Black Thai: Galmer Arbitrage GT
There are only a handful of car-exporting countries, even fewer building supercars. And Thailand ain't one of 'em. That'll all change in 2008 when the Galmer Arbitrage GT is scheduled to launch.
The carbon fiber supercar will be propelled by a Chevy LS7 V8 displacing seven liters and producing 500 horsepower, though the engine could be tweaked all the way up to 800. Redline-running will be managed by a six-speed transmission, and from the picture, it appears the car will run on carbon fiber rims as well.
The spacious cockpit is accessed via Enzo/SLR-style up-and-forward pivoting doors, opened with fingerprint readers. Inside the Galmer will offer a digital touchscreen panel to access auxiliary controls.
The car will be produced in a limited run of 350, a staggering 250 of which are destined for the US. Due to stiff costs associated with American homologation regulations, Galmer plans on shipping the cars semi-assembled. With a name like Arbitrage, it seems like Galmer hope to make some nice margins on the car. There are a lot of big thinkers with deep pockets out there dreaming of making their own supercar, but like all newcomers, the Arbitrage will have to post some impressive times to earn its cred.
(More pics after the jump)
[Source: Motor Authority]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Fabulo 3:01PM (9/28/2006)
When you say picture, you mean computer rendering, right? And when you say supercar, you mean kit car with a corvette engine, right?
It sounds like everybody is coming up with a "supercar".
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felonious monk 3:10PM (9/28/2006)
As Fat Bastard would say, "det seksay".
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Huge 3:10PM (9/28/2006)
lol yeah, looks like a c6 with fancier doors. yippee. the post should read "and no countries making their own engines."
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master 3:11PM (9/28/2006)
errr... this is good-lokin', but just a render yet... no more
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gkz 3:19PM (9/28/2006)
anyone else think it looks like a 599 GTB (in profile) that has been squished together lenghtwise?
anyway, i'm not crazy about the looks, but i'm always in favor of new choices in the "exotic" market.
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ruggels 3:28PM (9/28/2006)
awe man, too bad he did away with the audi sourced powerplants of his earlier designs. quite a looker though. to bad he's not still in la, i miss his tt at hot import nights
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DPC car videos 4:12PM (9/28/2006)
What a mean looking car.
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Tiago do Vale 3:54PM (9/28/2006)
Nice, clean design... I love the contrast between the black body and the orange rims.
Full carbon-fibre? That's great (and no kit car)!
The worst part is really the engine... Too big and heavy for such a light car, and so little horsepower.
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cdw 3:57PM (9/28/2006)
Ok, making cars must be incredibly easy because everyone is doing it these days.
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Joe 4:03PM (9/28/2006)
I can't say the name bodes well. In economics, "arbitrage" refers to buying things low in one place and selling them high in another...
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Car chops and Discussion 4:10PM (9/28/2006)
rofl at #1
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Noah 4:17PM (9/28/2006)
If you want an american made kit with LS power you can look at the Factory Five Racing GTM... well priced too!
--Noah
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ronbo 4:57PM (9/28/2006)
Please tell me they won't use the Tremec box.
Factory Five - best kit car not to come out of the UK (I'm partial to Caterham, Ariel, Noble)
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Noah 4:24PM (9/28/2006)
Oh and RE Tiago do Vale's "Too big and heavy for such a light car"
I'm going to hazard a guess that you have NO IDEA what an LS engine weighs... Do you? Didn't think so.
An LS7 weighs only 458lbs complete.Perhaps you'd like another source of 500hp? How about How about BMW's new 5L V10? That's a well respected engine... except that it's 529 lbs. GM might make some crummy cars but the LS7 is a wonderful engine, can you say Titanium connecting rods? It's not exactly a portly truck motor.
--Noah
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DriftPunch 4:29PM (9/28/2006)
While an LS7 may not be uber exotic, it is probably worth it due to the long term reliablity for a car sans dealer support network.
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gkz 5:52PM (9/28/2006)
Joe -
I call shennanigans on you. Arbitrage refers specifically to buying and selling securities quickly in different world markets and using exchange rates to make your profit. Perhaps this is what you meant, but you missed a few important details. Sorry to interject this finance-nerd talk.
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felonious monk 6:22PM (9/28/2006)
"It sounds like everybody is coming up with a 'supercar'."
Okay then. Where's yours, Mr. Smartypants?
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doglet 3:27AM (9/29/2006)
"6. awe man, too bad he did away with the audi sourced powerplants of his earlier designs. quite a looker though. to bad he's not still in la, i miss his tt at hot import nights"
werdlet doglet fo shizzul homskillit.
seriously though you are everything that is wrong with the world
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J 10:12AM (9/29/2006)
yeah calling the LS7 too heavy is just plain ignorant. The advantage of simple tech is that is simple. A single cam pushrod v8 will almost always be smaller and lighter than a modular V8
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Tiago do Vale 3:05PM (9/29/2006)
Noah and J:
It's not much of an argument to call me ignorant.
First, a V10 (BMW's) is hardly comparable to a V8
And secondly, I'm not talking about the BMW League.
Look at the car depicted: that's Ferrari, Lamborghini, McLaren League.
So, for your information, and as an example, the Ferrari F430 V8!!! Engine, with (so far, and normally aspirated, no turbo) 490hp weights just 172kg (378lbs)!!!
Quite far from the 458lbs of the LS7.
I recommend you don't start calling people ignorant if you can't take it all the way.
And if you wish to pick my English grammar or spelling, don't go that way: It's not my primary language: only one of the 6 different languages I speak and write. And I'm quite sure you were able to understand me.
Cheers.
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