Important Announcements from Harris-Albury
Tom Bryant, Senior Engineer, Albury Motors Inc.
"It’s been exactly a decade since we launched our first mid-engined car - the CMS-16 - and we vastly underestimated how much of a following it garnered during its five-year production run. In the eyes of our customers, it came and went too quick, so when we heard that Harris was reintroducing the RMA, we decided to assist them in developing it, and amortize the costs by launching a sister car - the CMS-20T. This new model is expected to make the Albury Performance sub-brand available to buyers at a lower price point than it has been for some time.
"We expect this new car to be a true contender in the burgeoning light sports car sector, thanks to all-aluminum construction, double wishbone suspension at each wheel, and a mid-mounted 300-horsepower turbocharged 2-litre four-cylinder mated exclusively to a six-speed manual gearbox. However, its development hasn’t all been plain sailing; after some testers complained of pre-production examples exhibiting… unusual handling characteristics, we have revised the suspension tune and gear ratios to make the car easier to drive, without losing too much of its hard-edged, sporty feel. Also, we have enlarged the rear spoiler slightly to produce more rear downforce, and revised the front-end styling to give it a more assertive appearance.
“The new CMS-20T is expected to go on sale this October at a base price of $24,375 with a 30% markup. For that, you’ll get a full suite of driving aids, plus all the latest safety and infotainment systems. Plus, with a combined cycle economy figure greater than 30 mpg, and a 0-60 mph time of just 4.2 seconds, you’ll easily have your cake and eat it with the CMS-20. Get your order in now - demand is expected to be very strong as soon as this car goes on sale.”
Jeremy Hayes, Chief Dynamics Engineer, Harris Cars Ltd.
Resurrecting the RMA, our entry-level mid-engined sports car, after a five-year hiatus seemed like madness at first, until we realized that the previous RMA was highly regarded during its production run. Its discontinuation coincided with the axing of the cheaper front-engined CMC after more than a decade, and so we needed a car that could replace both of these models. When Albury Motors approached us with an offer to lend technical assistance to their own affordable sports coupe, we had no choice but to accept. Ultimately, we were right to do so, for this collaboration, in addition to bringing the CMS-20T to the streets, has allowed us to develop its platform-mate - the Harris RMA-4 - and sell it to the public.
"The number 4 in its name has a twofold meaning: it is the first generation of RMA to be powered by a four-cylinder engine, and the fourth one overall. However, to differentiate it from the CMS-20T, we have fitted our own 1.6-liter turbo four-cylinder engine, developing just over 200 bhp, although the two cars share the same gearbox. As such, it will not be as fast in a straight line, but the gentler torque curve makes it more docile in daily driving - and more economical as well. In addition, the RMA-4 will be offered at a base price of $20,400 with a 20% markup. Apart from that, both cars will have similar levels of standard equipment.
“We expect this Anglo-Australian cooperation to continue for years to come after these two models hit the market. After all, platform sharing is crucial to reducing development costs across a manufacturer’s range. But more importantly, this joint project shows that environmental awareness, high performance, mid-engined dynamics and (relatively) low starting prices need not all be mutually exclusive.”
September 12th
September 12th
A Motoring Man’s Meanderings
Pre-show 1
A reminder that Gavin won’t be free from the 11th to the 15th of September, meaning that if anyone wants to do coverage, that slot is very much available.
FRANKFURT IAA 2017: Contendiente’s stand.
Welcome to the Frankfurt Motor Show 2017! Here, at the Contendiente stand we have two special cars being shown; the first, a facelift of our flagship model; and the second, a new sports car.
Contendiente Enemigo Concept 2019.
This is the facelift that will hit the market in late 2018. Faster, more efficient and sportier are the keys to this new version of our compact sports sedan; the 2 liter 4-banger has been redesigned and turbocharged - increasing the power output from 250hp to 320hp. It returns a combined fuel economy of 7.44l/100km (31.61 MPG US).
Even with this output increase, the weight has stayed fairly low - only 1250kg! We have also swapped the active suspension for a traditional passive suspension, with a tune that prioritizes sportiness, while keeping drivability and comfort reasonably good. It corners at 1.11Gs (20m) and 1.08Gs (250m).
Gearshifting is done through a traditional 6 speed manual, mated to a geared LSD, and it accelerates from 0 to 100km/h (62 mph) in only 4.9 seconds. The price is still to be determined.
The new Contendiente Victoria.
The MR car that everyone can afford! For only 36000$, you’ll be driving this little street legal racing machine.
With its carbon fiber body, and aluminium panels, the weight falls under 900kg! And it’s not like it’s unsafe, as it complies with every safety regulation cars have to pass. With all-around double wishbones, low weight, and low ride height, it manages to pull 1.2Gs at 20m and 1.33Gs at 250m.
It is powered by a mid, transversely mounted 1.8L V6, NA, making 225hp. Don’t be fooled by these numbers: combined with a manual 6-speed transmission and a geared LSD, this car accelerates from 0 to 100 in only 4.2 seconds, while still returning 30MPG! The car mounts 225mm tyres all around, making finding tyre sets easier.
This car will be launched in late 2018. Stay tuned, because a twin turbocharged edition of the car might be on its way too!
In a class of it’s own. Ridgewell-Jeong Motors Eden Concept.
