Friday 11th January 2013

Autosport: Radical RXC

Radical's, er, radical new coupe, now out in public

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It's not going to win any beauty contests but if 'racing car for the road' is something you take literally rather than as marketing BS, a few carbon trim bits and an Alcantara steering wheel Radical's new RXC coupe really walks the walk.

Just the job for the school run and all that

We knew the basic gist of the car already but it's now out in public and for your viewing pleasure at the Autosport show. Expect to have to fight your way to the front for a good view because even on the trade day it was drawing a crowd and half.

And even with a numberplate and assurances of type approval it seems hard to believe you could actually, if you were particularly bloody minded and could contrive a route without speed bumps, drive the thing to work every day. Using lessons learned with the roadgoing SR3 SL, Radical assures us the RXC is actually more usable on the road due to it being designed with this in mind from the start, rather than converted from a racing car. So it'll have adequate suspension travel to deal with everyday lumps and bumps while including enough adjustability to tie it down for track use too. We'll have to see about that but from the pushrod suspension to the sequential Quaife gearbox it's clear where this thing's heart lies.

Uncompromising looks, drive likely similar

The push to create a coupe came from export markets - not least the Gulf and China - where open-top cars are apparently considered less desirable or simply not especially pleasant given the climate. Which is why the RXC gets air-con, power steering and other 'luxuries', together with six-point harnesses, optional data logging, FIA spec roll cage and Le Mans grade crash boxes.

Power comes from a Ford-sourced 3.7-litre V6 with 380hp and 320lb ft, good for 422hp per tonne, 0-62mph in 2.8 seconds and 178mph. The 900kg kerbweight is matched with an equivalent amount of downforce, though how fast you'll have to be going to achieve that Radical doesn't say.

The V6 is fully Euro 5 emissions compliant, boasts 6,000-mile service intervals and is intended to be turn-key reliable and durable but if you want an even racier experience you can opt for a 480hp version of Radical's proven 3.0-litre V8.

Cosy but well trimmed and finished

If the steel spaceframe and GRP bodywork don't sound especially exotic given the near £100K (plus VAT) pricetag it's good to see that the build quality and trim, especially for the interior, is pretty good given how hardcore the driving experience promises to be. It's not hard to see where the money's gone either, the mechanical spec all pure race-bred stuff and the real deal.

The RXC's next stop is the US, where it'll undergo intensive testing before returning for final shakedown. And when it does we'll be badgering Radical for a drive!

Ford V6 gives 380hp, V8 option also available

 

[pagani1]

Yeesh! what a looker, definitely an outrage to 90% of Britain's grey silver white palette of cars.
Maybe Verde Ithaca would be more subtle. Meanwhile yes please daddy!

[pagani1]

On second thoughts maybe stealth carbon with lots of suppliers stickers as Zonda-R would have more pizzazz down the Kings road or Brands Hatch. Must be a Nurburging visitor too! Please dodge Les Flics in france though as it would be such a magnet to them.

[George29]

I love it, but if I wanted a Radical for the road I wouldn't want a coupe. The models with no windscreen/roof look far more fun for the road.

[GT2CS]

looks too much like an Ultima - and hence looks a bit dated. Windscreen rake too steep too - hence lowish top speed for the HP. CD cant be that good.

[MiseryStreak]

Um...900kg. Why? Still want one though, although not as much as a 'traditional' Radical.

[Work-Shy-Wanabe]

Come on, please lets have a picture of those Radical technical experts........(the blonde ones with long legs)

[Getsis]

Hope there arn't any speed bumps on the way to the track ??

[Beretta1]

I would rather have this at twice the power and half the price

[Benrad]

MiseryStreak said:

Um...900kg. Why? Still want one though, although not as much as a 'traditional' Radical.

SR3 is 675kg in race trim with a smaller engine, no creature comforts or roof etc.

Not sure if 900kg is accurate either, didn't read the specs whilst I was there. The price announced was £89,500+vat.

If you're going then look at the floating wings that the mirrors are mounted on. I thought they looked the dogs and you can't see it in the pics

[MiseryStreak]

I don't mind the looks, think it looks fit for purpose. Just don't quite get the jump from ~650kg to 900kg. OK it's got a roof and a sodding great Ford V6 in it but that's no longer a flyweight road racer, sounds very much like LMP2 specs. Actually when I put it like that...

[pSyCoSiS]

That's a glorious engine bay.

Nice to see that pure engineering has gone into producing that machine.

Good on you, Radical.

[CraigyMc]

MiseryStreak said:

Um...900kg. Why? Still want one though, although not as much as a 'traditional' Radical.

Because of the roof, interior, V6 engine, emissions gubbins, power steering, aircon.

It'd be interesting to see what an SR-3 would weigh with a V6 fitted. I'd hazard a guess that the engine alone adds more than 100KG over the 'busa engined cars.

C

[JohnGoodridge]

Beretta1 said:

I would rather have this at twice the power and half the price

Was my first thought...

And an equally cool way to do the school run

[GreigM]

As others have said, my initial reaction was WOW, then I saw the price and my reaction changed to ULTIMA!

[CraigyMc]

GreigM said:

As others have said, my initial reaction was WOW, then I saw the price and my reaction changed to ULTIMA!

Have you ever sat in an Ultima?

The ones I've seen have interior design from the "if it moves, glue cheap carpet to it" school of thought.

C

[gtdc]

Work-Shy-Wanabe said:

Come on, please lets have a picture of those Radical technical experts........(the blonde ones with long legs)

Your wish is my command. You can photoshop Ian Flux out of it.

[GreigM]

CraigyMc said:

Have you ever sat in an Ultima?

The ones I've seen have interior design from the "if it moves, glue cheap carpet to it" school of thought.

C

Have you really just talked down an Ultima on the basis of its interior design - kinda missing the point somewhat!

[hairykrishna]

Different market to an Ultima surely? I'm assuming this thing would eat an Ultima alive on any given race track.

[peteO]

awesome looking car!!!

[chuntington101]

Wow! looks much nicer than the renderings that where published some time ago!

Dont forgot this little thing will have some pretty serious downforce for a track car.