Simona wrote:You might not be familiar with VUHL (Vehicles of Ultra- lightweight and High-performance), but in just a few days, at the 2013 Goodwood Festival of Speed , you’re going to get acquainted with it real quickly.
The "highly specialist" automaker is the brainchild of brothers Iker and Guillermo Echeverria, whose Mexican/American design agency, Etxe, was responsible for designing the 05, a road-legal lightweight supercar that no one has ever seen, at least until now. The model was designed for the road and track, and comes as a response to cars like BAC Mono , Ariel Atom and KTM X-Bow .
According to Iker, VUHL wanted to develop a "highly intuitive machine that was both stirringly fast and immense fun to drive – a car we ourselves would want to own." And the result is the new 05.
Exterior
The new 05 is built on a monocoque that weights just 171 pounds, which helps ensures a dry weight of just 1,532 pounds. VUHL built the chassis, using aerospace technology and used a three-section bonded tub constructed from aluminum extrusions and aluminum honeycomb for rigidity and low weight.
This structure, combined with a three-stage forward crash structure and double layer sidewalls, help provide a high level of protection.
VUHL made the 05’s body from RTM reinforced plastic, but customers can also opt for a carbon-fiber body. There is also an aerodynamic package that includes a flat under-body, front and lateral splitters, rear diffuser and rear spoiler to help increase downforce and reduce drag.
Interior
The interior offers lots of features seen in high-performance sports cars. These features include: carbon-fiber bucket seats; a 330 mm (12.99-inch) quick-release, water-resistant, suede-covered steering wheel; electronic data acquisition dash; integral HD camera; and water-resistant Dinamica suede trim.
Drivetrain
Under the hood, VUHL placed a Ford-sourced 2.0-liter DOHC turbocharged EcoBoost engine that delivers a total of 285 horsepower and 309 pound-feet of torque. Combine this output with the 1,532-pound dry weight and come to a power-to-weight ratio of 400 horsepower per tonne. The engine mates to a six-speed manual gearbox.
This drivetrain sprints the 05 from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 3.7 seconds and up to a top speed of 245 km/h (152 mph).
Suspensions And Brakes
The new VUHL 05 rides on OZ alloy wheels wrapped in high-performance Michelin tires, sized 205/45R17 up front and 235/45R18 on the rear.
VUHL also offers a suspension system with unequal-length double-wishbones on the front and rear. The brake system features 310 mm (12.20-inch) ventilated cross-drilled discs at the front and 280 mm (11.02-inch) discs on the rear.
Prices
The new VUHL 05 is priced at £55,000 (plus tax, plus shipping) - about $84,000 at the current exchange rates. The model will initially hit the UK and North American markets, but in the future it will also be offered in Europe, China and the Middle East.
