From the Archive: That's two down and seven lives to go for the quick cat from Britain.
The construction of the Solo combines the new materials with an old idea. A fabricated sheet-steel center section comprises the floorpan and the front and rear bulkheads; a tubular space frame extends from the rear bulkhead to support the powertrain. Nothing too unusual about that: in principle, the Jaguar E-type was built the same way.
To meet frontal-impact requirements with such a short nose, Comtec has adopted an energy-management system that employs the same principle as the crushable foot-box section of a Formula 1 car. The open ends of a horseshoe-shaped, honeycomb-filled box section lie on either side of the front luggage compartment and abut the cockpit bulkhead. The front bumper is attached to the curved end of the horseshoe.
This strong but lightweight construction should enable the Solo to weigh less than 2400 pounds in production form. As this is written, no car has been completed to this final specification; the show car we drove had fiberglass bodywork. The chassis development has been carried out on a rudimentary device known around the works as the "milk float." Although the final car has been designed to Raymar's layout, Raymar itself is no longer involved; Panther now has a 30-strong engineering team of its own. It is on the strength of the milk float's test numbers that performance estimates for the Solo have been based: the 150-mph maximum speed, 0 to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds, and a cornering limit of 0.92 g.
Ford doesn't yet offer a four-wheel-drive Cosworth Sierra, and even if it did, installing its system in the Solo wouldn't be as simple as turning the engine and the transmission around. The Panther's four-wheel-drive system is a Ferguson Formula design, with several components from the Sierra XR4x4 and a new transfer case.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
1988 Mazda RX-7 Convertible: Don't Call It a ComebackThe traditional sports car brought up to date.
Read more »
Halloween: H20 (1988) | ScreenRantHalloween: H20 is the seventh installment in the iconic horror franchise. The movie brings back Jamie Lee Curtis' Laurie Strode, who faces her brother Michael Myers after his inexplicable return.
Read more »
BTS' V unveils the second promotion schedule for his first solo mini-album 'Layover'BTS' V released the second teaser schedule chart for his first solo mini-album 'Layover.'According to the chart released on August …
Read more »
The voice of the Air & Water Show is back for his 36th yearHerb Hunter has been the voice behind the show since 1988. He shares what attendees can expect including the return of the Thunderbirds.
Read more »
Study: Significantly more US hurricane-related deaths among vulnerableA team of public health and storm experts calculates that from 1988 to 2019 more than 18,000 people likely died, mostly indirectly.
Read more »
The second half of the year for stocks rides on this 'Magnificent Seven' tech ringleaderCan tech ringleader Microsoft maintain new highs? If no, Bank of America predicts a 'sell-the-rip' move is coming for markets.
Read more »