Tuesday 20th August 2024

Vision 148 reimagines RS500 as 'Carbon Piranha'

We've all seen very special Sierras, but surely none quite like this

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Well now here’s an interesting one. Vision 148 is a new automotive project, one that aims to showcase ‘bleeding edge manufacturing and materials technology culminating in a unique one-of-one vehicle that will ultimately be won by a fan of the project.’ Intriguing, right? Especially as the car in question is a dramatically reimagined Ford Sierra RS500. 

It’s called Vision 148 because the 148th of the 500 very special Sierras is the basis for the project. With input from partners like Cosworth, Yasid Design and ASM, the car is going to be disassembled, 3D scanned for a digital twin, then rebuilt as the wild ‘Carbon Piranha’ you see here. The name of course has some Ford history, with the South African Capri Peranas (they had to spell it that way) getting V8s back in the day.

This Piranha certainly promises a lot with that incredible carbon bodywork. Don’t expect a V8, however. Cosworth’s involvement means that the original powertrain will be rebuilt and ‘preserve the Cosworth credentials that made the original so exciting and desirable’.

Global Director Nick Greenway added: “We know that there is a passionate fan base out there for the Cosworth brand, and what better way to celebrate a road and race icon than through the Vision148 RS500 project build and the Autovision Club as an official partner.”

Ah yes, the Autovision Club. Launched with Vision148, the club will get members behind the scenes access to the Carbon Piranha project, and the chance to win the finished article. Today’s press material says that ‘those who engage with the project through a points system’ will be in with the chance of becoming the owner. Some details still to be filled in, then, but exciting nonetheless. Because who wouldn’t want this?

Ian Howe is founder of the project that aims to make the Sierra dream a reality. He said: “Vision148 is all about collaboration with automotive and motorsport specialists in additive manufacturing and digital design and aligning with originator brands such as Cosworth who will bring this car to life. This is amplified by a unique membership club to engage fans of the project who have the chance of owning the finished car.” One we’ll be following with interest, for sure. Expect more soon. 

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• Ford Sierra Cosworth RS500 | PH Heroes
• Ford RS200 to return as ‘remastered’ icon

[BigChiefmuffinAgain]

This is not a restomod project.

It is someone playing with a modern day version of etch-o-sketch

[WPA]

Seems wrong to destroy a genuine RS500 to make this

[AmyRichardson]

It really emphasises how gawky the side-rear window is on the 3-door!

And yes, it does seem odd to use an RS500; with so much is going in bin and so much new does it matter that it started as something more than a 1.3 Pinto?

[Om]

What now?

Never in the history of restomods have so many historic names been sullied in the interest of the few... Probably.

[fantheman80]

Looks like a tamiya shell been prepped for painting

[ex-devonpaul]

Not sure about "bleeding edge manufacturing and materials technology" but it's certainly bleeding ugly.

Looks like a 1980s DTM model.

Made from Lego.

[C5_Steve]

Right so you need to pay £99 to sign up to the Autovision "platform". That gives you one entry into the draw. But you can get more entries by interacting with the platform and 1 point equals 1 entry (although they haven't said how the points work, but clearly engagement farming by the sounds of it. Which is fine, no extra cost). Does very much sound like 1 entry really won't be a lot and you'll need to be all over whatever element of interaction they deem worthy of points.

Your £99 allows you to enter for this car which will be drawn by the end of the year, but the car won't actually be done by then. The completion date is undetermined.

Oh and they value the car at £250,000, when they actually get around to building it. Which they say you can't sell for 12 months after winning it and if you do want to sell within 12 months you have to let them buy it at a pre-determined price.

Hmmm...

[Turbobanana]

PH said:

Because who wouldn’t want this?

Many, it seems. Me included. While you couldn't call it pretty, there's a simplicity to the original Ford Sierra RS Cosworth which appears totally lost behind the origami add-ons. Assuming it ever gets built.

[Wab1974uk]

How to milk a Billionaire !

So, but that look absolutely rubbish.

[EyeHeartSpellin]

I love it! Nice to know someone will get it without having to pay millions!!

[thegreenhell]

So it's just a raffle for an old Sierra with a bodykit that hasn't actually been built yet?

[IMI A]

Batmans RS 500. Stick a V12 Cosworth behind the front seats and go mid engined

[tallsopp]

In my humble opinion… a wasted exercise!

[GTRene]

nah, no thanks.

[LotusOmega375D]

Where’s the front grille/air intake? That was one of the design aspects that differentiated the Cosworth Sierra from its lesser siblings.

[trevalvole]

What's specifically Sierra RS500 about it other than the double rear wing? They could have said this was reimagining the BMW E30 M3 and I'd be none the wiser.

[Arsecati]

I have absolutely no idea what it is I have just read, but whatever it is, that still looks shyte.

[Simoninspalding]

So instead of doing a render, saying here is a one off restomod you can buy for £250k, and then never building it because nobody wanted to pay £250k, they are setting up a "club" in the hope that 1000 people are gullible enough to join it. If they don't get enough members, it never gets built, but because you paid to join a "club" there are no refunds.

The only thing that could make me more convinced this is a scam is if they were offering and NFT alongside it.

[Augustus Windsock]

As Frankie Howerd would say:
“Nay, nay…and thrice nay!”

[Ikobo]

I'd rather have this thanks.....