Radical Rapture revealed with 350hp four-pot
765kg Rapture uses Ford's 2.3 EcoBoost within a motorsport-derived spaceframe chassis
Radical has revealed its most race-focussed road car yet at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, promising an unrivalled level of motorsport DNA within a silhouette so aggressive it’s almost hard to believe it has been homologated for the street. The new Rapture uses an FIA-compliant safety cell within an aluminium spaceframe like Radical’s racing cars, and its composite body is clearly derived from competition. But for the first time Radical has used Ford’s 2.3-litre EcoBoost engine and introduced a raft of road-friendly alterations to enhance usability – distancing the Rapture from its comparably bare SR track machines.
First, the numbers. Ford’s off-the-shelf four-cylinder engine has been reworked by Radical with new intake and turbo architecture, meaning it produces 350hp and 320lb ft of torque in the Rapture, matching the 3.7-litre V6 of the company’s SXC supercar. That grunt is sent to the rear wheels via a six-speed sequential transaxle with an integrated Quaife ATB limited-slip differential, enabling the 765kg Peterborough-built machine to sprint from 0-60mph in three seconds dead, from 0-100mph in 8.4 seconds and on to a gearing-limited 165mph top speed. The engine is located midship and the gearbox is controlled via paddles, while braking is handled by 300mm and 280mm discs with four-pot calipers.
It’s a setup pinched straight from motorsport – this is, of course, a firm that actually builds and runs its own series – so few would contest Radical’s claims for unrivalled race car-like handling. The Rapture uses the company’s roll-eliminating Nik-link suspension and adjustable dampers, set from factory to handle road and track use, and sports a bi-plane rear wing with a double-tunnel rear diffuser. Option in a set of slicks for the centre-lock wheels and you’ve a car so capable you might as well fold the mirrors in on a track day. But unlike the firm’s other comparable models, you don’t need a trailer to get this one home afterwards – as long as you swap back to road rubber, that is.
On that note, the Radical does get some roadworthy creature comforts, including a pair of standard-fit electric folding mirrors and heated seats, plus you can option in trimmed side cards - so your elbows don’t wear away with all that G-force - and an optional aero screen to deflect more air away from your face. But still, you’d be hard pressed (or downright insane) to call this a potential replacement for the daily; it comes with a fire extinguisher and Radical even offers an intercom system to remind you of its intentions.
Of course, you could argue the same is also true for the BAC that’s just been revealed at Goodwood. That has an even more bonkers 620hp per tonne and the world’s most powerful naturally-aspirated engine for its capacity in a production car. But it also costs £191k and is limited to just 30 examples. The Radical, on the other hand, will ‘only’ set buyers back £89,500 and there’s no mention of restricted build numbers. In fact, order one now and it could be on your driveway (or in the pit lane) this August…
Most people i would think who are potential buyers would want to occasionally use it on road.
You can still trailer it and use slicks if you want... but you just have a benefit of being road legal.
Plenty of people with track cars keep them road legal.
I actually don't see the point of the road versions of these. The compromises to be road legal and viable (e.g. ride height) compromise it when on track.
This meets road requirements (lights etc), heavier bodywork, extra aero appendages, seats 2 and has bigger wheels and a 2.3ltr bike engine, gearbox and a turbo. A 275kg increment doesn't feel too bad given all the above.
This meets road requirements (lights etc), heavier bodywork, extra aero appendages, seats 2 and has bigger wheels and a 2.3ltr bike engine, gearbox and a turbo. A 275kg increment doesn't feel too bad given all the above.
If it’s a 90 min drive or less then I’d prefer not to have the hassle of a trailer.
Besides it would be great to sneak out for an early Sunday morning blast - can’t do that with a track only car.
Would I buy this? Probably not, as it's not something I would likely get the use out of. Does that mean I'm not glad it exists? Hell no. I love that manufacturers are still producing mad stuff like this.
We should be grateful that cars like this exist in a world that's rapidly turning against four-wheeled fun.
This meets road requirements (lights etc), heavier bodywork, extra aero appendages, seats 2 and has bigger wheels and a 2.3ltr bike engine, gearbox and a turbo. A 275kg increment doesn't feel too bad given all the above.
I guess making space for a longitudinal engine pushes the weight up a bit. Lovely thing anyway, I'm just faintly surprised by the number.
I guess making space for a longitudinal engine pushes the weight up a bit. Lovely thing anyway, I'm just faintly surprised by the number.
0-100 mph in 8.5 seconds!
Not to mention actual downforce in the corners.
This level of performance under £100k is pretty impressive.
If you wanted to lose more weight you could replace the seats with something more Spartan and ditch the electric folding mirrors with carbon race jobs.
0-100 mph in 8.5 seconds!
To put the performance into context with a more recent competitor, the 3-11 does 0-100 in 5.9 seconds(!) for £102k which is very much faster, albeit at at a slightly higher price. I suspect the Radical still has more downforce, though, and probably a lower centre of gravity to go with it. Always good to see more cars in this daft market.
Comparing this to a 3-11 would certainly make for an interesting twin-test.
SR3 SL can reach max speed of only 230km/h (depending on rear wing setup), but I make a lap in Spa Francorchamps in 2.35min with Kumho road legal tyres while with 3-11 my best lap was around 2.46min with Michelin Cup2 tyres, and that's a huge difference.
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