The lightweight Mexican supercar unveiled

The new VŪHL 05 would give Speedy Gonzales - "the fastest mouse in all of Mexico" - a run for his money, and unveiled to a select audience at England’s Royal Automobile Club, the lightweight track-racer debuted a week earlier than predicted. 

The car is the brainchild of Mexican brothers Guillermo and Iker Echeverria who formed the Mexico City/Detroit-based design agency, ETXE, that has worked on projects for numerous global brands before penning the VŪHL 05 - a lightweight supercar for road and track in the vein of BAC Mono, Aerial Atom and KTM X-Bow.

VŪHL 05, the lightweight Mexican supercar. (Picture from: http://www.stuff.co.nz/)

Powered by A modified, mid-ship 2.0 liter turbocharged EcoBoost Ford engine provides the VŪHL 05 with 285 bhp and 420 Nm (310 lb.ft) of torque. A quick consultation of the performance calculator suggests an impressive power-to-weight ratio of 400 bhp per ton, the VŪHL 05 could rockets 0-100kph (62 mph) in 3.7 seconds and tops out at 245kph (152 mph), but where the VŪHL 05 looks likely to excel will be in the twisty bits where it will eat up heftier racers.

A 6-speed manual gearbox, waterproof suede, carbon fiber seats, minimalist interior and only the most essential switches and gauges make it to the cockpit. (Picture from: http://www.gizmag.com/)

A six-speed manual handles the transmission. Tire dimensions are 205/45 17 at the front and 235/45 18 beshodding the rear end. OZ alloy wheels provide the tires the support they need. The job of stopping the car falls to the 310 mm vented cross-drilled brake discs up front, and 280 mm discs at the back.  The car's monocoque chassis weighs in at a mere 78 kg, while the dry weight of the entire car is a very competitive 695 kg (1,532 lbs). The chassis comprises a three-section bonded tub constructed from aluminium extrusions and aluminium honeycomb - aerospace technology that endows the VŪHL 05 with a remarkably high level of torsional rigidity for optimum handling.

Suspension is by unequal length double wishbones front and rear. Braking is by four-pot alloy callipers all-round, operating on 310mm ventilated cross-drilled discs at the front and 280mm units at the rear. The importance of the power-to-weight argument becomes even more relevant. With a background in racing, the family Echeverria well understand the importance of weight reduction in a car of this type. The VŪHL 05 has a bonded tub of aluminum extrusions and honeycomb composition. A chrome-moly steel subframe incorporating the rear suspension and the engine is attached directly to the passenger cell. The body itself is composed of RTM reinforced plastic, but a carbon fiber body is available for those further bent on reducing track times.

The VŪHL 05 is short and squat like a go-kart, but with the luxury of dual seats. (Picture from: http://www.gizmag.com/)

The interior is an exercise in all-weather minimalism, with unfinished floors and side panels and only the most essential gauges and toggle switches. Optional interior designs include a water-resistant Dinamica suede trim, and one-piece carbon bucket seats keep passengers in place. A digital dash with data acquisition capabilities is there to provide feedback as is an integrated HD camera for recording and evaluating laps.

In addition to the usual aerodynamics like a fixed rear spoiler, diffuser and fore and aft air splitters, the VŪHL 05 has no roof and one seriously limited windscreen. Although the token windscreen has the benefit of providing reduced drag and weight, the shear absence of passenger protection from the elements guarantees a taste of the great outdoors. Helmets are recommended.

VŪHL 05 uses aerodynamic tricks, like fixed rear spoiler, diffuser and fore and aft air splitters. (Picture from: http://www.gizmag.com/)

The VŪHL 05 is short and squat like a go-kart, but with the luxury of dual seats. It stands only 1.12 m (3.6 ft) tall, making ingress and egress tricky. The car is almost twice as wide as it is tall at 1.876 m (6.15 ft) across the hips. Double this figure and you get the overall length at just over 3.718 m (12.2 ft). The wheelbase is only 2.3 m (7.5 ft).

While the VŪHL 05 bodies are fabricated in Canada, chassis production and final assembly of the vehicle is handled by the Adman Leku manufacturing concern out of Mexico City. The VŪHL 05 will sell for U.S. $82,750 (£55,000 or approx Rp. 811 million) plus taxes and shipping starting early 2014 in the UK and USA. Given the vehicle’s performance figures and handling expectations the low price tag might make this innovative little supercar a highly sought after item. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | VŪHL | GIZMAG]

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