BRAD ANDERSON wrote:Since the Veyron's launch, its blistering 0-60 mph time has been the benchmark for high-performance cars and has only been matched or beaten by a select few, like the Ariel Atom 500 and Porsche 918 Spyder. If Elemental has its way, the RP1 will join that list.
The makers of the RP1 track car are, according to Autocar, confident that their car will be able more than a match for the 2.5-second 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) sprint time of the Bugatti.
During testing of the car prior to last month's Goodwood Festival of Speed, the team managed to record a 2.7 second sprint to 60 mph and it's quick to point out that that time was set in less than ideal conditions. In fact, the firm says that there wasn't a professional driver behind the wheel, the road surface was dirty and the tires used were worn.
Any sub-3.0 second sprint is especially impressive for a rear-wheel drive car and arguably even more so for the RP1 which pumps out a rather conservative 320 hp from its Ford-sourced 2.0-liter turbo. The key factors in its acceleration capabilities is the barely-there 750 kg curb weight, its advanced launch control system and mid-engine layout.
Despite being first announced in mid-2014, customer deliveries of the RP1 have yet to commence, making performance times all the more important for attracting buyers.
Press Release:
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Elemental readies first production-specification Rp1 for dynamic shakedown at the Goodwood Festival of Speed
- Elemental completes the build of the first highly advanced Rp1 lightweight sportscar at its new premises in Hambledon, Hampshire
- Production version Rp1 to get its first dynamic run on the challenging Hillclimb at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed (23-26 June)
- Second production chassis to go on display on Elemental’s stand (Stand 12) at the Goodwood Festival of Speed
- Rp1’s CarbonAl® tubupgraded from prototype vehicle for enhanced aerodynamics and first-class levels of material quality, fit and finish
- Entire central structure weighs just 65kg and features a feet-up driving position derived from top-tier motor racing cars
- Unique underbody aerodynamics package meansRp1 capable of generating up to 400kg of downforce at 150mph in standard road set-up
Elemental has completed its first production specification Rp1 lightweight sports car at its new production facility in Hambledon Hampshire.
The completion of the 500bhp/tonne Rp1 is a landmark moment for the British manufacturer who has been designing and developing the lightweight sports car over a four-year period with the intention of creating one of the most advanced cars of its kind.
John Begley, Elemental’s Technical Director and Founder said: “The Rp1 has been designed and developed to deliver a thrilling driving experience no matter if it’s on road or track. The collective sum of the adjustments we’ve made to make the production car amounts to a fundamental leap in terms of quality, driving dynamics, performance and safety over its forebear.
“Completing the very first production chassis at our new manufacturing premises is a tremendous achievement for the entire Elemental team and we are looking forward to giving the Rp1 its first official outing on the famous Goodwood Festival of Speed Hillclimb.”
Ian Hall, Production Manager at Elemental, added: “Elemental is truly a 21st century car company as it has exploited the latest efficient production techniques available to produce a car that we believe is without compromise. By streamlining our production processes we’ll be able to gradually increase production and still maintain first-class levels of material quality as well as fit and finish.”
Central to the Rp1’s advanced design is Elemental’s patented CarbonAl®tub that weighs just 65kg and incorporates a feet-up driving position – the same seating position as that found of F1 and World Endurance prototypes. It has been built to exceed FIA structural standards for strength and rigidity and is made using high-performance F1-grade carbon fibre.
Mark Fowler, Bodywork and Aerodynamics Lead and Elemental co-founder said: “Thefeet-up driving position puts the Rp1 at the forefront of its sector as it provides space to accommodate a diffuserunder the front half of the car as part of the cutting edge aerodynamics package.”
Thanks to this andthe rear diffuser, the Rp1 is able to generate remarkable downforce to offer exceptional levels of grip. We’ve modelled the car using the very latest Computational Fluid Dynamics software and found the Rp1 begins to generate meaningful downforce even at motorways speeds. Taking the Rp1 up to 150mph generates 400kg of downforce – this is just in the standard road height set-up. We are running our final verification tests on the car but we are confident of achieving an even greater figure in the more aggressive track-focussed set-up.”
The Rp1’s suspension can be easily adjusted and optimised by the user, either by hand or using basic tools. This allows a level of chassis adjustment that would normally require the services of a fully trained mechanic and means that the vehicle dynamics can be quickly and easily refined to the user’s requirements when at a track day. Switchable traction control is fitted as standard. With the option of up to five traction control and engine map settings, ranging from standard road to full race setups, the car can be easily tailored to a driver’s driving style and the prevailing surface conditions.
The Rp1 is powered by a choice of two turbochargedEcoboostengines-a 180bhp 1.0-litre three-cylinder and a 320bhp 2.0-litre four-cylinder that propel the car from 0-60mph in 3.2sec and 2.8sec respectively. In addition to the Rp1’s accessible performance, the car also features a degree of practicality featuring two 100-litre storage binnacles behind the rear bulkhead.
As well as the car driving up the Hill, Elemental will have its second production car on display at its stand (Stand 12) located within the exhibition area. Come and learn more about one of the most eagerly anticipated and advanced sports cars to hit the market in 2016 at the Goodwood Festival of Speed between 23-26 June.
Nogai211 wrote:The only reason PC is better than Console is because it has Civilization V!
Ex-McLaren Formula 1 designer worked with Elemental to produce new aerodynamic pack that more than doubles the downforce.
Sam Sheehan wrote:The Elemental RP1 now produces 1000kg of downforce thanks to new bodywork developed in conjunction with ex-McLaren Formula 1 aerodynamicist Mark Taylor.
The updates come in the form of an aerodynamic pack, which more than doubles the RP1’s downforce at 150mph from 400kg to 1000kg. The McLaren P1, by comparison, produces 600kg at 161mph.
“When Elemental asked me to take a look at the car, straight away I could see there was bags of potential,” said Taylor, who is now founder and managing director of London Computational Solutions. “I could see that it would be easy to double the 400kg figure.”
Taylor worked with Mark Fowler, aerodynamics director for Elemental, using computational fluid (CFD) to test all aspects of the car’s aero package. The technique is used by F1 teams, and enabled them to test and develop the car’s aerodynamic package in significantly less time than before.
“What people using CFD typically do is model equations, but we don’t model the turbulence, we resolve it,” explained Taylor. “Because of that we get a much more realistic flow that’s much closer to the real thing. It’s a more expensive option as you have to use bigger supercomputers but it means we’re faster.”
Fowler explained that the resulting efficiency meant several iterations of the same design could be produced and improved in a short space of time. “It’s what we did back in Formula 1,” he said.
The RP1’s new aerodynamic updates include a more aggressively raked rear wing, bigger lower splitters and a different diffuser. “The RP1 was designed from the outset to use underfloor aerodynamics, so we were able to investigate, model and analyse many different variants and options to a far greater fidelity and accuracy than has been done anywhere before,” continued Taylor.
Despite the high levels of downforce on offer, Taylor said that the car is well balanced and predictable so a driver of any level can drive it. “The rear wing is lightly loaded, the diffuser is beautifully balanced and the downforce is well spread,” he said. “This car has been designed to be well behaved, a car people can be confident in.”
The new aerodynamic package doesn’t include engine upgrades, so the latest RP1 still comes with a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 320bhp and 332lb ft of torque. 0-60mph takes an estimated 2.8sec.
Nogai211 wrote:The only reason PC is better than Console is because it has Civilization V!
