KEY POINTS:
British engineering company IFR Automotive is doing what Lotus did with the famous Seven model many years ago - produce a bony racer with the power-to-weight ratio of a supercar but with half the vehicle mass.
The company is calling its introductory model the Aspid and it will
be unveiled at the British motor show next month.
The $200,000 two-seater comes with an impressive design and engineering pedigree. IFR Automotive was founded by former Prodrive engineer Ignacio Fernandez Rodriquez, whose initials give IFR Automotive its name.
Rodriquez also worked for the Mitsubishi World Rally Championship team as race engineer for Alister McRae and Francois Delecour.
Rodriquez founded IFR Automotive in 2003 and hired an experienced team, including dynamics specialists Breno Oliveira (ex-Prodive) and Sergi Arranz (ex-Seat).
The aluminium and carbon fibre two-seater even looks like a Lotus Seven, except for the hard top. It weighs 700kg and is powered by a modified 2-litre engine producing 200kW in naturally aspirated form or 298kW with a supercharger. Either engine drives the rear wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox and limited-slip differential.
The company claims Formula One-type acceleration - zero to 100km/h in 2.8s and on to 162km/h in 5.9s, thanks largely to a power-to-weight ratio of 425kW-per-tonne. Maximum speed is 250km/h.
That, however, is only half the story, says IFR Automotive - the Aspid has equally remarkable braking performance, stopping dead in its tracks from 162km/h in 3s.
"The Aspid has been engineered to deliver a high level of driving pleasure," says Rodriquez.
"From the outset our aim was to invoke the most intense emotions a car can generate, so the driver can enjoy it [every day] with high levels of performance available on the track."
Rodriquez says the design began with no restrictions on the positioning of key chassis and suspension components.
He said a three-dimensional geometric void - literally an empty space - was the starting point.
"For the Aspid our aim was to advance the current state of the art, particularly in the critical area of steering, handling and road holding, says Rodriquez.
"We have taken a new approach on vehicle dynamics, including a new construction method for the chassis, as well as developing new brakes and suspension arms.
"We've also broken with the tradition that says a long wheelbase, wide track and low ride height is best for performance.
Our chassis and suspension philosophy ensures the car can also be driven with ease on normal roads."
The electronics include a touch screen that can instantly reprogramme the suspension sys-tem to suit different road and track conditions.
"But mostly it will be the car's rapid acceleration, cornering poise and equally brisk deceleration that will ensure a memorable driving experience," says Rodriquez.
So what's behind the name? Aspid is the Spanish name for the small and very quick snake that killed Egyptian ruler Cleopatra.
