MoPho Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 Interesting: IFR Automotive is a design and technology company based in Spain that we've never heard of, but they're in London right now for the 2008 British Motor Show to debut the Aspid, a new featherweight "luxury" sportscar powered by a 400bhp supercharged 2.0L four-cylinder. Combined with a curb weight of just 1,543 lbs., the Aspid can reportedly reach 62 mph in an astonishing 2.8 seconds. IFR is fervent that the Aspid is not a stripped down track day special, but a full road car, hence the "luxury" modifier. It sure looks like Caterham circa 2055, but IFR claims that it's gone to the ends of the earth to keep the Aspid's weight in check while keeping the car suitable for road use. The Aspid sits on an aluminum extrusion composite paneled chassis weighing just 175 lbs., and all of its suspension components are aluminum as well. IFR also reduced the complexity of the car's electrical system, deleting processors and wires wherever it could. Rather than a bank of gauges staring back at you in the cockpit, drivers will instead find touch screens that relay all essential info and allow extreme customization of the car's mechanicals. You can change the rev limit, valve timing, overall power output, brake balance, ride height and a whole lot more all from the comfort of the driver's seat. Plus there's a nav system, wi-fi and a whole smorgesborg of telecom technologies stuffed inside. And did we mention it can reach 62 mph in 2.8 seconds? Damn. Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/07/003_ifraspid.jpg http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/07/002_ifraspid.jpg http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/07/004_ifraspid.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slngsht Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 this is what i would build if i had better fab skills... except the 4 cylinder part headlights don't do much for me either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowss7 Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 I agree with Mazda. Doesn't do anything for me. Front end is butt ugly. Looks like a PT Cruiser. Tom edit, maybe I don't agree with Mazda, I wouldn't build that, ever. Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slngsht Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 heh, not even with an uber cool rover? interior and wind shield area are nicely done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowss7 Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 I'm a traditionalist where the 7 is concerned. I like the old british car look, but with blazing performance that no one expects from a little 1.8liter 4. With all due respect for your little V8. I can't handle the 196bhp I have, let alone the 400+ you have. But it is sevenque, so I will consider it an ugly brother. Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winston Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 The grille is definintely a Chrysler-esque nightmare -- but easily redesigned (removed?). The headlights are polarizing for sure, but I kinda like them in a Star-Wars-interrogation-robot sorta way. I think that IFR actually did a lot of things right with that car. The car does look like a Seven from the future. (But that grille has got to go.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian7 Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 I like it in general, but agree that the headlights could not be WORSE with any amount of effort :ack: . The grill could be less... obvious?... as well, but overall, a step in an 'ok' direction for non-traditionalists (of which I'm not one) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S1Steve Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 I like the brakes, wheels, and the steering wheel is cool. The design I don't care for at all,but the 400 hp,it must be fun to beat on. steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winston Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 The grill could be less... obvious? I agree, that's the main problem with it. While I dislike the design of it in general, painting it black would go a long way toward making it look better simply because you wouldn't notice it as much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeanG Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 Apparently there is no end to the bad styling possibilities inherit in the design of the Seven. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spotcheck Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 I think it looks like a cross between a Chrysler Prowler and one of the creatures in the Star Wars bar scene (both indivdually too wierd for my taste, and combined??). But - that steering wheel sure looks cool, so I rummaged around and found this in a company press release. Makes me wonder when you find the time to actually drive the sucker?? AND - what the heck is a "noise valve"? Gotta give them props for pushing the edge of the technology envelope, though. For a "base price" of Euro 95K = $120K USD, almost seems cheap, with 0-100-0 mph at under 9 seconds, and 1.6 on the skid pad. "The most noticeable change for the driver is the elimination of traditional instrumentation replaced by one or more interactive touch screens. These allow the driver to change many parameters such as the rev limit, valve timing, power output, steering assistance, ABS, noise valve, brake balance, ride height, traction and stability controls, as well as influencing the pitch, roll and yaw of the car by adjusting its damping characteristics. For motorsport enthusiasts the system offers an in-built and extendable data logging capability, readily configured for all OBD (onboard diagnostics) and CAN (control area network) sensors with 24 analogue channels available and upwards. For the road this is complemented by GPS satellite navigation, GPRS/GSM mobile communications, motion sensing accelerometers, Wi Fi wireless technology, Ethernet interface connections, as well as touch screens for both driver and co-driver. The system can help reconfigure the car to suit different drivers and different driving conditions and can ensure the Aspid is set-up correctly for the road or track. It can even direct the driver through a series of tests and operations that will enable it to calculate engine torque and power." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBH Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 For that kind of money you get pretty close to something like this (with comparable performance figures) http://images.businessweek.com/ss/06/11/1113_super_mosler/image/mosler1.jpg One showed up at VIR over the weekend Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mondo Posted July 23, 2008 Share Posted July 23, 2008 Except for the headlights I'm ok with it. So much technical stuff... don't know how much would actually get used or cause more problems. Kind of like the simplisity of our cars. I do like that blue car, Noble? Something to be said for these type of coupes... they're really my favorite but budgetwise it's hard to beat our cars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
11Budlite Posted July 23, 2008 Share Posted July 23, 2008 I'll always like the look of a traditional 7 more than some of the more modern designs and I sort of like the general shape and proportions of this one, but some of the details...WTF were they thinking?? I don't think you could possibly make headlights look any worse! :ack: The chassis, suspension, brakes, etc, certainly are interesting and I bet it's a blast to drive! Here's an interesting cutaway-type image: http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/1010541125_IFR-Aspid-6.jpg Bruce :7drive: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjslutz Posted July 23, 2008 Share Posted July 23, 2008 The "Mad Max" 7 Gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soareyes Posted July 23, 2008 Share Posted July 23, 2008 It reminds me of the Donkervoort, but I think Donkervoort integrated their headlights better: http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd136/soareyes/1.jpg vs. http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/07/002_ifraspid.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winston Posted July 23, 2008 Share Posted July 23, 2008 I do like that blue car, Noble? Mosler MT900. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slngsht Posted July 23, 2008 Share Posted July 23, 2008 I think Donkervoort integrated their headlights better: Understatement of the year Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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