Autosport International
Enough stuff to keep motorsport fans' jaws firmly on the ground
Most of the world was worrying about overspending at Christmas and going jogging in the early part of January, but in the UK, the world's biggest racing car show, Autosport International, packed the crowds in with a spectacular blend of big names and big horsepower.
The most eye-catching new car on display was undoubtedly the Farboud, the brainchild of one man not satisfied with the supercars in his garage.
It's priced just beneath Porsche and Ferrari territory at $140,000 and should be amazing when it finally hits the roads. But it has been delayed by about a year so far, and so we have to wait with bated breath to see if this dream machine ever makes it to market.
Reminiscent of the old, closed-top Le Mans Porsches, with front wing-mounted rear view mirrors and a gaping front splitter and roof-mounted air intake, the stretched Farboud makes for an intimidating sight. Mid-engined and rear-wheel drive, it is intended as a sporting road car with track uses. The engine is Audi's 2.7-liter, 30-valve, V6 powerplant, with two added turbochargers from Dialynx, as the original clearly wasn't menacing enough.
The developed Farboud engine will produce 480 bhp in standard trim, which the company claims will propel it to 60 mph in 3.3 sec. and approximately 205 mph at flat chat. There's also an optional "Track Day" package that will wind the engine up to 600 bhp, although this will be more about developing torque-it doesn't really need more top-end speed.
Farboud has opted for a conventional spaceframe chassis and an off-the-shelf Audi six-speed gearbox, with a semi-automatic as an option. A four-pot AP Racing setup will haul this lithe 2,090-lb machine back from warp speed without too many problems as well.
Ferrari subsidiary Maserati also attracted the crowds with its Trofeo racer. Michael Schumacher has been involved in the development of this sports car at Ferrari's test track at Fiorano, and the result is a mighty impressive piece of kit. Only 30 will be made, though, and all will be entered in the marque's one-make race series, so unless you fancy forking out the undisclosed fee to race one, you'll have to make do with looking. The 4.2-liter beast certainly has the looks for the series to work, and few can argue with a 177-mph top-end speed.
Westfield's latest offering, the XTR-2, is a beauty, too, and it has taken all sorts of plaudits from the UK magazines this year. It's the latest in a long line of motorbike-engined cars, and this one is fitted with a 1300cc Hayabusa unit mated to a six-speed sequential box. This sleek sports car weighs just 970 lb in road trim, so it's easy to see where the performance comes from even though the car boasts just 178 bhp.
It's a stripped-out racer in the vein of the Radical SR3, which was also in attendance, so creature comforts just aren't included. What you get for $45,000 is a road-legal, space-frame track weapon that will simply destroy any performance car you care to mention due to a high-revving engine and zero body fat.
While the sports cars, as always, caught the eye, a major business alliance was arguably the major talking point of the show. Audi UK has signed an agreement with Abt Sportsline and will soon offer the aftermarket legend's products on all of its cars, without affecting the warranty.