Spiritual ancestor: Rover JET1 from 1950
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Makers of the concept car known as Project 1221, who drip-feed details of their operation like a form of water torture, have revealed that they are aiming to achieve an output of 1,500bhp from the wheel-driven car's turbine engine.
The company reckoned that the car will remain driveable -- just as well -- and offer "aviation-standard reliability". The biggest criticism is the turbine's inherently slow spool-up time, leading to sluggish off-the-line performance. Project 1221 answers this with:
"What seems to be overlooked though is the word "equivalent" because, quite simply, a reciprocating engine of such power has never been mounted on a road or racing car before. In any case our engine provides literally instant power from walking pace and in quantities that would render the (selectable) traction control indeed indispensable for everyone but the bravest."
It reckoned that the massive exhaust output can be effectively employed to assist airflow underneath the car, so improving traction by increasing downforce at low and medium speeds using "ground effect".
The company said it will be a turboshaft, not a jet, engine although the exhaust will be enough to create significant thrust. No kidding? However, the exhaust gas temperature of a turbine is less than that of the equivalent reciprocating engine.
"In that respect the real problem for nearby vegetation, other road users etc. would be essentially due to the sheer amount of exhaust output - not temperature in itself. Obviously, by directing the exhaust flow in an appropriate manner and by ensuring that the exhaust outlets remain sufficiently distant from the boundaries of the car itself this issue ceases to exist," said the company.