Erin and ErinSport - Historical Thread ['62 Erin Ghaleda]

DeusExMackia · 2 August 2015 15:12

##Overview
The Erin Motor Company - proud makers of a multitude of 4 wheeled creations since 1959!

Beginning life as a racing team in the early 1950s, Erin rose to fame as the underdogs in major motorsport events such as Le Mans and Touring Car Racing. A request from a rich American motoring enthusiast for “his own Erin” led to the founding of the company as a mass producer of high end sports cars, before expanding into the GT and small car market during the 1960s.

A massive drop in profits in the late 70s almost brought the company to ruin, but it only led to the rebranding of Erin as a maker of safe, good-to-drive and good looking cars. From the late 90s onwards, Erin pioneered fuel efficiency with its ‘Millenial’ and ‘Pureon’ engine ranges in an effort to prove that eco motoring needn’t be boring.

Today, Erin makes everything from supermini’s to executive saloons to high end sports cars.

Their in-house tuning company, The X Department, design sportier versions of their cars, as well as being the manager’s of ErinSport, the company’s race team.

Winner: Best Luxury Car Company 2016 (EOTY 16)

##2016 Line-up
The current range of cars from Erin.

Hatchbacks

Saloons

Sports

##Key Models
The best from Erin’s history.[ul]
Scarlet - The definitve Erin sports coupe - Mk 1, Mk 3, Mk 4
Merna - 50 years of practical fun, Erin’s iconic hatchback - Mk 1 Touring (BRC66 Edition), Mk 2, Mk 4, Mk 6 (scroll down), Mk 8
Nasaro - The 80s MR Coupe made to take on the M3 - Mk 1, ErinSport XR SM
Tauga - The compact executive that’s one step ahead of the game - Mk 1 (scroll down), Mk 3, Mk 3 SB-X
Berlose - The ultimate all-rounder, Erin’s stylish executive saloon - Mk 1, Mk 2 (DTM93 and '95 Facelift), Mk 2 X-AllDrive, Mk 5
[/ul]

##Challenges Entered
[ul]Junior Executive Car Brawl - 2015 Erin Tauga Vox - Finished 14th
BRC 1966 - 1966 Erin Merna Touring BRC66 - DNF
Nineties Econobox Challenge - Erin Visto Mk 2 - Cancelled
Young Norwegian Car Enthusiast Challenge - 2000 Erin Merna Mk 6 - Finished 5th
Got Rice? Tuners Challenge - Erin Visto Mk 3 - Cancelled
Dessau Autobahn Speed Record 1994 - ErinSport CRP-4C “Duke’s Terror” (Variant) - Finished 6th (D1 Class)
'16 Automation Homologation Challenge - Erin Merna Mk 8 - Finished 14th
Holy Toldeo Design Challenge - Erin Comprida SV6 Turbo and Erin Civera GT-L - Finished 5th and 2nd respectively
Themed Car Challenge (Season 2) - Erin Berlose (Mk 2 Facelift) - DNF
DTM 1993 - ErinSport Berlose DTM93
Survival Of The Fittest - Erin Civera SOTF Special - DNF
The 1996 “We are broke, help us build a Car” Challenge - LaVache-Erin Volanti Concept - Finished 4th
The Efficient Future Competition - Erin Nardella Mk 2 Concept - Finished 14th
Holy Toledo Design Challenge Part 2 - Erin Merna (Mk 4) and Erin Berlose (Mk 1) - Finished 2nd and 1st (respectivley)
BRC 1976 QuER 1000km of Hockenheim - ErinSport Civera Silhouette BRC76 - Finished 28th
Top Gear Challenge (Round 1) - 1987 Erin Berlose Lex+ 2.6
1992 Hatchback Competition - 1992 Erin Merna - Finished 3rd
The Car Shopping Round - Round 10 - 2016 Erin Merna Touring Ritorno - Finished 1st
Automation Endurance Challenge II - ErinSport GTLite-16 S1 and ErinSport Tauga Coupe Super Touring
Super Grand Touring Vans 2016 - ErinSport Formula Van Proto1
American Road Trip Challenge - 2015 Erin Merna Vox-AllDrive
Late 90s GT Car Challenge - ErinSport GT95 S3 - Finished 3rd
Survival of the Fittest 1983 - Erin Berlose Vox 3.2 modified (‘The Conqueror’) - Made it to Stage 5
[/ul]

##Car Shows Entered
[ul]Chicago Auto Show 2016 - Finished 3rd
Geneva Auto Show 2016 - Tour of Display
[/ul]

##Car Reviews
[ul]Erin Comprida SV6 Turbo - POPULAR Automobile 1970s Edition
Erin Civera GT-L - POPULAR Automobile 1970s Edition
Upshift Magazine - Erin Scarlet X 3.8
[/ul]

##Facilities
For that extra roleplayer feel. And for even more RP fun, here’s a map!

