The accompanying pictures are vidcaps from a Sky News piece about Al Melling's new supercar - the Melling Hellcat. As the video shows, Melling has a running prototype of the V10-powered car. (Watch the video here.)
The prototype looks rather racy, sporting Viper-style like pipes, and in an interview the designer confirms he's taking the new sportscar to Le Mans in 2007.
More interesting still is this story, which maintains that not only will Melling build four cars a month in his Rochdale, U.K. factory, but he has also inked a deal with Roush Industries to build 100 cars a month in the U.S.! While one has to wonder about the predicted production volume, the USA/UK badging on the prototype certainly suggests there's something to the story.
Stay tuned!
[Sources: Rochdale Observer via Pistonheads, Sky News]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
JS @ May 25th 2006 9:09PM
............................................................................................................................................(zap!)
Whoa, sorry there, I had to wipe the drool from my keyboard.
Where can I sign up for one of those delicious british coupe's!
John @ May 25th 2006 9:15PM
Looks like what a boring, upright good guy would drive in a movie.
While the evil mobsters chase behind him in a sexy demonic Ferrari 599 GTB!
SoloTwo @ May 25th 2006 9:34PM
I love how it seemed to have developed a miss in the motor at the end of the video.
felonious monk @ May 25th 2006 10:14PM
Wow... no one else noticed that it's basically a heavily reworked Nissan 350Z?
risingsun @ May 25th 2006 10:15PM
Someone please peel off that hideous cheap vinyl. And it looks like a stretched 350Z combined with the GTR styling prototype. The front fenders are ugly too. British Viper anyone?
Clari0n @ May 25th 2006 10:30PM
It's unique in that is simultaneously a supercar AND uninteresting. Ho-hum.
Proud Japanese @ May 25th 2006 11:14PM
British Viper? Hardly. It needs only 6L to develop 700hp+ while the Viper needs the whole of its 8L to get 500.
Campisi @ May 25th 2006 11:59PM
It looks like a ten-year-old concept car, or something.
Clinton @ May 26th 2006 1:45AM
Reminds me of the 'Defender' from the Viper TV show.
WillDaThrill @ May 26th 2006 1:46AM
#7. aka Proud Japanese
Don't get mad cause the Asian guys have to dip into their F-1/Indy cars (whatever) to hang with American muscle. I'm a proud Nissan owner, but don't bash us cause you can't use a Japanese car to compare with even the Brits.
While I have you, name a car (street legal production model) that the Brits make with 700bhp! Seriously, name one. As a matter of fact, name a Japanese one! And I mean OEM or JDM for that matter....no aftermarket magazine soup-ups.
Oh yeah, Ferrari, Mercedes and Lamborgini don't count as Brit cars.
Torben Busk @ May 26th 2006 2:28AM
Am I the only one who can't hear any V10 engine. It sounds like a 4 cylinder engine to me.
Even when the driver was to overtake the camera-car, the engine sounded awful..
Proud Japanese @ May 26th 2006 7:38AM
WillDaThrill, American muscle is hardly useful when the new Dodge Viper gets beat around the ring by the NSX-R with 200hp less by over 12 seconds.
8:13 --- 150.426 km/h -- Dodge Viper SRT-10, 506 hp (sport auto, 10/04)
7:56.73 155.569 km/h -- Honda NSX-R (Best Motoring)
Here is the video
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7014510364856677447&q=best+motoring+NSX
Looks like it's the American muscle that can't hand with Japanese cars.
RacetrackOwner @ May 26th 2006 7:42AM
Proud Japanese: The point of an 8L engine is TORQUE, a concept which is apparently a complete mystery to Japanese automakers.
Proud Japanese @ May 26th 2006 7:47AM
RacetrackOwner: And it gets beaten by the NSX-R around the ring. Good one.
John @ May 26th 2006 7:50AM
That's funny, new ZO6 smoked your precious NSX-R around the 'ring.
me @ May 26th 2006 7:55AM
I love sound, ideal for my neighbours. Looks like TVR
RacetrackOwner @ May 26th 2006 7:59AM
Proud Japanese: Let's see, how many major international events has the NSX-R won? I'm counting roughly zero. But you hold your head high for that one lap of an empty, decomissioned track.
Proud Japanese @ May 26th 2006 8:05AM
John: Just you wait until the next NSX ;).
C @ May 26th 2006 10:02AM
Has anyone ever cross-shopped the Viper and the NSX? They're completely different cars for completely different markets.
Please let's stop all that hate and get back to how terrible the Hellcat looks and sounds.
John @ May 26th 2006 10:17AM
Thats fine, I'm sure the Blue Devil will be ready for it ;).