Project X article by Track & Race Car magazine.
What do you get if you place a 300bhp V6 into a lightweight
rear-wheel driven sportscar with a chassis from a VX220?
Project-X, and potentially heaps of fun. Keith Wood investigates…
When the Lotus Elise was first shown to the press it caused a
stir. It was without a doubt fantastic. However, as with every
road/track test, there’s always the freedom for the press to
express what they thought the Elise was lacking or needed
improving upon. As far as handling goes there was very little to
complain about and the driving position was as close to perfection
as you could possibly get without having a bespoke seat specially
made. But there was one thing that the journo’s felt it could do
with… some extra torque.
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There’s nothing wrong with
high-powered, high revving engines in really lightweight
sportscars - they’re great fun in their own right - that’s why
they’re fitted but they do lack some real punch. To get a big
increase in torque though you need extra cylinders which means
either a V6 or V8 power-unit, both of which can be big
engines, really big. However there were rumours circulating
that Lotus were going to fit it’s Elise with a Toyota V6 in
the S2 before it settled for the 2ZZ-GE. The V6 version isn’t
renowned for being the lightest in the engine world or the
smallest.
However, a V6 in an Elise is what us, as enthusiasts and real
drivers, openly want and with the launch of the VX220 we could
have had it… instead we got the 2.0 and 2.0 Turbo
versions. Again great little cars but |
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once again the engineers happily supplied brake horsepower over
torque. The silly thing is both of these chassis’ can cope with
hikes in torque and power, easily. |
In my opinion the small sportscar market is still crying out
for a V6 engined alternative, if only you could have everything
that makes the Nissan 350Z great but inside a super lightweight
sportscar, say like a VX220?
Under the Exige style engine cover (which ports air directly to
the engine) sits a longitudinal narrow angled 3.5-litre V6
power-plant. The engine will push out a healthy 300bhp (6500rpm)
with an even more impressive 295lb ft (3200rpm) but there’s more.
Loading the rear wheels with the mass of torque and power is a
six-speed transaxle, from an Audi six-speed ‘box and a
conventional H-pattern design.
World renowned AP Racing will supplying Project-X with calipers,
in the four-piston design, on all four corners with the front
discs coming in at 321mm while the rear gets slightly smaller
315mm items. You may seemed surprised that it’s not running
six-pots on the front end but remember this car weighs just under
900kg. A good thing too, especially if the buyer intends on taking
to the track. Looking at the very elegant cockpit, you slide into
the tan leather seats (colours optional) and you’re treated to a
regal bespoke dash-pod with a tasty set of dials and a whole host
of switches to play with. Not too many mind, the minimalistic
approach seems to work rather well for Project-X and does away
with too many ugly air vents. It even creates a centre console to
segregate the driver and passenger leg room.
Thankfully the same excellent driving position is retained
which rewards the driver with not only amazing lowdown views out
of the windscreen and side windows but also puts you in a
fantastic position for the gear lever. Even you’re view in the
rear view mirror isn’t bad… after all there are six throttle body
trumpets poking out of the V6 to look at! In all seriousness the
rear view isn’t that bad because the engine cover cleverly houses
two windows and acts as a great way of letting bystanders know
that this car seriously means business.
The car is wider and longer which meant the design team had to
construct brand new front and rear clam-shells to fit onto the new
layout.
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Where some car builders start from the front and then work
backwards, it’s almost as if this has been built the other way
around. Is this the rear of the year so far or what? The rear sees
not only a lip on the rear clam but also a cunning rear diffuser
which works hand-in-hand with the flat-floor to suck the chassis
to the tarmac. What Project-X has done is basically taken a
glamour girl and turned it into a supermodel. It truly is a work
of art.
But be sure to note that this isn’t a VX220 or even an
Elise. Yes it shares the same chassis platform as the bonded
Vauxhall but it’s intention is something completely different.
It’s certainly not just a body kit and, in my |
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humble opinion, I think this whole project is set to transform
the small sportscar market here in the
UK once and for all and finally feed us with what we’ve all been
craving for. If it drives as good as it looks then get ready for
something very special indeed…
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Who?Project-X is a car
being developed by Plans Motorsport. We featured the company
back in our April 2005 issue and walked away highly
impressed. Not only is there a fantastic workshop with
intelligent engineers there’s also a test facility on its
door step to make sure the setup or improvements have
actually worked. Pretty much every high end sportscar is
catered for from the Lotus’ Elise to Noble’s M12. It’s road
and track knowledge is vast and it’s also been entrusted to
run a large amount of race cars in the Mid-Engined Sportscar
Championship for a number of clients.
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ProductionThe construction
process of the cars will take place at Dunsfold Park in
Surrey, home of the Top Gear test track and, of course,
Plans Motorsport. It plans (excuse the pun) to have a glass
fronted showroom where you can see your car actually being
completed. As well as having the demo car to tempt would be
buyers there’s also the simple fact that the front of the
showroom also faces out onto the test track which will
really wet your appetite…
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BuyingOkay you like what
you see but when can your hands on it? Well it’s not
officially due for release until the middle of 2006 but
expect to pay from around £50k for a turn key example.
However it will be possible for current VX220 owners to hand
over their car keys to Plans Motorsport who will turn into
this awesome piece of kit from £20k. Even the S2 Elise boys
can be catered for and will still retain the Lotus shape…
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OwningOnce you buy the car
from Plans Motorsport it hopes you enjoy every minute of your
ownership which is why you’ll not only get the use of the Dunsfold Park test track, you’ll also be given complimentary
one-to-one driving tuition. When you buy into Plans
Motorsport’s Project-X you’re also buying into an elite
owners club which is quite revolutionary.
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