Headquaters: Brian Clough Way, Nottingham, UK
Includes Erin Central Design Studios and The Erin Heritage and Experience Centre (think Mercedes-Benz World mixed with Autostadt, Wolfsburg)

Stapleford Assembly Plant - Brian Clough Way, Nottingham, UK
Manufacturers: Visto, Merna, Tauga

Wythenshawe Assembly Plant - Sharston Road, Manchester, UK
Manufacturers: Berlose, Aventa

Madeline Road Assembly Plant - Madeline Road, Leicester, UK
Manufacturers: Bino

X Department Headquarters and Assembly Plant - Brian Clough Way, Nottingham, UK
Manufacturers: Nardella, Scarlet (specialist production line)

X Department Research and Development Centre - Airfield Industrial Estate, Asbourne, UK
Includes X Department Design Studios and X Department Test Track.

Holme Lane Engine Plant - Holme Lane, Spondon, UK
Manafacturers engines for Visto, Merna, Tauga, Bino, Nardella, Scarlet

Cheadle Heath Engine and Parts Plant - Yew Street, Stockport, UK
Manufacturers engines for Berlose and Aventa, manufactures various parts for all vehicles. Includes Erin Historic Parts Centre.

Atlantic Street Production Centre - Broadheath, Manchester, UK
Manufacturers various parts for all vehicles.

DeusExMackia · 2 August 2015 15:28

#The X Department

##Overview
The X Department is Erin’s in-house tuning company. They are given the job of designing sporty trims for Erin’s models, and often design their own engines (these are branded as ‘XTune’ engines). Occasionally, the department also exclusively designs and manufacturers its own vehicles. The Department gets exclusive access to the development of Erin’s new vehicles, to aid them with designing their sportier trims. The X Department has its own separate facility at Erin’s main factory, as well as secretive R&D facility with race track and proving ground. X Department trims are simply named ‘X’.

##History
The X Department traces its roots back to Erin’s early racing days, before they became a proper car manufacturer. The team’s R&D division was seperated out during 1952/3 to give them more room to work in, as well as being given their own budget. From this, they developed new racing cars as well as prototypes of vehicles and engines.
When Erin became a proper manafacturer in 1959, the division continued to work as normal, but soon began to experiment with left over chassis’ and parts from the production line. This soon led to them tuning Erin’s production vehicles, and the bosses began to take notice.
In 1962, the division suggested developing some kind of one off sports version of the Mk 1 Merna, which would be tuned and developed by them. This would later become the Merna Sport, their ‘breakthrough vehicle’. This nippy, tightened version of the standard car sold fairly well, and the success prompted Erin to integrate the division into the main company.
Needing a brand, they named themselves ‘The X Department’, with the ‘X’ being short for ‘Experimental’.
By 1970, The X Department had grown vastly, and was now making sports trims of almost all of Erin’s models. Around this time, they were merged with Erin’s racing division, so’s that the team could make the most of their facilities and expertise.
Since then, the Department has been an integral part of the company, producing its most successful sports car the Scarlet, including a number of special ‘XR’ trim vehicles that attempt to push the road-going-racecar boundary as far as it can go.

##Key Models
Some of the Department’s greatest hits.

1968 Erin Lira - Designed exclusivley by the X Department, this was their first solo outing. Super lightweight and plenty of power.

1981 Erin Nasaro X - Erin’s comeback car was a mid-engined masterpiece, and the X trim introduced the 3.3l V6; the definitive X Department engine.
If this car were a song, it’d be Life’s What You Make It by Talk Talk

1986 Erin Scarlet X - The original Scarlet, in all its eighties glory. Pop-up headlights, black plastic, and stats to make a 911 weep.

1992 Erin Merna XR - A blend of the Merna BTCC and WRC car, with polymer body panels and 233 bhp. What could possibly be madder?

1996 Erin Scarlet X - Regarded as one of Erin’s greatest cars ever. The definitive drivers car, suited to every road and phenomenal in every way.

1996 Erin Berlose X-AllDrive - An all wheel drive super saloon, with the same 3.8l V8 as the Scarlet under the bonnet. The results were profound, to say the least.

