Radical promises Le Mans-inspired RXC

Zach Bowman — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 17:44:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Performance, UK, Racing

Radical is poised to release a new model called the RXC. A two-seat, closed-roof sports car, the machine should bow with a Ford 3.7-liter V6 with around 380 horsepower on hand and a curb weight of under 2,000 pounds. Designers borrowed from the company's experience at the 24 Hours of Le Mans to create a vehicle that looks more like an LMP1 entry than something road-legal. The body generates an impressive 1,984 pounds of down force and uses both composite and carbon fiber construction. Underneath the skin, the RXC boasts a tube steel chassis with an integrated roll cage. Radical says it will run the RXC through the same FIA crash test evaluations Le Mans racers must withstand.

Should you require a bit more thrust, the RXC can be had with the same 3.0-liter V8 found in the SR8 RX racer. That lump churns out 480 horsepower and dumps it all on the rear wheels via a seven-speed automatic. Handling falls on a new bespoke Intrax inboard push rod race suspension with double wishbones on all four corners, and the RXC uses a hefty set of 13-inch discs pressed by six-piston brake calipers up front to slow the party. The rear brakes also use six-piston calipers, though they're paired with a 12.2-inch disc. Check out the full press release below.

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Radical promises Le Mans-inspired RXC originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 13 Dec 2012 17:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Radical working on all-new RXC Coupe [w/video]

Noah Joseph — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 13:01:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Videos, MISC, Racing

If you've ever had occasion to see a Radical in person - or for that matter, in photos - you likely couldn't avoid thinking it looked like a miniature version of a Le Mans Prototype. The ground-hugging ride height, the aerodynamically-optimized bodywork, the open cockpit... but wait a second, don't most LMPs these days have closed cockpits? Why yes, yes they do.

The Audi R18, the Toyota TS030, even the aborted Peugeot 908 all have fixed roofs and windshields. So if Radical really is going to follow the form of the front-running endurance prototypes, it's going to need a closed canopy, too. And that, according to the latest reports, is exactly what it is developing.

Called the RXC Coupe, the new Radical appears to still be in the design phase, but is tipped to arrive in time for 2014. The body is expected to be wider than the existing open models, with a completely new aerodynamic shape. Both race and road versions are reportedly in the cards, with a V8 powering a seven-speed sequential transmission in the former good for around 650 horsepower.

All that and roadworthiness, too, stands to make the Radical RXC Coupe one very serious performance machine, whether on the street or on the track. And we're looking forward to seeing how it shapes up. Follow the jump and skip ahead to around the 4:30 mark in the video to see footage of the 3D model from all angles.

Continue reading Radical working on all-new RXC Coupe [w/video]

Radical working on all-new RXC Coupe [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Feb 2012 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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