New MEV Exocet Kit car

New MEV Exocet Kit car

Author
Discussion

fuoriserie

Original Poster:

4,560 posts

268 months

Saturday 10th July 2010
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I just noticed the new pictures of the MEV Exocet and really like the idea of using an Mx5 as a donor on an Exo chassis.....smile

A different twist on the Exo concept......smile

Pictures taken from the MEV website :




fuoriserie

Original Poster:

4,560 posts

268 months

Saturday 10th July 2010
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A few more.....



singlecoil

33,311 posts

245 months

Saturday 10th July 2010
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Hmmmmmmmm....... perhaps it will grow on me.

antnicuk

351 posts

187 months

Saturday 10th July 2010
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different but i like it, although i would prefer a slightly different colour combo. Its almost looks like it could be front or rear engined.

Edit
just had a read of their website. they reckon 2 hours work top pull apart the mx5 and then just bolt everything to their chassis! job done! and a total build cost £2k can be achieved once you have sold the unwanted parts from the donor mx5. I wonder how much it weighs, it doesnt say. I like the idea of that as the rx8 engine bolts straight to an mx5 box. 250 bhp with 9500 rpm smile

Edited by antnicuk on Saturday 10th July 23:22

singlecoil

33,311 posts

245 months

Sunday 11th July 2010
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The most significant feature of the car, by a long way, is the fact that the engine is much further forward than in a normal front engined rwd kit car. In fact, I can't off hand think of another kit car where the engine goes across the front axle line rather than behind it as in for instance a 7 or a cobra. It means the whole car is shorter as the wheelbase only has to accommodate half the engine, in much the same way as normal production rwd drive cars.


jason61c

5,978 posts

173 months

Sunday 11th July 2010
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A little fugly IMO.

Isn't having the engine that far forward a bad thing in terms of chassis dynamics? Like 90's audi.

antnicuk

351 posts

187 months

Sunday 11th July 2010
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singlecoil said:
The most significant feature of the car, by a long way, is the fact that the engine is much further forward than in a normal front engined rwd kit car. In fact, I can't off hand think of another kit car where the engine goes across the front axle line rather than behind it as in for instance a 7 or a cobra. It means the whole car is shorter as the wheelbase only has to accommodate half the engine, in much the same way as normal production rwd drive cars.
good point, didnt notice that. ae there any engine bay pictures about?

covmutley

3,012 posts

189 months

Sunday 11th July 2010
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V interested in this. I have a 5 and would like to spend a bit on it but have been reluctant on an 18 yr old body. Would like to know its weight and impact and relationship to the 5,s. Dynamics

singlecoil

33,311 posts

245 months

Sunday 11th July 2010
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antnicuk said:
singlecoil said:
The most significant feature of the car, by a long way, is the fact that the engine is much further forward than in a normal front engined rwd kit car. In fact, I can't off hand think of another kit car where the engine goes across the front axle line rather than behind it as in for instance a 7 or a cobra. It means the whole car is shorter as the wheelbase only has to accommodate half the engine, in much the same way as normal production rwd drive cars.
good point, didnt notice that. ae there any engine bay pictures about?
Not that I know of, it was a deduction. It's especially clear in the picture taken from towards the rear looking into the interior of the car showing the footwells.


I've since read the pieces about it on the MEV website, very interesting and looks a real bargain, as well as very easy to build. Pretty much the ideal kit car for anyone who likes its looks (I'm not one of those yet but as said earlier, it might grow on me0.

singlecoil

33,311 posts

245 months

Sunday 11th July 2010
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jason61c said:
A little fugly IMO.

Isn't having the engine that far forward a bad thing in terms of chassis dynamics? Like 90's audi.
Knowing Stuart Mills' designing abilities, I expect he's got all that sorted. Audis still have all of their engines in front of the axle, and I haven't heard anybody complaining about them too much. Having said that they are a lot heavier overall.

ajprice

27,315 posts

195 months

Sunday 11th July 2010
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The colours are.. interesting wink , to me its like the result of a Rocket and a Toniq R being mixed together.

Different colours would probably help the looks, maybe different lights (on the cycle wings more like the Toniq R?). But for £2-3k its got a lot of potential biggrin .


seansverige

719 posts

181 months

Sunday 11th July 2010
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+1
re: engine position, courtesy of Flickr

singlecoil

33,311 posts

245 months

Sunday 11th July 2010
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The implication from the build guide is that an IVA test is not needed

http://www.mevltd.co.uk/exocetbuild.html

jason61c

5,978 posts

173 months

Sunday 11th July 2010
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well its got a new chassis so it'll need one unless its marketing blurb!

antnicuk

351 posts

187 months

Monday 12th July 2010
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I bet that tunnel gets warm

antnicuk

351 posts

187 months

Monday 12th July 2010
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MEV replied to my email re weight and iva, they "are taking orders on iva'able Exocets and the weight is aprox 495kg's " which seem very light for car using stock subframes front and rear.

Are there other cars that light?

Edited by antnicuk on Monday 12th July 21:56

covmutley

3,012 posts

189 months

Monday 12th July 2010
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So about half the weight of the mk1 mx5- lots of 'free' power. Roughly what I anticipated looking at the weight of the sonic. It does seem a sensible way to spend £2-3k for 'bangs for buck'.


I assume the wheelbase dimensions replicate the mx5, with perhaps the body a touch shorter at the front and back?




slomax

6,646 posts

191 months

Monday 12th July 2010
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I hate to say this but when i first saw this my first reaction was... eurgh, it looks like an onyx bobcat. or is that just me?
Im not a bit fan of its looks, but i like the idea of an MX5 donor.

covmutley

3,012 posts

189 months

Monday 12th July 2010
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I quite like the rear except for the exhaust. I like the nose and the relatively subtle power bulge but am not keen from there back toward the dash where it looks a bit flat?

Perhaps a decent aero screen would improve things and raise the lines of the car up toward the high point of driver and seat. A double arch driver/passenger aero screen might look good to reflect the 2 seats, roll bar and bulges on the rear cover??

black with dark silver stripe would be my colour choice...

Chris71

21,535 posts

241 months

Tuesday 13th July 2010
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Nice, but I still think the MEV I'd go for is the Atomic. If I was going to build another kit that'd be the one at the moment.