2008 Erin Tauga X-AllDrive - Focused, precise and unbelievably fast; an AWD super saloon for the 21st century.

2015 Erin Nardella X - A new take on the small sports car, with a focus on the environment and simplicity.

2016 Erin Scarlet Mk 4 - The Scarlet is back, and better than ever before. Bold new styling, groundbreaking engineering and unbelievable performance.

2016 Erin Tauga SB-X - The stylish Shooting Brake estate version of the Tauga, fitted with AWD and the latest 3.3l V6.

DeusExMackia · 2 August 2015 21:39

Logo 1970-1994

Logo 1995-present

##Overview
ErinSport (formerly ‘Erin Motorsport’) is the make’s racing division, and the oldest part of the company. Founded in 1950, ErinSport has been one of the most revered parts of the Erin brand, turning their production cars into racing machines, as well developing their own vehicles entirely. There are very few disciplines that ErinSport haven’t competed in, though their main ones are touring car racing, rallying and endurance competitions.

##History
ErinSport began life as an underdog team based out of Nottingham, England. Dominic Erin, the founder of the company, was an aircraft engineer at RAF Ashbourne, Derbyshire, where he worked on Bristol Blenheim’s and Armstong-Whitworth Whitley’s during WW2. Come the end of the conflict, the engines and parts of these bombers were given away for free in an effort to combat the country’s huge debt. With all these free parts to mess around with, Erin began to experiment and was soon working on a car powered by a Bristol Mercury engine. It was by no means a race vehicle, but with 800 bhp coming from its 25L radial cylinders, it was pretty fast.
Come 1948, and Erin now had a small team of engineers who were working on hand-built race cars to compete in events at the nearby Donington, which, although currently closed due its use by the RAF, was hosting small custom car competitions. It was from this that the team began to build recognition.

The company’s first major achievement was the creation of the Erin SCT1 (Sports Car Type 1), powered by a Ford V8, which was entered into a number of sports car competitions around Britain. 8 were built in total from hand-crafted aluminium, some of it even from older aircraft. It was a big success, thanks to its lightness and aerodynamic shape. With a number of victories under their belt, Dominic Erin founded Erin Motorsport in the summer of 1950, and thus the company was born.

Throughout the 1950s, Erin Motorsport would enter into a number of competitions, including Le Mans, the FIA Sports Car World Championship and various prototype competitions. With an ever expanding workforce and more room required, the company bought out the RAF Ashbourne airfield and turned it into their own test track. A new construction facility built at the site allowed them to greatly improve their work, allowing them to build everything on site. By 1959, the company had become so popular that a rich American businessman (who also happened to be a motorsport enthusiast) personally requested “his own Erin” to drive. It was from this that the Erin Motor Company was founded.

Erin Motorsport continued alongside the new company, and it introduced the opportunity to design race versions of the production cars. Soon, Erin Motorsport was entering into numerous touring car competitions, while the FIA World Championship for Makes became one of their most important and successful competitions. During the early 1960s, the teams R&D development began to tune the new production cars being made by Erin, and would soon form into The X Department.

In 1970, the company said goodbye to CEO Dominic Erin has he retired and handed over to his son, Marco Erin, who has owned the company ever since. Under his new management, Erin Motorsport was merged with the X Department and rebranded as ErinSport. With a new budget, closer ties with the main company and access to the X Department’s engineers, ErinSport thrived and became an incredibly successful race team. Even during Erin’s massive financial crisis in the late 70s, the team would continue to be successful, and helped to prevent the Erin brand from being tarnished.

Since the 1980s, ErinSport has continued to innovate and compete around the world in all kinds of disciplines. These years have also been some of the team’s most successful, with racing versions of the Erin Merna and Scarlet leading the way.

##Famous Models
Some of ErinSport’s major vehicles.

1966 Erin Merna Touring - The first of many succesful Erin Merna touring cars, this was an early BTCC star and also competed (rather poorly) in BRC 1966.

1976 ErinSport Civera Silhouette BRC76 - A fond farewell to one of ErinSport’s most loved vehicles, and a Group 4 masterpiece.

1985 ErinSport Nasaro XR SM - A special road going version of a MR Group A legend that dominated super touring car racing in the 1980s.

1988 ErinSport CRP4-B - One of the greatest race cars ever made by ErinSport. A Group C monster that could top 230 mph.
If this car were a song, it’d be Two Tribes by Frankie Goes To Hollywood.

1992 ErinSport Merna BTCC92 - The BTCC winning hatchback that took on a field of much bigger cars gave everyone quite the shock.

