Discussion
OK folks, here as promised is an update on the Vemac situation.
Work on the car is still progressing in Japan, including a few detail changes and the fitting of the 220bhp Integra Type-R engine and 6 speed box. Expect the latest version to be at the Tokyo motor show later this month.
If all goes well (and they've finally made their minds up about what they want to do) then hopefully it should be going into production early next year, which will see more UK involvement.
Work on the car is still progressing in Japan, including a few detail changes and the fitting of the 220bhp Integra Type-R engine and 6 speed box. Expect the latest version to be at the Tokyo motor show later this month.
If all goes well (and they've finally made their minds up about what they want to do) then hopefully it should be going into production early next year, which will see more UK involvement.
Hi jpf,
I'll add Vemac to my 'find out about list' along with the new Dare. A road test for PH is the plan when/if the car becomes available.
Bit late with this one, buy yes, I did indeed write for Speed & Style.
Glad you like my stuff for PH. Thanks.
The reason I don't write for evo is that editor Barker never once had the courtesy to reply to the letters or e-mails I sent in following the mag's launch.
I'll add Vemac to my 'find out about list' along with the new Dare. A road test for PH is the plan when/if the car becomes available.
Bit late with this one, buy yes, I did indeed write for Speed & Style.
Glad you like my stuff for PH. Thanks.
The reason I don't write for evo is that editor Barker never once had the courtesy to reply to the letters or e-mails I sent in following the mag's launch.
Hi jpf,
Apart from PH (if I can actually get any cars to test this year
) just started doing a few bits and pieces for the new totalkitcar magazine, which is only quarterly initially.
Other than that, no, but always open to offers from any editors with enough sense.
And thanks for reminding me - I must get an update on the Vemac situation...
Apart from PH (if I can actually get any cars to test this year
) just started doing a few bits and pieces for the new totalkitcar magazine, which is only quarterly initially. Other than that, no, but always open to offers from any editors with enough sense.
And thanks for reminding me - I must get an update on the Vemac situation...
I can't believe Autocar isn't interested--especially since you review the esoteric automobiles out there!
I jave always liked the look of the VEMAC. It looks like a civilized version of the Elise.
I wish them well--Ialways hoped that there would be a Noble type offering in the USA for the VEMAC...
I jave always liked the look of the VEMAC. It looks like a civilized version of the Elise.
I wish them well--Ialways hoped that there would be a Noble type offering in the USA for the VEMAC...
This thread is now in 'Archive' so unlikely to get many responses, one could try bumping the other non-Archive thread I guess https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=78...
The Wells Vertige styling reminded me of the Vemac, so I had another look around the web. Having read through various old PH threads and things, I think I've worked out a couple of things.
The 2002 RD180 was only ever a prototype, and was never sold. The engine was mounted longitudinally which required a custom gearbox.
At some point a straight-cut racing gearbox was put in 'temporarily' which was naturally incredibly noisy.
The fact a journo was testing the car with the race box suggests they didn't have a viable production solution for the gearbox.
The 'hiatus' and mechanical revisions mentioned up-thread then culminated in the RD200, which took a complete 2.0 VTEC engine and gearbox package, and mounted it transversely.
This car was then sold in Japan in small numbers. I found the blog of a Japanese owner, if you open it in Chrome it should offer a (rough) translation
https://multi845.exblog.jp/14520143/
https://multi845.exblog.jp/18449209/ 2013, repairs at head office
https://multi845.exblog.jp/28699177/ - last update from four days ago, brake master cylinder replaced.
The RD320R, RD350R and RD408R competed in the JGTC GT300 and GT500 classes between 2002-2008 https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/R%26D_SPORT . After that the racing team split from the car company and continued independently, racing Subarus. https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/R%26D_SPORT
So RD180 prototype only, RD200 sold in v. small numbers in Japan 2005ish - 2012ish, RD320R, RD350R and RD408R purely JGTC racing cars 2002-08.
I have to admit that my personal interest was specifically in the RD180, based on the idea that by mounting the engine longitudinally they achieved better weight balance and lower c.g., and thus a car as light as an Elise, but with even better handling (plus the best 1.8L engine ever made). Once they had to abandon the longitudinal engine with the RD200, it becomes just another MR sports car to me, interesting and nice-looking car as it is.
The Wells Vertige styling reminded me of the Vemac, so I had another look around the web. Having read through various old PH threads and things, I think I've worked out a couple of things.
The 2002 RD180 was only ever a prototype, and was never sold. The engine was mounted longitudinally which required a custom gearbox.
Vemac website said:
The RD180 uses a bespoke five-speed transmission that enables the Honda engine to be fitted longitudinally. This transmission uses the standard Honda internals in a new casing. Building a unique transmission is not the work of a moment, which illustrates just how determined Vemac is to make the RD180 an uncomprimised driver's car.
http://www.vemaccars.com/e/rd180/index.htmlAt some point a straight-cut racing gearbox was put in 'temporarily' which was naturally incredibly noisy.
A magazine said:
A dose of acceleration is accompanied by the scream of a Stuka diva bomber coming at us from the skies overhead, produced by the straight-cut gears fitted to our example (not set to be standard on production versions)
https://www.scritub.com/limba/engleza/literature/V...The fact a journo was testing the car with the race box suggests they didn't have a viable production solution for the gearbox.
The 'hiatus' and mechanical revisions mentioned up-thread then culminated in the RD200, which took a complete 2.0 VTEC engine and gearbox package, and mounted it transversely.
This car was then sold in Japan in small numbers. I found the blog of a Japanese owner, if you open it in Chrome it should offer a (rough) translation
https://multi845.exblog.jp/14520143/
https://multi845.exblog.jp/18449209/ 2013, repairs at head office
https://multi845.exblog.jp/28699177/ - last update from four days ago, brake master cylinder replaced.
The RD320R, RD350R and RD408R competed in the JGTC GT300 and GT500 classes between 2002-2008 https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/R%26D_SPORT . After that the racing team split from the car company and continued independently, racing Subarus. https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/R%26D_SPORT
So RD180 prototype only, RD200 sold in v. small numbers in Japan 2005ish - 2012ish, RD320R, RD350R and RD408R purely JGTC racing cars 2002-08.
I have to admit that my personal interest was specifically in the RD180, based on the idea that by mounting the engine longitudinally they achieved better weight balance and lower c.g., and thus a car as light as an Elise, but with even better handling (plus the best 1.8L engine ever made). Once they had to abandon the longitudinal engine with the RD200, it becomes just another MR sports car to me, interesting and nice-looking car as it is.
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