Rally superstar Colin McRae unveiled his eponymous R4 high-performance rally car at this weekend's Goodwood Festival of Speed. The road-legal competition car is being developed by specialty builder DJM Race Preparations. The R4 prototype will begin testing in August, with production of the final version slated to begin in the first quarter of 2007.
The R4 chassis is custom-built around a steel rollcage, with carbon-fiber bodywork front and rear, and a steel-covered cockpit area. Double wishbone suspension is fitted front and rear, managed by Proflex dampers.
The R4 prototype is driven by a 2.5-liter normally aspirated four-cylinder powerplant from Millington Racing Engines, putting out 340 hp at 8,700 rpm (damn!). 0-60 times of around 5 seconds are expected. Power is delivered through a DJM sequential six-speed gearbox, to a buyer's choice of RWD or 4WD configurations. More competition-oriented powerplants are being considered for the R4, including a 2.2-liter twin-turbo and a 3-liter V6 twin turbo, with the latter capable of 750 hp in competition trim. Only serious enthusiasts need apply - pricing for the 340 hp version is expected to start at around $240,000.
Fuzzy live shots of the R4 are here, but the computer-generated renderings are clearer. We'll update with pics when we find some good ones.
[Sources: 4Car, ColinMcRae.com]