1993 ErinSport Berlose DTM93 - A one off entrant into the 1993 DTM season, with a car that was bigger than all its compeitiors.

1995 ErinSport GT95 S1 - Erin’s loophole exploiting, aerodynamics-breaking, flat eight powered Le Mans champion.
If this car were a song, it’d be Wake Up by Rage Against The Machine.

2001 ErinSport GT01
ErinSport’s achilles heal; more advanced than anything they’d ever made, and yet never able to be the success story it should have been.
If this car were a song, it’d be The National Anthem by Radiohead

DoctorNarfy · 2 August 2015 22:02

Nice First cars . I’d really be careful about those quality sliders though, don’t be dependent on them, or you’ll find it almost impossible to have yours cars be competitive, both performance and price wise.

DeusExMackia · 2 August 2015 22:34

@DoctorNarfy Would you recommend that I don’t move them as much? I always change them depending on trim levels at the moment.

BassixDnB · 2 August 2015 22:54

The quality sliders make a massive increase in material cost and production units. It’s better to upgrade from, say, standard interior to premium interior, rather than making the quality be +5. I would say, almost always try to keep quality sliders between -3 and +3, to be safe. That’s whay I usually do, anyway

DoctorNarfy · 3 August 2015 00:22

I think you use quality sliders differently than I do. Based on the 8500 Redline of your V8 there, I’m guessing you gave a lot of quality to “Smoothness and higher max RPM.” I used to think this lowered the cost of the engine, but Production Units also add to the total cost of your car, this is why Hand Made Aluminum costs more than normal Aluminum.
For different trims, in my mind it only makes sense to improve things people will instantly notice, such as interior quality, higher quality Wheels, gearbox, Etc, but that’s just my opinion.

BassixDnB · 3 August 2015 02:21

[quote=“DoctorNarfy”]I think you use quality sliders differently than I do. Based on the 8500 Redline of your V8 there, I’m guessing you gave a lot of quality to “Smoothness and higher max RPM.” I used to think this lowered the cost of the engine, but Production Units also add to the total cost of your car, this is why Hand Made Aluminum costs more than normal Aluminum.
For different trims, in my mind it only makes sense to improve things people will instantly notice, such as interior quality, higher quality Wheels, gearbox, Etc, but that’s just my opinion.[/quote]

As far as I know, one production unit is around US$30, so material cost may go down, but total cost is still going up. Besides, the benefits of going either way drop off as the distance from 0 increases (I assume it’s some sort of inverse square function), so you’ll get more bang for your buck at ±2 instead of ±7.

DeusExMackia · 3 August 2015 09:03

[quote=“BassixDnB”]

[quote=“DoctorNarfy”]I think you use quality sliders differently than I do. Based on the 8500 Redline of your V8 there, I’m guessing you gave a lot of quality to “Smoothness and higher max RPM.” I used to think this lowered the cost of the engine, but Production Units also add to the total cost of your car, this is why Hand Made Aluminum costs more than normal Aluminum.
For different trims, in my mind it only makes sense to improve things people will instantly notice, such as interior quality, higher quality Wheels, gearbox, Etc, but that’s just my opinion.[/quote]

As far as I know, one production unit is around US$30, so material cost may go down, but total cost is still going up. Besides, the benefits of going either way drop off as the distance from 0 increases (I assume it’s some sort of inverse square function), so you’ll get more bang for your buck at ±2 instead of ±7.[/quote]

Wow, thanks for the advice guys! Interesting how those quality sliders calculate changes.
I will be taking this all into account as I design new cars

DeusExMackia · 3 August 2015 15:36

1968 Erin Merna (Mk2)
After the relatively poor performance of the Mk1 Merna, the 1968 Mk2 model set out to take on the family car market of the late 60s.
The Mk 2 Merna took on the same form as its predecessor - a small, 4 door, 5 seat saloon - only this time, far more effort was put into improve and refining its design, resulting in an econimical little family car.

The model shown here is the top of the range ‘Plus’ trim, which featured standard level equipment and plenty of chrome.

