A completely new kind of supercar, based on tweaked Subaru Impreza components but barely bigger than a Ford Fiesta, is under development at Prodrive, the Banbury-based engineering group which builds both Subarus world rally cars and Aston Martins DBR9 GT racing car.
The 160mph hard-top two-seater, code-named P2, has no equivalent among current production cars, though it bears a superficial resemblance to rally-bred supercars of the past such as the Lancia Stratos and Ford RS200. Like these cars it is potentially extremely fast and agile, but unlike them its designed to use a far higher percentage of production components, and to be built to a notional purchase price of around £40k.
The engine is a front-mounted version of Subarus familiar 2.0 litre turbocharged flat-four engine with well over 300bhp on tap. The car will weigh only about 1000kg, so performance should match a Ferrari F430s or Lamborghini Gallardos. However, the Prodrive coupés small size, short overhangs, optimal weight distribution (from elements such as side-mounted radiators) plus its Subaru-sourced 4x4 drive train should make it considerably more agile than conventional mid-engined supercars. The suspension, brakes and steering are also sourced from the Impreza.
The project is the brainchild of David Richards, Prodrives founder and chairman, who describes the car as a technology demonstrator, intended to showcase his firms automotive design and engineering talents. The coupé will feature new stability and turbo anti-lag systems, both devised at Prodrive. Though the project is only three months old, the car is scheduled to be finished by the end of the year, because Richards wants to demonstrate Prodrives speed and flexibility at realising projects.
There is no production plan at present, and Prodrive hasnt arrived at an official name for the project. But it seems unlikely that Subaru with whom Prodrive has a long and fruitful relationship will be unmoved by news of an enticing project which uses so many of its components in a revolutionary way. Sources at Prodrive are keeping tight-lipped about Subarus involvement, but an early viewing of the coupé project by the Japanese companys bosses seems more than likely.
Quelle http://www.autocar.co.uk/news_article.asp?na_id=215075
geändert von: carver on 04/06/2005 23:16:23