RE: Melling's Hellcat has surfaced

[risotto]

Miguel said:

Whenever anyone puts a pile of money on the line and tries to build a new supercar, the opinions at PH are that it'll immediately fail, and even if it doesn't, it's hideous, anyway.
Miguel

I don't think that's completely true - people didn't act that way about Ascari or Noble, or the Marcos TSO.

[havoc]

cyberface said:

some sensible stuff about development and testing

And THAT is where Melling needs to learn from the AJ V8 / Speed Six troubles. As has already been pointed out, his core background is in racing, where maximum power output is the key driver and reliability/smoothness/tractability are virtually irrelevant. This has (I'm told) translated well where he's consulted with a mainstream company with time and resources to test the engines to destruction, but not at TVR, who typically use customers to do the 'beta-testing'!


My 2p - IF this engine is thoroughly tested, it could well work (needs better clothes though!), and be very quick. If it's not (and AM doesn't seem to be the sort of chap to have the patience to test, test, and test again), then it'll be a god-awful embarrassment! I sincerely hope he's got someone good doing the chassis and suspension set-up though...

[andyps]

GavinPearson said:

In the case of a high performance car it needs the engine to be behind the driver and in front of the rear wheels.

Someone forgot to tell Ferrari that and from various reports the 599 doesn't seem to have suffered too much.

havoc said:

My 2p - IF this engine is thoroughly tested, it could well work (needs better clothes though!), and be very quick. If it's not (and AM doesn't seem to be the sort of chap to have the patience to test, test, and test again), then it'll be a god-awful embarrassment! I sincerely hope he's got someone good doing the chassis and suspension set-up though...

Nine years development apparently - don't know how much testing has been involved though. I agree about the chassis and suspension set-up - it has to be done well, but if as reported Le Mans is the aim that hopefully has been covered.

One other point - the Ferrari Enzo is rarely regarded as a good looking car either - but they sold a few of them.

Edited by andyps on Thursday 1st February 21:53

[dandarez]

comparing a Ferrari Enzo to THAT!

It'll fill the pages of Autocar... the first 20 customers will receive their cars at the end of the year...

Reality: will disappear in 24 months or sooner
(or at best will appear once a year as a filler news story)

[moleamol]

andyps said:

GavinPearson said:

In the case of a high performance car it needs the engine to be behind the driver and in front of the rear wheels.

Someone forgot to tell Ferrari that and from various reports the 599 doesn't seem to have suffered too much.

And McLaren, who placed the Engine for their Mercedes super(hyper?)car in the same place as the Hellcat.

Whilst we are on the McMerc subject, is the Hellcat really any less attractive than an SL55 with nice wing mirrors and Honda Civic chav doors? I'd say not, and if the stats are right it will be a fair bit faster.