Prototypes

[LeMans GTR]

Here's a thread here you post all the monster cars that never went into production, I don't mean fully fledged concept cars but cars that were made in secret and were hidden from the public or if they did enter production, were produced in very limited numbers (12 or under), such as the 8M Model BMW has in a shed or the Alfa Viper found out about.

I'll start us off with the TVR Typhon

Like all TVR's the car lacked any electronic safety devices such ABS or any kind of traction control. It's power stemmed from the same TVR Speed Six straight six engine that powers the Tuscan, Sagaris and Cerbera Speed Six, although this engine was supercharged and produced up to 585 bhp at 7000rpm and up to 633NM of torque at 5000 rpm. Furthermore the engine had twin intercoolers to provide better cooling for the supercharger which was belt driven. The whole bodywork was made of carbonfiber unlike normal TVRs which are made from fiberglass that kept the overall weight down giving it an incredible 530bhp per tonne. Moreover the whole chassis was designed from ground up using very sophisticated CAD and CAM software. In addition the rigidity of the whole structure was increased by a race type roll cage as well as the use of honeycomb and carbonfibre on the floor. The Typhon was also the first road going TVR to use adjustable dampers enabling customers to fine fettle with their car's handling. Only 2 were ever made.

[fbc]

^ Oh. My. God. That sounds like my kind of monster.

[Viper007Bond]

Why does the name "TVR Typhon" sound familiar but only 2 were made?

[Koenig]

Hmmm....according to that Wiki, TVR founder Trevor Wilkinson passed away just about a month ago. Damn shame.

[bartboy9891]

Originally Posted by Viper007Bond

Why does the name "TVR Typhon" sound familiar but only 2 were made?

There was news about it for at least a few years. The Typhon was basically an upgraded T440R, but I think cooling was the issue that they never got around.

[marcos_eirik]

Originally Posted by bartboy9891

There was news about it for at least a few years. The Typhon was basically an upgraded T440R, but I think cooling was the issue that they never got around.

Yep, cooling was the main issue, not on the engine's part, but on other components. It had a nasty habit of melting stuff in the engine bay. Also in development was the sequential gearbox (recongnizeable for it's unusually shaped handle bar shifter in the prototype car), effectively they shelved these two components when they started realizing the cost. So the end result was that the Typhon bought by the two custormers were just T440Rs with a proper name...

While we're on to TVR concept cars this takes the cake, the Speed Twelve, it looks particularly evil in this picture:


And with this little something under the bonnet it was pretty powerful as well... It broke their test bench at just over 900 hp...

[racingfan1]

Originally Posted by Viper007Bond

Why does the name "TVR Typhon" sound familiar but only 2 were made?

Top Gear mentioned it when reviewing the Sagaris.

[starfox07]

10 Liters of unbridled big block power. Basically an original Boss 429 engine, significantly upgraded (among the massive bore/stroke changes) with 855hp naturally aspirated.



10.5 @ 135mph

[Viper007Bond]

855 NA?! Eat it, Europe!

[starfox07]

Panoz GTR-1 (street version)

Don't know much about it to be honest. Probably ford powered, but just look at it!






One of the sexiest cars of recent times.

[DTMracer]

I'm not too sure I'd call it sexy, but it is definitely distinctive.

Dauer 962 springs to mind.

[racingfan1]

Originally Posted by starfox07

Panoz GTR-1 (street version)

Don't know much about it to be honest. Probably ford powered, but just look at it!






One of the sexiest cars of recent times.

via Wikipedia:

Begun in 1996, Reynard Motorsports' special vehicles division began work with Panoz to begin development of a grand tourer style racing car meant for the upcoming FIA GT Championship in 1997. Don Panoz, wanting to keep an American-style of design, insisted that the car be based on his Esperante sports car in some way. Due to this, the Esperante GTR-1 begame unique in comparison to its Mercedes-Benz, Lotus, Porsche, and McLaren counterparts in that, like the production Esperante, the engine was located in front of the cockpit. Although located behind the front axle to give it a balanced mid-engine layout, having the engine in front gave the car unusual proportions, including a large nose and a cockpit placed as far back in the body. Then unusual look, including a large bulging intake in the center of the nose, earned the car the nickname "Batmobile" due to its resemblance to the car used by the comic book hero. Following the initial 1997 season, the bodywork was modified in 1998 by lengthening the front and rear bodywork for increased downforce and handling capabilities.

