London 2008: IFR Automotive Aspid hits 62 mph in 2.8 seconds
Click above for high-res gallery of the IFR Automotive Aspid
IFR Automotive is a design and technology company based in Spain that we've never heard of, but they're in London right now for the 2008 British Motor Show to debut the Aspid, a new featherweight "luxury" sportscar powered by a 400bhp supercharged 2.0L four-cylinder. Combined with a curb weight of just 1,543 lbs., the Aspid can reportedly reach 62 mph in an astonishing 2.8 seconds. IFR is fervent that the Aspid is not a stripped down track day special, but a full road car, hence the "luxury" modifier. It sure looks like Caterham circa 2055, but IFR claims that it's gone to the ends of the earth to keep the Aspid's weight in check while keeping the car suitable for road use. The Aspid sits on an aluminum extrusion composite paneled chassis weighing just 175 lbs., and all of its suspension components are aluminum as well. IFR also reduced the complexity of the car's electrical system, deleting processors and wires wherever it could. Rather than a bank of gauges staring back at you in the cockpit, drivers will instead find touch screens that relay all essential info and allow extreme customization of the car's mechanicals. You can change the rev limit, valve timing, overall power output, brake balance, ride height and a whole lot more all from the comfort of the driver's seat. Plus there's a nav system, wi-fi and a whole smorgesborg of telecom technologies stuffed inside. And did we mention it can reach 62 mph in 2.8 seconds? Damn.
Gallery: IFR Automotive Aspid
[Source: IFR Automotive]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
why not the LS2LS7? 12:36PM (7/22/2008)
Even it can't outrun its ugly.
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Rainy99 12:52PM (7/22/2008)
very, very, very true.
rouse42 1:17PM (7/22/2008)
+1
Torrent 1:07PM (7/22/2008)
This car looks really good if you are blind.
Frank 1:36PM (7/22/2008)
dunno i actually like it ...
Nellydesign 8:44AM (7/23/2008)
Lets hope there is a headlight delete option... What are those, scaled down stoplights?
Wow-ed 1:31AM (7/24/2008)
It's like a car crash, bad, but you have to look. You wouldn't want to be in one, but you'd love to say you were once and you walked away.
SammySam 12:43PM (7/22/2008)
why would a company throw a supercharged engine into an old plymouth prowler and then pass it off as a "new 'luxury' sportscar"??? lmao
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CORVETTE ZR1 12:47PM (7/22/2008)
This Car is Very Very Beautiful i like it... Can you say Good buy Caterham... it's not ugly at all is simply Stunning...
Thats Insane 0-62 Mph in 2.8 Wow !!!
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EskimoPie 12:47PM (7/22/2008)
Yeah, I'd say you're serious about saving weight when you have a carbon fiber steering wheel...
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Benfolio 1:53PM (7/22/2008)
OH NOES! It's flat bottomed!
CarlosMC 3:22PM (7/22/2008)
Yeah, but with all that carbon, what will be it's carbon footprint?
RPM 12:48PM (7/22/2008)
When you think about this design, it should look terrible, but somehow, it looks right. Maybe its because everything is so functional, or that every piece seems to be of high quality. I like it.
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Barricade 12:55PM (7/22/2008)
Nice Pontiac Vibe air vents
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Declan Moran 12:59PM (7/22/2008)
It is so ugly it resembles a monkey's knuckle
Whoever designed it needs to have their pencils taken away
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R 1:00PM (7/22/2008)
I kinda like it. Reminds me of something I'd see in the original Batman cartoons.
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Rocketboy 1:08PM (7/22/2008)
It looks like a combo of Lego and left over car parts
Nice sidevent deek...
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Joshua 1:09PM (7/22/2008)
it also hits ugly in 0.1 seconds
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kevjohn 1:15PM (7/22/2008)
Isn't this what the Batmobile turned into when Batman needed to go through that narrow alley to escape the Penguin?
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s13hybrid 1:25PM (7/22/2008)
It is ugly in a good, I like it because it is ugly, kind of way. It is not sleek, but I like that design. Just a kind of bare bones look to it. I think it would help if they just cleaned it up a little by painting it all one color.
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