This is what was revealed...
This is what was revealed when Hurricane Charley tore down a barn in Kissimmee, Florida, last month - 17 rare Ferraris, an Avanti and an old Indy racer were stored there by their multi-millionaire owner. Read the amazing story behind the cars from US columnist Steven Cole Smith on Page 98 in this week"s mag.
This exciting new British...
This exciting new British sports car proves that being green doesn’t have to be dull. Called the Climax, the ultra-lightweight two-seater is inspired by the Formula One racing cars of the Fifties and Sixties, and features a mid-mounted, flat-four-cylinder turbocharged engine that runs on E85 bioethanol.
The powerplant produces 270bhp, which is fed to the rear wheels via a five-speed gearbox. A lightweight composite body and spaceframe chassis mean the Climax tips the scales at 546kg – more than 300kg lighter than a Lotus Elise.
As a result, it’s claimed that 0-60mph takes only 3.4 seconds and top speed is 160mph. Considering this performance, economy is reasonable, with 30mpg achievable on a motorway cruise. And as bioethanol is a very clean fuel, emissions are low, too.
The Climax was penned by three Automotive Design graduates from Coventry University, and there are some neat styling touches. Pop-up wing mirrors keep the lines as smooth as possible, while there’s a diffuser at the rear, small aero windscreens and no doors. Inside, the cabin features a composite racing seat with an inflatable lining to accommodate a variety of sizes. There’s also something called the Climax Control, which allows the driver to tweak the engine’s performance via a laptop USB connection. The car’s suspension is also fully adjustable.
The team behind the Climax is working with a number of motor industry partners, and is taking enquiries via its website – at conceptclimax.com – from potential customers. A price tag of around ÷£40,000 is likely.