The first production model from innovative independent car maker
Local Motors
will make its official debut at the SEMA show in Las Vegas tomorrow.
The Rally Fighter is a BMW 335d (what else!) powered Baja inspired 'crossover' vehicle that has been designed and built with input from its potential customers via an online community.
Aside from running BMW's greatest ever engine (check the PH forums if you don't believe that!) the Rally Fighter is said to feature a mix of bespoke and OEM parts, is rear drive only, and weighs less than 1450kgs.
Local Motors reckons it has tapped into a niche all its own, by engaging customers with the project in a manner that existing car makers and retailers can't hope to emulate. According to company owner Jay Rogers, the community-based business model will spread across the US with a series of regional 'micro factories' building different versions of the car that will be localised to suit local requirements.
Apparently these micro factories will survive independently selling 2,000 cars each year at around $50,000. Check out the video of Jay explaining the business model below - he's certainly got a vision, but will the Rally Fighter fly?
Official Rally Fighter US Specs:
- 3.0 Liter, Turbocharged Inline 6-Cylinder Engine
- 6 speed automatic transmission
- 265 Horsepower @ 4200rpm
- Overall Length: 189 inches (4800mm)
- Dual Ride Height (Manual Capability)
o 69.25 inches (1759mm) High ride height
o 61.25 inches (1556mm) Low ride height
- Overall Width: 80 inches (2057mm)
- Wheelbase: 115 inches (2921mm)
- Track Width: 69.5 inches (1765mm)
- Curb Weight: 3,000-3,200 lbs.
- Construction-Tubular steel space frame
o 18" Travel, independent double A-arm
o with detachable stabilizer bar
o Spring System-Long travel coil-over shock absorbers
o 20" Travel, 3-Link Solid axle with Panhard
- Steering TypePower assisted rack and pinion
- 4-Wheel Anti-lock disc brakes.
- Front: 13" ventilated - dual-piston floating
- Rear: 13.7" ventilated - single-piston floating
- Emergency brake: Rear drum in rotor
- Wheels: 17"x8" aluminum alloy
o 275/70R-17(High ride height)
o 265/50R-20(Low ride height)
![](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 4 3"%3E%3C/svg%3E)
![](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 1 1"%3E%3C/svg%3E)