If we had a nickel for every independent sportscar project started by people we'd never heard of and that never came to fruition, well... we might actually have enough money to put one of them into production. But every once in a while we end up pleasantly surprised. And we just might be by the VŪHL 05.
The project, as you may recall, is the brainchild of a pair of Mexican brothers based in Detroit, and calls for a lightweight track car along the lines of the Ariel Atom, KTM X-Bow or BAC Mono. VŪHL Automotive launched the 05 just last month at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, where it was driven up Lord March's lawn by F1 driver Esteban Gutierrez. Its featherlike 1,500-pound curb weight is motivated by a 2.0-liter turbo four sourced from Ford and mounted amidships, driving 285 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque through a six-speed manual to the rear wheels for a claimed 0-62 time of 3.7 seconds.
The numbers sound impressive enough, and have apparently impressed enough customers that VŪHL is putting it into production as planned. The initial run will consist of twenty Edition One models, which VŪHL will start building in November for delivery next spring. In the meantime, the Echeverria brothers will be taking their creation to London to rub shoulders with supercars at the Salon Privé. Scroll down to watch the video below, where you'll also find a press release.
The project, as you may recall, is the brainchild of a pair of Mexican brothers based in Detroit, and calls for a lightweight track car along the lines of the Ariel Atom, KTM X-Bow or BAC Mono. VŪHL Automotive launched the 05 just last month at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, where it was driven up Lord March's lawn by F1 driver Esteban Gutierrez. Its featherlike 1,500-pound curb weight is motivated by a 2.0-liter turbo four sourced from Ford and mounted amidships, driving 285 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque through a six-speed manual to the rear wheels for a claimed 0-62 time of 3.7 seconds.
The numbers sound impressive enough, and have apparently impressed enough customers that VŪHL is putting it into production as planned. The initial run will consist of twenty Edition One models, which VŪHL will start building in November for delivery next spring. In the meantime, the Echeverria brothers will be taking their creation to London to rub shoulders with supercars at the Salon Privé. Scroll down to watch the video below, where you'll also find a press release.
VŪHL 05 TO ENTER PRODUCTION FOLLOWING SUCCESSFUL LAUNCH AT GOODWOOD FESTIVAL OF SPEED 2013
Next stop – Salon Privé, London, 4 - 6 September
Mexico City, Mexico, 21 August 2013 – As a result of its highly successful world public debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, where a complete car and separate chassis were displayed and a further example was demonstrated on the hill by Mexican F1 rookie Esteban Gutierrez, the innovative VŪHL 05 is due to enter production this November.
Said VŪHL Automotive director Guillermo Echeverria: "Our aim for Goodwood was quite specific – to accrue sufficient orders for a batch of 20 'Edition One' (top specification) models and, with the serious enquiries already received from the UK, central Europe, USA and Mexico, we are well on the way to achieving that and more. Production will therefore commence in November as planned, with the first cars due to enter customers' hands during the spring of next year.
"We could not have wished for a better response from the media and public alike and, as hoped, it is clear the car is just as appealing to those wanting an ultra-cool car for the road as the serious trackday enthusiasts seeking an alternative to the offerings of more established manufacturers.
"The enthusiastic feedback we've received has been very rewarding. People generally love the car's unique design, build quality and highly competitive power to weight ratio. We've been asked everything from whether a coupé version is on the cards to whether the roadster will form the basis of a one-make race series. The answer is 'watch this space', for anything is possible!"
Presidential patronage
The VŪHL 05 programme benefits from funding by the Mexican Government as well as private enterprise and recently enjoyed a starring role in Mexico City's annual 'Entrepreneurs Week', where it was unveiled by the President of Mexico, Enrique Peña Nieto, who delighted attendees by not only trying the new supercar for size, but starting and revving the engine too.
Salon Prive debut
The next public outing for the silver and black prototype driven at Goodwood by Gutierrez is the premier lifestyle event Salon Privé, London, September 4-6, where VŪHL will form a key part of the supercar display alongside such hallowed company as Ferrari, Aston Martin, McLaren, and Noble.
www.salonprivelondon.com
Further details of the exciting VŪHL 05 can be found at www.VUHL05.com and its unfolding story can followed on Twitter and Facebook too: @VUHLAutomotive / Facebook
Next stop – Salon Privé, London, 4 - 6 September
Mexico City, Mexico, 21 August 2013 – As a result of its highly successful world public debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, where a complete car and separate chassis were displayed and a further example was demonstrated on the hill by Mexican F1 rookie Esteban Gutierrez, the innovative VŪHL 05 is due to enter production this November.
Said VŪHL Automotive director Guillermo Echeverria: "Our aim for Goodwood was quite specific – to accrue sufficient orders for a batch of 20 'Edition One' (top specification) models and, with the serious enquiries already received from the UK, central Europe, USA and Mexico, we are well on the way to achieving that and more. Production will therefore commence in November as planned, with the first cars due to enter customers' hands during the spring of next year.
"We could not have wished for a better response from the media and public alike and, as hoped, it is clear the car is just as appealing to those wanting an ultra-cool car for the road as the serious trackday enthusiasts seeking an alternative to the offerings of more established manufacturers.
"The enthusiastic feedback we've received has been very rewarding. People generally love the car's unique design, build quality and highly competitive power to weight ratio. We've been asked everything from whether a coupé version is on the cards to whether the roadster will form the basis of a one-make race series. The answer is 'watch this space', for anything is possible!"
Presidential patronage
The VŪHL 05 programme benefits from funding by the Mexican Government as well as private enterprise and recently enjoyed a starring role in Mexico City's annual 'Entrepreneurs Week', where it was unveiled by the President of Mexico, Enrique Peña Nieto, who delighted attendees by not only trying the new supercar for size, but starting and revving the engine too.
Salon Prive debut
The next public outing for the silver and black prototype driven at Goodwood by Gutierrez is the premier lifestyle event Salon Privé, London, September 4-6, where VŪHL will form a key part of the supercar display alongside such hallowed company as Ferrari, Aston Martin, McLaren, and Noble.
www.salonprivelondon.com
Further details of the exciting VŪHL 05 can be found at www.VUHL05.com and its unfolding story can followed on Twitter and Facebook too: @VUHLAutomotive / Facebook
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