Like the 918 - how about an 818?

[PeteBrown]

Factory Five Racing announced a few weeks ago a new, mid-engine, light weight (1,800lb) car based on a Subaru WRX single donor with an internal code name 818. In cooperation with Grassroots Motorsports Magazine, FFR is having a competition to design the car and even name it. Some of the early designs submitted look very promising. Imagine a smaller 918 with a turbo flat-4 putting out 300hp in a sub 2,000 lb car. Targeted pricing is less than $10k for the kit and $15k for a completed car.

Here's the announcement
What's New
There is a FFR and GRM forum each dedicated to the project.

And here is one of the submitted designs!

[sc_rufctr]

Basically a Lotus... The price is right if you could complete this car yourself.

[Tobra]

Is that street legal?

[sc_rufctr]

Originally Posted by Tobra

Is that street legal?

Depends on your local laws.

Here it would have to "go over the pits" at the local registration office.
There are certain safety requirements it must meet before it's considered street legal. Things like Turn signals, Brake lights, etc go without saying...
It would also have to have an engineering inspection certificate to be even considered.

Being a convertible the windscreen has to be a certain height measured from the base of the drivers seat.

[PeteBrown]

All of FFR cars except the Spec Racer are street legal and so will be the new model. They have said the car is targeted to be a pure and simple sports car for the street and track, with no roof or side windows.

PLEASE NOTE: the picture is only one of many submitted designs. I posted it because I liked it and it has many Porsche influences. The final design will be announced some time in June, I believe.

[Jim Bremner]

[look 171]

15K complete, I am getting in line for one. Nice looking too.

[kach22i]

From the looks of it they will not be using the AWD system.

A couple of years ago another company said they would be doing a similar project but with the AWD.

I'm not sure if they want a 918 or Lotus Elise knock off. From the thread in the other forum it seems they are idea searching and that includes a new look unlike others are offering.

Think of the Tesla roadster, an almost but not quite Lotus Elise....................not the position they seem to want to take.

I say they want to lead, not follow this time.

Baby Lambo and retro Lancia Stratos designs are cool, but again I really think they might bite on a fresh look.

http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/factory-five-design-contest-thread/32412/page13/

[Sarc]

Originally Posted by kach22i

I say they want to lead, not follow this time.

Baby Lambo and retro Lancia Stratos designs are cool, but again I really think they might bite on a fresh look.

I look forward to a day when sexiness becomes a necessary ingredient in sports/exotic car design...instead of "how many facets and surface changes can we stick on a car".

[kach22i]

They answered all of my questions, and it's only been a couple of hours.

1. Yes you can include additional views (front and rear) on extra template sheets.

2. If you have a clay model or fiberglass model you may include photos of it.

3. Be sure to put your contact information on every sheet.

They seem to be very flexible, in the FAQ section they said you could even exclude views (one gesture sketch could win?).

Link:
Factory Five Sportscar Design Contest - Frequently Asked Questions: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

[kach22i]

UPDATE: They picked a winner.

Link:
Grassroots Motorsports / Factory Five / SolidWorks Design Contest: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine


It's a handsome concept.

I know this will come up, and there is much work to do, so I'll offer this trace-over for others to comment. I centered the wheels on the hubs, kept the same wheelbase.

Template Outline
Automobile pictures by kach22i - Photobucket

[kach22i]

I posted my eight entries in my Photobucket account, been storing some follow up sketches in there too.

Link:
Industrial Design pictures by kach22i - Photobucket

Sample: My most "Retro" of the lot which I call "The Italian".


Each design has a............

1. Side Elevation
2. Side view with driver and engine
3. Top View
4. Front 3/4 view
5. Rear 3/4 view

5 views x 8 designs = 40 drawings.

And here is my idea if it were directly Porsche inspired:

[Hawktel]

I am interested in the egonomics of this ride. Is the proposed going to be convertable, roadster, or coupe? Looks like all three?

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by Hawktel

I am interested in the egonomics of this ride. Is the proposed going to be convertable, roadster, or coupe? Looks like all three?

One steel tube body frame, three or more body styles.

1. Track car, open air, maybe a removable windshield and targa top.

2. Sport Street, could be another Targa.

3. Daily driver, high MPG commuter, most likely a hardtop.

There are nice kit cars out there, more than half of the ones I like are UK only.

The thing which makes this FFR kit car different is the target price, about 1/3rd of anything else out there.