RE: Toniq R scooped
Discussion
Kudos for a fine mechanical execution but, IMHO, there appears to be a dramatic need for a stylist on this project since it's neither graceful or aggressive looking. For the part of an automobile that usually distinguishes it's identity, I'm afraid to say that "grille" (if one can call it that) leaves me wondering "what were these guys thinking?"...
Hullo folks, I feel strongly enough for a first post! I'd never heard of the Toniq until earlier this year until I parked next to the test team at a Cadwell MSV trackday. Despite my best efforts, having been lapped at Cadwell by the lads on the development team I've since followed with interest to see how long it'd take them to bring it to market.
I went to the show at Snetterton last week, really to convince the wife! I hate Marmite, but I'm convinced by the Toniq - I find it really refreshing in the staid world of 7 types. As Ted says, the pearlescent blue and white car in the flesh is stunning - the blue nosecone a cheeky 7 reference that I love, and the grille - I agree - but was a mesh affair at Snetterton last week, as on all the moving photos in PetrolTed's write-up. I had a passenger ride too, and my internal organs are still knotted. Really, astonishingly quick.
I'm now selling an Elise. I've known for a while that I wanted something quicker - and I'm not going to shell £37000 on a CSR just to be overtaken by something designed in the modern age - so it is a used Atom or a brand new Toniq R. Ted's words are leaning me towards the latter.
I went to the show at Snetterton last week, really to convince the wife! I hate Marmite, but I'm convinced by the Toniq - I find it really refreshing in the staid world of 7 types. As Ted says, the pearlescent blue and white car in the flesh is stunning - the blue nosecone a cheeky 7 reference that I love, and the grille - I agree - but was a mesh affair at Snetterton last week, as on all the moving photos in PetrolTed's write-up. I had a passenger ride too, and my internal organs are still knotted. Really, astonishingly quick.
I'm now selling an Elise. I've known for a while that I wanted something quicker - and I'm not going to shell £37000 on a CSR just to be overtaken by something designed in the modern age - so it is a used Atom or a brand new Toniq R. Ted's words are leaning me towards the latter.
marctroy said:
Kudos for a fine mechanical execution but, IMHO, there appears to be a dramatic need for a stylist on this project since it's neither graceful or aggressive looking. For the part of an automobile that usually distinguishes it's identity, I'm afraid to say that "grille" (if one can call it that) leaves me wondering "what were these guys thinking?"...
Probably "we need something different" (but not "we need something /good looking/ and different"
Although I'm not a fan of the grille, you wouldn't know what it looked like until you'd tried it - so they've got some guts to try it.
I had one of James Whiting's Caterham Fireblades for a year or two, and loved it. <400kg and just enough power. This is a bit heavier but has more power from the FI engine (rather than carbs).
Has anyone driven it on the road? The live-axled Caterham was a bit crap/terrifying in that respect - really needed a track to have any fun.
I'm delighted Toniq have done so well in creating this car. Caterhams are way too heavy now IMO. All the Toniq-R needs is smaller, lighter wheels and tyres (probably -25kg in total) and the right price, and it should be a great package.
Nice one.
John
Has anyone driven it on the road? The live-axled Caterham was a bit crap/terrifying in that respect - really needed a track to have any fun.
I'm delighted Toniq have done so well in creating this car. Caterhams are way too heavy now IMO. All the Toniq-R needs is smaller, lighter wheels and tyres (probably -25kg in total) and the right price, and it should be a great package.
Nice one.
John
tribbles said:
Although I'm not a fan of the grille, you wouldn't know what it looked like until you'd tried it - so they've got some guts to try it.
Indeed- henceforth to be nicknamed "The Chipmaker". Chuck a spud at the grill at about 70mph & instant chips!!
Do like way it goes tho' & video on PHTV looked good. Kinda think it does look more classy in Graphite Press version.
sprinter885 said:
Indeed- henceforth to be nicknamed "The Chipmaker". Chuck a spud at the grill at about 70mph & instant chips!!
Probably more of an apple corer - except it leaves the apple core alone, and disintegrates the rest of the stuff.
sprinter885 said:
Do like way it goes tho' & video on PHTV looked good. Kinda think it does look more classy in Graphite Press version.
I like the way the Aeon goes when I drove it. I had an LSIS and wanted something much different...
The graphite version of the Toniq is the best of the two though (but I think most people agree with that
).
I seem to remember that one of the guys from Toniq was one here a while back, hopefully he'll come back on to clarify the cost and styling questions.
Mine would be - how much for a Duratec version exactly liek the pics i posted?
Say £16-20k and you've got an order. Say £30k and i'm afraid you'll miss out....
Mine would be - how much for a Duratec version exactly liek the pics i posted?
Say £16-20k and you've got an order. Say £30k and i'm afraid you'll miss out....
Hi, lets answer some of your questions.
Prices, these are not as high as the £20-30k that people are thinking, £20-30k would be for a very special Toniq-R. A basic Fireblade powered car in similar spec to the dark blue one photographed is £16,995 excluding VAT. One at similar spec to the pearlescent white car with the blue nose is over £20k (this includes many trick parts like the electronic gearchange and the fancy flip paint). Pricing is actually less than a similar Westfield if you look at the kit on the website which starts from £3,995+vat as it includes so many parts. Do it yourself builds on a budget could be as low as £12k.
Regarding the styling of the lights, these were inspired by Anakin Skywalker's Pod racers from the film StarWars. See link http://federationtoys.com/images/anap One of our team of designers was obsessed with little funky details, infact he now designs vehicles for computer games. This feature has been replicated on all the lights and the internal dials. The hand crafted billeted aluminium components actually cost Toniq almost as much as the fibreglass bodies to produce!
