posts

175 months

Wednesday 3rd July 2013
quotequote all
Greg_D said:
Stirling moss really is shameless in what he will endorse nowadays, isn't he. He will go to the opening of an envelope if the money is right....
I don't exactly know just how wealthy he is, but if money is on the table - why not take it?

Oz83

687 posts

138 months

Wednesday 3rd July 2013
quotequote all
Looks alright I suppose, but would it cost that much more to have put a proper windscreen and a removable hardtop/section on the thing?

But I suppose once they do that, it ceases to become a rich mans 'toy' and will get compared to real cars.

Alfakid

9 posts

138 months

Wednesday 3rd July 2013
quotequote all
And the carpet it's sat on is horrible. And the woman in the white jacket has fat calves. God, what a bunch of glass half-full bores. I think it looks great!

Half-empty I mean!! Hardly anyone's glass seems to be half-full on here.

The lights on the 4C are appalling though!

Edited by Alfakid on Wednesday 3rd July 14:39

kambites

67,462 posts

220 months

Wednesday 3rd July 2013
quotequote all
Nice, but seems awfully expensive compared to things like the 2-11.

A Scotsman

1,000 posts

198 months

Wednesday 3rd July 2013
quotequote all
kambites said:
Nice, but seems awfully expensive compared to things like the 2-11.
I actually thought it was a 2-Eleven!

405dogvan

5,326 posts

264 months

Wednesday 3rd July 2013
quotequote all
soad said:
Greg_D said:
Stirling moss really is shameless in what he will endorse nowadays, isn't he. He will go to the opening of an envelope if the money is right....
I don't exactly know just how wealthy he is, but if money is on the table - why not take it?
Because you end-up looking like Michael Caine?

Who at least admits he does a lot of things just for the money wink

Andy ap

1,147 posts

171 months

Wednesday 3rd July 2013
quotequote all
I Think this is a great concept and now fully fledged car. A little disappointing to use a turbo's four banger but hey if it helps keep the kerb weight down then i wont complain. I'd love to see more of these cars.

Oddball RS

1,757 posts

217 months

Wednesday 3rd July 2013
quotequote all
Civpilot said:
That's actually pretty cool looking and if in the market for a x-bow it would certainly catch my eye.

Love the bottom picture with Sir Moss cheekly sitting on the front wing hehe
I think you will find that is indeed Kojak.......................

Stew2000

2,776 posts

177 months

Wednesday 3rd July 2013
quotequote all
The nose is a bit bulky, but it looks rather good.

sixspeed

2,060 posts

271 months

Wednesday 3rd July 2013
quotequote all
Looks suspiciously like it is based on a K1 Attack??






Dagnut

3,515 posts

192 months

Wednesday 3rd July 2013
quotequote all
soad said:
I don't exactly know just how wealthy he is, but if money is on the table - why not take it?
for sure...Free trip to mexico why not? Whats he gonna do sit at home watching countdown?

GlynMo

1,140 posts

248 months

Wednesday 3rd July 2013
quotequote all
treetops said:
A £60k plastic hot tub (minus the water)

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah!!
+1. It looks absolutely fugly from the front.

LankyPaddy

49 posts

266 months

Wednesday 3rd July 2013
quotequote all
Civpilot said:
Love the bottom picture with Sir Moss cheekly sitting on the front wing hehe
He appears to be posing for some camera wielding laydeez...