Tuesday 17th July 2012

IFR unveils new GT-21 Invictus

Crazed Spaniards reveal 450hp, V8-powered IFR GT-21 Invictus - successor to the equally bonkers Aspid

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Remember the IFR Aspid? It was that crazy, insect-like creation born of a talented bunch of Spanish rally engineers and boasting a host of head-scratching statistics – 0-62mph in less than three seconds and a near six-figure price tag among them.

Influence of the mental looking Aspid is obvious

Dressed up like Robocop’s Caterham, the Aspid was a weird-looking thing, the superficial resemblance to the Seven is perhaps the biggest red herring in the whole package, given the technology underpinning it. Based around a 55kg aluminium spaceframe with bonded-in honeycomb crash protection and running a supercharged Honda S2000 engine with around 400hp, there was nothing primitive in the engineering, IFR’s neat touchscreen interface a shop window for the firm’s core ambition of working as an industry consultancy. And it drove as distinctively as it looked: soft, rally-bred suspension with fantastic damping and lots of travel based around a seemingly square wheelbase meant frankly violent direction changes along IFR’s local roads, home also to the Rally Catalunya.

GT-21 is apparently a 2+2, so IFR claims

That was then and this is now, and the Aspid’s successor is no less extreme in looks or performance but offering just a tad more space and mainstream appeal. Relatively.

Don’t let the shades of Plymouth Prowler put you off either – this is no boulevard cruiser, but the next step in IFR’s distinctively single-minded approach to cutting-edge supercars. Four cylinders have become eight, and the screaming Honda VTEC has been replaced with a 450hp, 4.4-litre BMW V8 that apparently “incorporates a new generation of sports car hybridisation, which increases the dynamic performance of the vehicle while being respectful of the environment.” No trees were harmed in the building of this supercar, or something like that.

Invictus is, relatively, more sensible than the Aspid

Like the Aspid, the Invictus will hit 62mph in less than three seconds and is projected to top 187mph. It’ll weigh just 990kg (dry) is, at 4,447mm in length and 1,883mm in width, a smidge smaller in footprint than a McLaren MP4-12C and, like the Aspid, puts the emphasis on handling rather than vmax bragging rights.

Distinctive features from the Aspid, including the extruded aero section aluminium suspension arms and incredibly delicate-looking but hugely powerful twin front discs (lighter and more powerful than conventional ceramics and quicker to warm up, says IFR) will be carried over but the new car gets a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox and much more besides. Displays integrated into the wheel and touchscreen interaction reduce interior clutter and build on earlier systems developed for the Aspid too, IFR saying it will build up to 250 GT-21s a year with each customised to individual spec from a range of over 100 options.

IFR isn’t talking pricing yet, but given the Aspid was nudging six figures already don’t expect it to be any kind of bargain.

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Video walk through here:

[tommy vercetti]

Looks quite striking.

[356Speedster]

Looks fantastic, we need more mental looking supercars I just hope it becomes a reality rather than just another vapourware rendering.

[Stew2000]

It's a bit Gillet Vertigo. I like it.

[kambites]

Looks interesting in the renderings; it'll be interesting to see how well that translates to reality.

[soad]

Will they make it? Hope so.

[Nightmare]

i know its a render....I know good chunks of it aren't remotely reality.....but damn I like that. it would make children cry spontaneously.

[diamondjo]

This looks BRUTAL! I'm not sure though; the design is unbalanced which might make it look "clunky" in the flesh (if built), i'd be interested to see more of this beast from other angles though

[Bill]

Have they actually sold any Aspids?

[Dan Trent]

I asked the question and the official answer is no, it was a development car/prototype only. The official line is:

IFR said:

The Aspid SS was in principal a technology demonstrator and these years we have been working deep in our technologies, the engineering and the whole company strategy ... Now we are in the execution of the strategy.

[Pistonwot]

Just the antidote to typically dull modern design, a car with definite shape.
We really do need a refreshing new take on what constitutes a supercar.
It makes a welcome change from the playing it safe, puke inducingly anodyne and 'smoothed' (read I really cant be bothered) designs from the usuals.

Heres hoping IFR actually make it and its an absolute axe murderer.

[KDIcarmad]

Could these be the new TVR!!

It brutal, fast and nothing else.

[Raitzi]

That is how you make ugly SLR

[Stew2000]

Bill said:

Have they actually sold any Aspids?

Sounds like a drug.

[Eighteeteewhy]

Batmobile. :shades:

[Hellbound]

I feel like I've just been punched in the face.

Please build it.

[Krikkit]

Six figures doesn't sound bad, it depends on what the first digit is! Anything over a 1 and it's probably too much.

Looks absolutely magnificent though, if I was looking for that kind of car I'd be giving them a call over Ferrari/McLaren! Would definitely need a manual though.

[Terror Factor]

WOW, I'm in love!

[loudlashadjuster]

That looks amazing, such presence.

Now all they have to do is fix a bit of the detailing (the proper kind, not the 'washing a car' kind) and of course actually build it.

[foxhounduk]

spec sounds good
has the front end of the new bmw z4 from the side
porsche/jaguar type f rear
volvo front grille
body form looks like a cross between a ferrari ff and a mazda rx8

[kambites]

Nearly a whole page and no-one has said that nearly six figures was too much for a four-pot!