Performance
RJM is proud to present the Eden Concept. Eden represents the finest to come out of the minds of our engineers, with ultra-high boost, carbon fiber technology, and unique suspension components. The purest expression of our brand packs a small package with a big punch under the large, shell-shaped rear hood. Under lays a small, ferocious beast; a highly boosted 2 Liter inline-4 producing 468 HP, giving it the highest specific output for a gasoline engine ever. To emphasize the power produced by Eden, our engineers fabricated the next-generation Carbon Fibre Monocoque in order to increase safety and rigidity whilst losing weight. The result is an extremely light car, especially for it’s relatively large footprint. 100 km/h passes in 3.2 seconds; 200 km/h in under 10 seconds. An all-new fine tuned pushrod suspension is found here, with new components and up to 45% more rigidity in rough conditions as comparison to the previous version of RJM’s Pushrod suspension. Jam-packed with electronic gadgets, Eden, despite it’s very low weight and relatively high-powered engine, is still very manageable at high speeds; with extensive work on the Super-Control Grip Regulator (S-CGR), Eden is able to grip even rougher pavement or smooth gravel conditions with the suspension raised up as high as possible. The RJM Eden Concept showcases the best of the modern era that RJM can offer, packed into a wild and daring shell.
Design and Ergonomics
The RJM Eden Concept was designed from the ground up to be eccentric and draw attention first. With a bold, brash design, Eden is sure to make a statement wherever it goes. Inspired by shapes both natural and artificial, with a swooping bodyline but sharp, angled details, Eden is a completely unique design. Painted in a shade of indigo called Atlantic Bloom Indigo created specifically for this concept, Eden will make a statement no matter where the location. However, the design is still very functional; rear flaps on the clamshell hood and raise and lower in order to help roadholding and produce even more downforce and high speeds. The interior is equally intriguing; while it is subtle enough for the road, it still has a mix of classic and futuristic elements, such as carbon-fiber airplane-esque switches, a digital display layed inside of a rectangular, metallic case, amongst other elements. Overall, the 2-seater cockpit feels special, and is like nothing ever RJM has ever created. RJM’s main goal with Eden was to make a functioning concept that’s not just wild and enthralling, but a car which could define us as a brand. We hope you enjoy Eden as much as we do.
Specifications
It takes a genius like you to make a four-cylinder supercar really work, and you have done just that. But will the Eden actually enter production? I hope it does!
In the pursuit of speed at any cost, GG started out as a kit company of sorts: whacking together the most extreme parts and making some of the most extreme machines possible. With a lot of collaborative help, it is gradually edging towards a proper production business model, currently outsourcing much of its manufacturing requirements for its higher volume (but still limited run) models, such as Lilith and the Bellua, but aiming to establish the means to support the industry locally. What is already in-house, though, is the research, development and production of their top end model, the halo car, the evolution of the ultimate high performance road vehicle.
In 2014, this initially took form in a singular prototype, Sleipnir, inspired by the organic ridges and curves of the Furai, but the project was delayed after the prototype was wrecked in a ‘testing incident’. The following year, a mockup of a new model emerged, the Mercury, with a similar body powered by a typically nuclear GG style powerplant. But it soon became apparent that a newer, more radical aerodynamic solution would be required to reliably achieve GG’s goals of creating a car that would break 500km/h without grenading the engine, and retain superior cornering on par with that of the sharpest hypercars of today.
2018 Jörmungandr
It would be fair to refer to say that while GG is searching to make the final word in ICE based hypercars, despite meeting most of their performance goals, this is not yet the final form. Chief designer Strop is a staunch believer that their performance cars ought never to exceed far beyond 1400kg, yet in having to extend the wheelbase, and widen the track to accommodate one of their most ambitious engines yet (with the exception of the outsourced billet block that was the monstrous ‘multicharged’ V16 that went into Mephisto), Jörmungandr tips the scales at a hefty 1659kg. But it has the power to match, 2111hp to push it all the way to beyond 500km/h without tossing a conrod.
With only the rear wheels driven, despite the full might of GG’s bespoke control system developed specifically for this line, coupled with its virtual HUD interface, Jörmungandr remains a handful, though far less than its predecessors. We don’t recommend fanging it in the wet or on loose surfaces, even if the car is, unlike less recent GG cars, capable of being a half-decent daily as long as you don’t drive over any oversized speed humps.
On a good appropriate road, however, it’s certainly capable enough even in technical sectors, with handling that belies its size, though it requires specialty tyres and wheels somewhat narrower than we would prefer on our track beasts if it is to be rated anywhere near its top speed.
During testing in Nurburg, just 2 hours away, Jörmungandr was able to clock an impressive time, inching closer to our target.
Perhaps with a fresh approach to the body and further developments, we can create something equalling the straight line performance but dynamically superior and lighter. As it stands, this is the state of our art, and needless to say, there will be very few of them made, they won’t go cheap, and they’ll be sold preferentially to those who can aid our pursuit of ultimate road performance.
RJM released a tweet on the 8th of September, 2017. It states…
Eden will not be produced in our lineup. It is too expensive to fit into our lineup; we will focus on our other high-performance models.
It was later leaked that a single Eden would cost upwards of $300,000 due to it’s use of expensive materials and highly complex engine building process.