RE: Dubai-based firm to launch 760kg roadster in UK

[fernando the frog]

one of the few new cars that could probably do with larger wheels, looks quite underwheeled on the side profile

edit with a super quick shop

Edited by fernando the frog on Tuesday 30th July 13:48

[otolith]

Bigger wheels and lower profile tyres completely out of kilter with the retro look, IMO.

[Burnham]

D.no said:

All of the visual references (cab rearwards, long bonnet) point towards a front engine RWD layout. The actual layout is completely at odds with the story that the proportions tell, and for me that's an uneasy relationship. Would have been so much easier to like with the engine in the front...

I get what you're saying....does seem a bit odd.

Im a big AC Cobra fan, and this looks like a modern interpretation of it....I'm surprised nobody has done this before what with all of the retro stuff being the thing now.

[vz-r_dave]

IMO let down by the VG35 , such a lazy engine. Now that I know it sits in the rear I would much prefer a lighter 4 cylinder turbo tbh. If it were front engined a small V8 would be most fitting.

[Pesty]

Gemaeden said:

wab172uk said:

V8 FOU said:

Looks cool to me.
Be interested to see the price and if it will be available in RHD and auto.

Jesus Christ. Think the whole point on a car like that is to be involved with it. Drive it. Interact with it.

Want to steer and use one foot, go buy an F-Type.

If you use only one foot in an auto, you're missing out on a whole load of fun.

What if you only have one foot. What if you still appreciate handling and steering feel and appreciate how a mid engine car handles but have dodgy knees or just like auto.

Ahh this is ph that means you ain’t a proper driver you have to like what they like.

This car is refreshing exactly what’s needed but shame it’s got such a high price 40-50k would have been nice.

[Gooly]

vz-r_dave said:

IMO let down by the VG35 , such a lazy engine. Now that I know it sits in the rear I would much prefer a lighter 4 cylinder turbo tbh. If it were front engined a small V8 would be most fitting.

VQ35 in high rev form (as this will undoubtedly be) is far from lazy imo, very peaky and revvy engines especially with a light flywheel.

Shame its mid-engined though. Agree with the fact that its proportioned as a front engined car, was hoping it would be a nice front engined RWD with a very adjustable chassis on the limit

[otolith]

Gooly said:

Shame its mid-engined though. Agree with the fact that its proportioned as a front engined car, was hoping it would be a nice front engined RWD with a very adjustable chassis on the limit

It's proportioned like pre-Countach mid engined sports cars.

[RoverP6B]

otolith said:

It's proportioned like pre-Countach mid engined sports cars.

No it isn't... Jag XJ13, Ford GT40, Ferrari 250LM, 206/246 Dino... all cab-forward. The Miura only has a short tail because it has a transverse engine. This thing is proportioned like a Cobra or E-type.

[gofasterrosssco]

Gooly said:

vz-r_dave said:

IMO let down by the VG35 , such a lazy engine. Now that I know it sits in the rear I would much prefer a lighter 4 cylinder turbo tbh. If it were front engined a small V8 would be most fitting.

VQ35 in high rev form (as this will undoubtedly be) is far from lazy imo, very peaky and revvy engines especially with a light flywheel.

Shame its mid-engined though. Agree with the fact that its proportioned as a front engined car, was hoping it would be a nice front engined RWD with a very adjustable chassis on the limit

Yeah, the VG engines are old, this is a VQ35, which as noted is far from lazy.. Maybe they do in a 1,500kg+ 350Z with a DMF, but plonked in a light car like this with some basic mods like a light flywheel and some calibration work, it would be pretty sweet. I think standard turbo 4-pot would reduce appeal by about 25% for me.

I personally like a mid-engine layout because it simply feels more exotic (and has better traction), but I can see the appeal of front engine and a (likely) more predictable chassis..

[V8 FOU]

unsprung said:

I, too, saw that request for an auto box, and, at first, I caught myself raising a furrowed brow.

But then I thought: Hey, what if this guy, and others like him, are physically handicapped in one way or another, such that an auto makes things easier / possible?

Could also be a mere personal preference or a quick windup.

All 3!! Dodgy left ankle. Preference for an auto in todays traffic. and a bit of a wind up to those who always decry autos wailing for a manual.!!

[indapendentlee]

SpudLink said:

kambites said:

It's a lovely looking thing but I think it's success or lack thereof will come down to the details. For this sort of thing to sell it needs at least a degree of usability - does it have a stowable roof and is it viable to get in and out with the roof on? Does it have side windows? Does it have at least a small boot?

Not sure it’s the most practical arrangement. (Wouldn’t want to end up upside down)


It’s very much ‘my sort of thing’.

Don't think they'd be able to get it homologated over here (or anywhere really) with that roof. SLS has explosive bolts in the gullwing doors, can't see them going to that length here...

[otolith]

RoverP6B said:

otolith said:

It's proportioned like pre-Countach mid engined sports cars.

No it isn't... Jag XJ13, Ford GT40, Ferrari 250LM, 206/246 Dino... all cab-forward. The Miura only has a short tail because it has a transverse engine. This thing is proportioned like a Cobra or E-type.

It does have some of those cues (though not so much the E-type, which is a hideously proportioned car) but it has the look of mid-engined cars when they were less obviously mid-engined, before they became wedges.



(And note - this has a transverse engine)

[cidered77]

I think this is brilliant -really interesting prospect. Mechanicals should be bullet proof, it's weight claims are very impressive, I'm not usually a fan of retro-look cars but somehow this seems to avoid looking too much like a throwback, and price whilst of course is a lot has to be set in context of a base spec 911 costing 82k. And you see more of them on the road than Mondeos, so looks "relatively" attainable as well.


Good luck to them....

[Panjy]

Shame the price over here is so much higher than the price quoted in the original piece.
Hope the weight doesn’t increase by the same margin.

[loudlashadjuster]

loudlashadjuster said:

The fact that the are able to sell it for $55k is even more amazing though.

And it was too amazing

[gazzathehutt]

As an alternative, how about a Zenos E10R - 350bhp and supposedly 700kg for much less money.

[Omaruk]

thelostboy said:

Looks great, and refreshing to see not yet another hypercar!

+1

[ziontrain]

gazzathehutt said:

As an alternative, how about a Zenos E10R - 350bhp and supposedly 700kg for much less money.

I thought they ran out of money?

[JNR77]

Stunning car, the design seems to incorporate elements from some of the best 1960's sports cars.

Maybe they will sell a few, seems pricey but so are BAC Mono, radical, Arial etc and they are still in business

[SpeckledJim]

ziontrain said:

gazzathehutt said:

As an alternative, how about a Zenos E10R - 350bhp and supposedly 700kg for much less money.

I thought they ran out of money?

They did. Sad. Yet another case study in there being no business in £30k hard-core sports cars, despite everyone who is making a living building £60k sports cars constantly being told by the internet that they should be selling them for £30k.