Wednesday 12th January 2005

Pictures of new UK supercar emerge

Silverstone-based MB Roadcars shows the new 500bhp EOS

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More pictures have emerged from new sports car maker MB Roadcars (MBR), which is to show its new EOS for the first time at Autosport the weekend after next. Aiming at the high end of the sports car market, it describes the 500bhp V8-powered EOS as "a high-performance race-bred three-seater sports car left vacant by the McLaren F1 roadcar."

The 1,000Kg EOS is MBR’s first offering and it believes the car will establish its cutting-edge image. The designers are said to include experienced Formula 1 designers and the aim is to create "the ultimate road-going supercar using advanced design and manufacturing technologies".

The car's unique points include:

• Central driving position (three-seater layout)
• First class aerodynamics inspired by modern Formula 1 cars
• High-tech composite chassis monocoque
• Fine tuned suspension kinematics

EOS' streamlined bodywork is the product of many design iterations, with each design step validated using advanced simulation techniques, including computational fluid dynamics and finite element analysis. The result "is an elegant and innovative shape, which demonstrates the company’s technical know-how and sets the car apart from its rivals in terms of style and performance."

MBR says that comparison with key competitors shows that EOS "exceeds the most renowned supercars’ aerodynamic characteristics". Its downforce is distributed between front and rear axles to deliver well-balanced behaviour at high speed to improve both performance and safety.

Aerospace grade composite materials will be used to manufacture the high-strength monocoque chassis and all body panels. Unequal length double wishbone suspension geometry with inboard spring/dampers at the front and rear end will, says MBR, "ensure breathtaking cornering abilities and unrivalled agility."

EOS will use a lightweight V8 engine with a maximum power output in excess of 500bhp. The extensive use of composite materials will keep total weight within 1,000Kg resulting in an "impressive" power to weight ratio.

Current Status

The design of EOS started two years ago and MBR says it's now ready to show its first prototypes, using what the company describes as "the expertise of its qualified design staff ranging from aerodynamics, composite chassis design to suspension kinematics".

The company says it's currently signing-up technical partnerships and looking for investors to strengthen and complete the EOS development, and is to launch the EOS concept at the Autosport Show on 13 January 2005. It also plans to present a full-scale show car at the Frankfurt Motorshow in September 2005.

The first EOS prototype will hit the road at the end 2006 and the first customer cars will be produced early 2007.

MB Roadcars production plans are for just 20 cars per year. Every car will be assembled by hand and tailor-made to customer requirements. MB reckons the car's technology and materials justify a price tag above £300,000.

Previous story: www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyId=9607

[z_chromozone]

Its got the arse from an Elise. Still not pretty from the front.

Interesting that there is a gap in market for 3 seater sports cars.

Z

[roop]

There's definitely a pretty car in there somewhere. The nose is just too square for the rest of the car though. Reminds me of a Hammerhead Shark...

Good luck to them...! Promises to be great

[jl34]

what a pity about that front end, change it now!

[DanL]

Not sure I like the proportions, but it COULD look stunning IIRC.

Something I noticed from the rear 3/4 shot - it seems there's a hole from the front all the way through to the side vents. Looks impressive, and shows a flat floorplan with exposed top, but where do the occupants feet go?

Dan

[Stig]

The front does have a rather 'hoover-esque' feel to it.

Nice ar$e though.

[joospeed]

The Noble M14 shows how a blunt front should be done IMO .. but that car has a bit of a retro feel about it too ..

I love the look of the M14 the car in these pics just doesn't *gel* to me .. but time yet to get the fine lines sorted .. does the market place really need yet another 500bhp supercar though .. ? erm .. yeah it does

[door]

Why didn't they style the front wheel houses and the roof is all wrong. The aerodynamic work looks completely over the top. Great!

Looks half done really!

[britten_mark]

Note to manufacturer - Ring Peter Stevens now BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.

[swiss]

I agree with whats been said so far in that the front really needs sorting out ! Ferrari got away with the Enzo but that had shares of abuilt up F! front, this sadly doesn't work. Secondly I'm not keen on that step up over the front wheel arch, personally I'd be tempted to lenghten the front end more to allow a better nose with a smoother flow over the front wheel arch in the body

[Pesmo]

Oi! Sort the nose !

[FestivAli]

I reckon I could excuse the front if the headlights remained slit like instead of triangular - they look a bit big. Front wheel-arches are 'interesting', as is the side profile. Nice to see convention brushed aside in those regards. Looks far better in blue than in that silver that was shown a month or two back. If the front was revised than I'd have to say yes, I'd buy one.

[JonRB]

It was looking very promising until I read the £300,000 price tag.

[apache]

It's obviously trying to look like an F1 at the front, it would work if not for those side deflectors which look very vulnerable. The lights need tweaking too

[kevinday]

Unfortunately the price tag is way too high. McLaren had their name to justify the price tag of the F1, Merc, Porsche have their name etc. This high price for an unknown...no chance. I'll take an Ultima with 640 bhp for £50-60,000 thank you (and a motorbike for the 3rd person ).

[Alex]

Actually it doesn't look too bad, but for £300K it's going to have to be VERY special!

[RacerX]

Looks eerily like a road going version of a GrandAm Daytona Prototype (DP) and, although very good racecars, DP's will not go down in history as the best looking either.....

[mal]

Looks like to quickest way to loose £250K or so and at that price tag and with no known name it will surely have no real resale value

[cazzer]

Close but no cigar.

[errek72]

While you're at it, why not ask 3.000.000?
That way you'd only have to sell one, which is more realistic with those looks.

Wake up!

[fid]

What's the £300k actually paying for? I'd be much more willing to pay that kind of money if it looked like somebody had actually put some hard work into it.
Where's the challenge in designing a car that's stable etc., but not beautiful to look at? And vice versa. Chosing one isn't much of a challenge, but both would be. Actually achieving both might even make it worthy of the price tag. F.