[size=150]AutomationHub Page: automationhub.net/company-ca … rmodel/588[/size]

i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s527/Mackiatoe/mernamk22_zpsnuo5zfrm.jpg

i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s527/Mackiatoe/mernamk24_zpschb87m8v.jpg

i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s527/Mackiatoe/mernamk25_zpsovmt4k5k.jpg

i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s527/Mackiatoe/mernamk21_zpshkzzno3t.jpg

DeusExMackia · 4 August 2015 22:18

Erin Merna Mk 8

Here is the latest generation of the Erin Merna, made to be the safest and most efficient version yet.
See the full listing here: automationhub.net/company-ca … rmodel/594

i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s527/Mackiatoe/mernamk82_zpsgaijw0ez.jpg

i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s527/Mackiatoe/mernamk81_zpsoovnya3c.jpg

i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s527/Mackiatoe/mernamk85_zpsq2lxfuie.jpg

Here’s the stats page for the engine - it’s close to 36% efficiency!:
i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s527/Mackiatoe/1.4lpureron%20srs%20effi_zpsp5anfeae.jpg

DeusExMackia · 8 August 2015 19:47

[size=150]This car has been redesigned. See here for new design: viewtopic.php?f=35&t=7461&p=105138#p105138[/size]

[size=150]2011 Erin Super Aventa[/size]
The ultimate in automotive thinking. The combination of unbelievable luxury and huge amounts of power.
The Super Aventa is the lead car for Erin’s new design style, with a clean and crisp focus. An aluminium body helps to keep the weight at the 2 tonne mark, allowing the 5.3l engine to push it all the way to 182 mph!

Check it out on AutomationHub for more pictures: automationhub.net/company-ca … rmodel/599

i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s527/Mackiatoe/aventa1_zps06psx5xx.jpg

i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s527/Mackiatoe/aventa2_zpsoanrfzxd.jpg

i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s527/Mackiatoe/aventa5_zpssw794r1k.jpg

Oskiinus · 9 August 2015 08:34

1968 Merna is very adorable.

reeve509 · 9 August 2015 12:03

Oh man, all of these designs are great.

DeusExMackia · 9 August 2015 22:42

@Oskiinus @reeve509 Cheers for the appreciation!

deleted

DeusExMackia · 12 August 2015 14:14

[size=150]1970 Erin Civera[/size]
Made for the low end coupe market, the Civera was once described as “a more grown-up Ford Capri”. It was lightweight, reliable and affordable, and drove well thanks to its 2.5l straight six that sat under the bonnet.

It was also well equiped; it could seat 4 comfortably and had a premium interior.

The Civera was change in design for Erin too. Its rectangular headlights and boxy shape made it evident that Erin’s styling was shifting as the 70s began.

More pictures here: automationhub.net/company-ca … rmodel/604

i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s527/Mackiatoe/civera1_zpspzqkylan.jpg

i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s527/Mackiatoe/civera6_zps35uqblte.jpg

[size=150]2015 Erin Nardella X[/size]
The big revival of the affordable sports car market prompted Erin to design the Nardella; a small, practical, efficient car that focusses almost entirely on the way it drives. It’s a hark back to the Lira of the 1970s; little spent on luxuries, big focus on driving and performance.

The combination of an AHS Steel chassis and aluminium body on top allows the Nardella to achieve a fine balance between lightweightness and safety. Its well sized boot and heaps of cabin space make this a car that’s also very easy to live with, while still being able to do 0-60 in 7.3 seconds and going on to a top speed of a 143 mph.

This puts it right in line with the Toyota GT86, but there’s big difference; the Nardella costs Erin under £10k to manafacture, meaning that the car can be sold for just shy of £20k, making it noticeably cheaper. That 42 mpg average economy and surprinsgly high comfort rating are further benefits of the Nardella.

More pictures: automationhub.net/company-ca … rmodel/605

i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s527/Mackiatoe/nardella2_zpsclil7bzg.jpg

i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s527/Mackiatoe/nardella3_zpsgihiwv3x.jpg

i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s527/Mackiatoe/nardella5_zpslwar1yrh.jpg

reeve509 · 12 August 2015 14:16

Love the look of the Civera, over 170hp with only 1100kg to throw around sounds fun !

Oskiinus · 12 August 2015 20:07

Nasaro and Civera are looking great!

Is it me or my Airborne Cherry has got a competitor?

My car is however cheaper, costs 20.380 USD and your one costs (if we will take 20.000 GBP for the final price) for today somewhere near 32.000 USD.

DeusExMackia · 12 August 2015 22:31

[quote=“Oskiinus”]Nasaro and Civera are looking great!

Is it me or my Airborne Cherry has got a competitor?
(Image)

My car is however cheaper, costs 20.380 USD and your one costs (if we will take 20.000 GBP for the final price) for today somewhere near 32.000 USD.[/quote]

Hmmm, I think it might have something to compete with!

DeusExMackia · 15 August 2015 20:49

[size=150]1983 Erin Berlose[/size]

This car has been redesigned: viewtopic.php?f=35&t=7461&p=101658#p101658