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Vuhl: New breed of supercar

LONDON, England – The motoring world is constantly evolving with new designs and technology. Meet the latest lightweight supercar, the Vuhl 05 - a mid-engined, two-seated, lovechild of motorsport.

Guillermo Echeverria senior, the father of designers Guillermo and Iker Echeverria, was a professional driver who built and successfully raced his own cars for 30 years. The sons inherited his passion and knowledge and added qualifications in transport design.

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The brothers started a Mexico City/Detroit-based design agency, ETXE, and penned the 05 – a light supercar for road and track taking inspiration from the BAC Mono, Ariel Atom and KTM X-Bow.

Iker Echeverria said: “Our background means the Vuhl 05 has been developed by enthusiasts for enthusiasts. We were determined to create a highly intuitive machine that was both stirringly fast and immense fun to drive – a car we ourselves would want to own.

"We have endeavoured to endow it with class-leading ergonomics and a contemporary silhouette of striking proportions with the aim of uncompromising build quality which has underpinned the project since Day 1.”

SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT

The 05 weighs only 695kg; the chassis combines aerospace technology that provides a high level of torsional rigidity for optimum handling while a three-stage forward crash structure and double-layer sidewalls provide protection for the occupants. The standard body is made from RTM reinforced plastic but carbon fibre is an option.

There’s a two-litre version of Ford’s DOHC turbocharged EcoBoost engine under the bonnet that produces 212kW/420Nm. It goes from zero to 100km/h in 3.7sec and can reach 245km/h. The engine is mated to a six-speed manual gearbox, steering uses a high-ratio rack-and-pinion system. The brakes use four-pot alloy callipers and 310mm ventilated cross-drilled discs at the front and 280mm units at the rear.

The 05 rides on OZ alloys wrapped in 205/45 x 17 front and 235/45 x 18 rear Michelin tyres.

Customers can chose cabin features: carbon bucket seats; a quick release suede-covered steering wheel; electronic data acquisition dash; integral HD camera and water-resistant suede trim.

The Vuhl05 will go on sale in during the second quarter of 2014 and orders can be placed in certain markets Pricing will start at the equivalent of R837 000.
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