FBS CENSUS
Latest news from FBS Engineering
| FBS have a new picture gallery on the web site showing
both the first moulded dash panels fitted to the third prototype and the
final configuration of the rear of the car. Work continues on the
interior with the glove box still to be fitted and the production dash
panels to be trimmed with vinyl or leather.
Of interest to convertible die-hards will be the configuration of the roof which is in the process of being finalised. If you want to get really close to the project you could apply for a job at FBS too - they're now recruiting workshop staff. The new picture gallery can be found here and the the latest news can be found at www.fbscars.co.uk |
Regular
visitors will already be familiar with the FBS Census as Pistonheads has
been following its development for some time. Now we bring you the first
road test report on the car published anywhere!
The car featured here is the first "production prototype" and still needs various trim and other details sorting out as you can tell from the photographs. This therefore isn't the definitive Census, and as it was a relatively short drive mostly on public roads this certainly isn't the definitive Census test, but it should give an idea of what it's like to drive.
Driving Position
Starting
with the driving position, this is easily tailored to personal requirements
thanks to the fully adjustable Focus steering column and Vectra SRI seats,
with the roomy footwell with pedals slightly offset to the right providing
ample resting space for an idle left foot.
Put the car in gear and you'll find the clutch pedal very light, while the gear change is just what you'd expect from a Borg Warner T5 gearbox - notchy but precise.
No Assistance
This
car is the basic specification, which means no power assistance for steering
or brakes. Ford's Duratec V6 might be an all alloy unit, but it's hardly
light, with the consequence that neither is the Census' steering, especially
when the car's stationary. Similarly, the brakes require a fair bit of
muscle power to make the car stop, which can be a bit disconcerting on first
application.
Once on the move the steering lightens up and provides all the feel you'd expect from a fully manual system, while the V6 emits a subdued burble. Wind buffeting at cruising speeds with the top down (which is of course how cars like this should be driven) remains at comfortable levels as long as you keep the windows up in the modified MGF doors.
MGF Hood
The
MGF also provides the prototype's hood, though this is one of those
unfinished details, with the standard MG item due to be replaced by one
modified to suit the Census' rear deck, which also serves as a cover for the
hood when not in use. Unfortunately it also combines with the roll bar to
hamper visibility in the rear view mirror, making you rely more on the door
mirrors.
FBS set out to make the Census "the best handling car in its class" and consequently every suspension component down to the urethane bushes has been made specially for it, with FBS adopting the Lotus principle of soft springs and firm damping to provide the best combination of ride comfort and handling ability.
Stiff
On
the comfort side, the Census certainly gives a smooth ride over all but the
worst road imperfections, with even those failing to induce a hint of
scuttle shake thanks to the car's extremely stiff chassis (17,000Nm per
degree - over 50% stiffer than an MGF).
On the handling side, it was never really going to get pushed on the road, the only exception being a certain 90 degree bend that's so tight that taking it at just 30mph is a challenge. The Census took it with no major dramas, the front end just sliding a little as understeer overcame grip, which was hardly surprising considering the relatively skinny front tyres (195/50x15 Avon ZV1) and that heavy V6 up front.
Four wheel drift
That's
not to say there's anything unbalanced or particularly nose heavy about the
Census' handling. Far from it. During some slalom type driving on a bit of
old runway the Census proved itself capable of changing direction quickly
and with little roll despite the absence of anti-roll bars. And once you
start pushing it hard enough to overcome the grip of those Avons in these
circumstances the car goes into a gentle four wheel drift.
Finishing a slalom run by locking the steering right over and flooring the throttle to induce power oversteer spun the rear end round quite progressively and at no time did the rear end of the car feel like it was about to get away or try and overtake the front. With no unexpected or lurid behaviour the impression was of a well handling car that you can confidently throw around while still maintaining full control of - in other words, a car you can really have some fun in.
Brakes
Using
the runway also gave the chance to try some full-on brake tests, which
demonstrated the ability of the all-round discs to knock off speed very
quickly and without a hint of wheel locking. Well not in the dry anyway.
Interestingly, after a bit of use the brake pedal didn't feel so heavy,
though whether this was due to the brakes warming up or me getting more
familiar with it I'm not sure.
Overall the Census felt very composed and solidly put together, with no clunks or rattles aside from those from the as yet catchless bonnet. The only disappointing aspect of driving it was its straight-line performance, the car simply not feeling as quick as you'd expect from 170bhp propelling under a ton.
Overtaken by Previa!?
Oddly,
during a couple of standing start tests it accelerated strongly, producing
the sort of push in the back you should get from a car capable of hitting 60
in about 6 seconds, but for some reason it seemed to lack urge on the road.
Maybe it was deceptive, or maybe I just wasn't giving it enough revs (tacho
not working) but at one point I was out-accelerated by some leadfoot in a
Toyota Previa!
Eventually I gave up trying to accelerate hard because the engine started pinking, which seemed to get worse as time went by, so maybe it was running below par. As both the engine and its management system are standard Ford this is something FBS will be investigating with the help of their local dealer's diagnostic computer.
Bodes well
I suppose there's something amusing about testing a car from one of the smallest manufacturers in the world and finding that the only bit that doesn't seem to work properly comes from one of the largest. For their part, FBS seem to have got the engineering of the car right and it'll be interesting to see what the Census is like with all the little details sorted (and a fully healthy engine!) which should only be a few more weeks away now.
Words and pictures Copyright (c) Graham Bell 2001