For an engine, Panoz attempted to keep the American theme by using a Ford V8 engine similar to the one used in his Esperante. Instead of the standard 4.6L V8, Panoz turned to Roush Racing of NASCAR fame to construct 6.0L V8s based on Ford engines. Panoz's Élan Power Products would maintain the V8 engines and continue in development.

In order to meet homologation requirements which said that racing cars had to be based on production, road legal cars, Panoz built a single GTR-1s which featured full interiors and minor modifications to make it able to be legally registered. This car has been retainted by Don Panoz. It features a slightly smaller 5.3L V8 instead of the full 6.0L V8 race engine, since rules allowed engine sizes to be modified in the racing cars.

[BlaRo]

BMW M8 prototype. Featured a bored-out 6.0 liter version of the S70 engine (labeled the S70/1), capable of 550bhp. The fact that the Germans thought nobody would buy this thing is something that still boggles my mind.

As a result, it's been locked up and hidden away from the world, in a Raiders of the Lost Ark-style warehouse presumably. What's worse is that those bastards probably destroyed it.







Read all about it, if you know French...

[DTMracer]

Originally Posted by BlaRo

BMW M8 prototype. Featured a bored-out 6.0 liter version of the S70 engine (labeled the S70/1), capable of 550bhp. The fact that the Germans thought nobody would buy this thing is something that still boggles my mind.

As a result, it's been locked up and hidden away from the world, in a Raiders of the Lost Ark-style warehouse presumably. What's worse is that those bastards probably destroyed it.







Read all about it, if you know French...

This thing always has me drooling whenever I see it.

If I was loaded with cash, I'd build a replica.

[Blayde]

A concept car made by British sports car manufacturer Jaguar, the XK180 was released mostly to show off the mad skillz of the parts and design departments. Jaguar has announced that the XK180 will not be put into production because the base price would be too high and there would be too few buyers. However, that said the XK180 is a very nice looking machine. Designed by senior designer Keith Helfet in the Jaguar Styling Department, the SK180 takes its styling cues from Jaguar roadsters of the 1950s and 60s, such as the XK series and the popular D-Type. The XK180 was based on a shortened version of the XKR convertible (hence the styling similarities) introduced earlier in the year. A 4L supercharged V8 produces 450bhp and can propel the roadster from 0 to 60mph in a not-too-shabby 5 seconds. The XK180 was hand-built in Jaguar's Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) workshops in Browns Lane, Coventry. Inside the vehicle is as luxurious as one would expect in a Jaguar with racing seats trimmed in Connolly leather, full safety harnesses headrests and a dashboard in engine-turned aluminium carrying switches to echo the style of the Jaguar Le Mans winners of the fifties.

2000 Jaguar XK180 Concept

Specifications:

Cost: Prototype
Engine: 4L front-mounted supercharged V8
Power: 335.6kW (450bhp) @ 6150rpm
Torque: 603.3nm (445ft-lbs) @ 3600rpm
Drive: RWD
Transmission: 5-speed auto
Body: 2-door roadster
Size (LWH): 4417/1821/Not available mm (173.9/71.7/Not available in)
Curb Weight: 1565kg (3450lbs)

Performance:

Acceleration: 0-60 in 5s
1/4 Mile: 13.9s
Top Speed: 289.7kph (180mph)

This is one of my favourite working concepts, i so wish they could have made it.

[starfox07]

The F type was a looker too.

[airmenair]

Is there a difference between prototypes and concepts because I could have sworn we had a concept car thread.

[Crazyjeeper]

Originally Posted by airmenair

Is there a difference between prototypes and concepts because I could have sworn we had a concept car thread.

Prototypes work, concepts are basically pieces of art.

[airmenair]

Ok, fair enough

[bartboy9891]

Originally Posted by Viper007Bond

855 NA?! Eat it, Europe!

The TVR posted right before the Mustang had over 900 hp NA!

I assume this qualifies as a prototype since it can be driven.



The Furai was easily the coolest car at the NAIAS, the details are just fantastic.