To date there have been a few Toniq show cars - 2002 silver and blue, 2003 yellow, 2004 dark blue, 2006 pearl white and soon another one is going to join the group. I have seen it and it's absolutely the best ever Toniq, looks wise, colour wise, engine wise and performance wise. Toniq is unveiling this new car at the Donington kit car show on 16th September. It's spankingly gorgeous.
Will Baxter, one of the student designers of the Toniq-R, no longer involved in the Toniq-R and now a freelance train designer
Prices, these are not as high as the £20-30k that people are thinking, £20-30k would be for a very special Toniq-R. A basic Fireblade powered car in similar spec to the dark blue one photographed is £16,995 excluding VAT. One at similar spec to the pearlescent white car with the blue nose is over £20k (this includes many trick parts like the electronic gearchange and the fancy flip paint). Pricing is actually less than a similar Westfield if you look at the kit on the website which starts from £3,995+vat as it includes so many parts. Do it yourself builds on a budget could be as low as £12k.
Regarding the styling of the lights, these were inspired by Anakin Skywalker's Pod racers from the film StarWars. See link http://federationtoys.com/images/anap One of our team of designers was obsessed with little funky details, infact he now designs vehicles for computer games. This feature has been replicated on all the lights and the internal dials. The hand crafted billeted aluminium components actually cost Toniq almost as much as the fibreglass bodies to produce!
To date there have been a few Toniq show cars - 2002 silver and blue, 2003 yellow, 2004 dark blue, 2006 pearl white and soon another one is going to join the group. I have seen it and it's absolutely the best ever Toniq, looks wise, colour wise, engine wise and performance wise. Toniq is unveiling this new car at the Donington kit car show on 16th September. It's spankingly gorgeous.
Will Baxter, one of the student designers of the Toniq-R, no longer involved in the Toniq-R and now a freelance train designer
Edited by Will Ferrari on Wednesday 6th September 14:30
Edited by Will Ferrari on Wednesday 6th September 14:32
gingerprince said:
lawrence5 said:
Interesting new take, but that rollbar is pretty pointless - lower than the helmets?! If made high enough to actually offer any protection for occupants it would likely need a redesign as it'd look stretched IMHO.
Was chattiing to Colin Williams (MD of Toniq Ltd) at Snetterton when this picture was taken and future cars will have a higher roll bar by 4". The whole Toniq development is really exciting at the moment, a huge amout of work is being done and areas like this are being addressed along the way. Remember the Ariel Atom took a few years to become the great car that it is today, its about persistance and commitment.
Will Ferrari said:
. Toniq is unveiling this new car at the Donington kit car show on 16th September. It's spankingly gorgeous.
Will Baxter, original co-founder of Toniq Ltd and one of the student designers of the Toniq-R
Is that the mid-engine Toniq project ?
Edited by fuoriserie on Wednesday 6th September 13:47
fuoriserie said:
Will Ferrari said:
. Toniq is unveiling this new car at the Donington kit car show on 16th September. It's spankingly gorgeous.
Will Baxter, original co-founder of Toniq Ltd and one of the student designers of the Toniq-R
Is that the mid-engine Toniq project ?
Edited by fuoriserie on Wednesday 6th September 13:47
There is no mid-engined Toniq project. The one I mentioned is front engined Toniq-R with a Duratec 2 litre engine. Has a new bonnet and totally took my breath away. The nearest Toniq Limited has got to a mid engine project was a group of 2nd years at the University who did a Toniq Mk2 - all were mid engine Elise type cars but with Toniq styling. Some were actually very good. Who knows what'll happen one day with Colin (Chapman) Williams enthusiasm!
Edited by Will Ferrari on Wednesday 6th September 13:56
Will B -Many thanks for joining in & providing answers. I thought light units were a bit "one-off"-obviously understatement! Good luck with project- whole thing looks appealing & test drive reads well. Clearly my idea of "graphite" is actually dark blue? p.s. Is the yellowy colour on your profile a simulation?
sprinter885 said:
Will B -Many thanks for joining in & providing answers. I thought light units were a bit "one-off"-obviously understatement! Good luck with project- whole thing looks appealing & test drive reads well. Clearly my idea of "graphite" is actually dark blue? p.s. Is the yellowy colour on your profile a simulation?
No thats a real car, the yellow 2003 version. More pics on the website www.toniqr.co.uk
My personal favourite is the original 2002 show car blue and silver, well until I saw this new one they have built. I'd love to say but that'd ruin the surprise.
[/quote]
. The nearest Toniq Limited has got to a mid engine project was a group of 2nd years at the University who did a Toniq Mk2 - all were mid engine Elise type cars but with Toniq styling. Some were actually very good. Who knows what'll happen one day with Colin (Chapman) Williams enthusiasm!
I thought this was going to be your next project.........I remember seeing a few sketches, maybe on cardesignnews portfolio section, but I'm not totally sure.
Well, good luck again guys.
Italo.
. The nearest Toniq Limited has got to a mid engine project was a group of 2nd years at the University who did a Toniq Mk2 - all were mid engine Elise type cars but with Toniq styling. Some were actually very good. Who knows what'll happen one day with Colin (Chapman) Williams enthusiasm!
Edited by Will Ferrari on Wednesday 6th September 13:56
[/quote] I thought this was going to be your next project.........I remember seeing a few sketches, maybe on cardesignnews portfolio section, but I'm not totally sure.
Well, good luck again guys.
Italo.
Gassing Station | Kit Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff