Radford has now shown to the world what it is calling an "inspirational interior" for its Type 62-2 sports car. Debuted at Bremont's Manufacturing & Technology Centre in the John Player Special configuration - 2.5 per cent "blacked out cabin" and gold accents - this is, fundamentally, what all 62 Radford customers will sit in. Naturally, customisation is king, so they will all look ever so slightly different - but this is the basic layout.
The Bremont link become obvious once you've seen it - a pair of Bremont dials, a clock and a stopwatch, mounted to the passenger's side of the dash like it's a classic time trial racer, with the milled and turned finished from the timepieces then used on the switches, too. Nick English from Bremont said that the firm he co-founded and Radford share "a lovely synergy between both businesses in terms of celebrating the best of British manufacturing and design." Some extra appeal for the horologists of this world, then, and a useful time-telling advantage over the Exige and its cheap digital clock.
The Lotus inevitably must be mentioned because of the shared bits - see the exposed manual linkage, HVAC, handbrake, ignition barrel and so on - although clearly effort has been put into making the Type 62 a bit more special. Obviously there'll be the door that also includes a cut out roof section, which will help getting in, but other upgrades include a customisable driver's display, screens for the rear view mirror cameras and some hidden technology as well.
The build plaque that sits above the air-con controls is also a magnetised phone dock and charger; the idea being that navigation will be sorted by your device, and audio via Bluetooth, rather than trying to fit a more complicated system. Radford probably won't appreciate a link to the VW Up and its dash-mounted dock, but it's similar logic. Those after the purest experience possible - maybe if it'll only be driven on track - can delete the plaque entirely. Which will leave little more than toggle switches "crafted from the finest materials", the air-con, pedals and a lot of carbon fibre - but of course if you read certain sections of the forums, that's all that's required for an interior anyway.
Mark Stubbs, Radford Design Director, said: "With this interior, we still want it to be a Lotus Type 62-2, but with expert craftsmanship and using the finest materials available that don't take anything away from a lightweight sportscar driving experience. This interior expertly finds the fine line between luxury bespoke and high-quality craftsmanship but whilst still conveying the essence of an out and out sportscar."
Which does sound like quite the combination, even if some might see a little more Lotus than they'd like. Radford is inviting customers to register their interest in a Type 62 on its website, so it seems some build slots remain, even for the 600hp JPS car. Expect further updates, including that customisable screen in all its glory, as the first car nears completion. If new supercars don't do much for you, the Radford Type 62 might be just the alternative.
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