1989 AMS Albatross 2.0
I cooked this one up in my spare time - it wasn’t intended for a competition of any kind. This build was mainly inspired by several contemporary compact AWD turbocharged cars such as the DSM coupes (Mitsubishi Eclipse, Plymouth Laser and Eagle Talon) and Toyota Celica GT-Four of the same era, as well as the Ford Sierra Cosworth 4x4 and Lancia Delta Integrale, among others.
The first of these trims is the Albatross 2.0 Turbo. It’s powered by a 2.0L turbo I4 mounted transversely, driving all four wheels via a 5-speed manual gearbox and geared LSD, developing 200 horsepower and 204 lb-ft of torque - on regular (91RON/86AKI) unleaded fuel.
It may not look like it, but this was built on the Juliet body set (2.54m wheelbase) - it’s a pity that the smallest size (2.4m wheelbase) isn’t available as anything other than a hatchback (yet). Even with the weight slider cranked up to its heaviest setting, it still weighs 1,210kg - a flyweight by today’s standards.
With a 0-60 time of 6.2 seconds and a top speed of 140 mph, the Albatross 2.0 Turbo was a rapid straight-line performer for its time - especially at its price of $21,700 AMU. That would have made it quite a bargain among performance cars, since 200 horsepower was quite a sizable figure back in 1989.
On top of that, ABS-assisted 4-wheel vented disc brakes and 15-inch alloy wheels, clad in 60-profile 205-section high-performance tires (as fitted to this example - they are optional on the standard Turbo, but standard on the Turbo R), hooked up to 4-wheel independent suspension (strut front/multilink rear) make it especially sure-footed and agile in the bends, with a 200m skidpad grip figure of 1.01g.
Albatross 2.0 Sport
But what about those of you who had tighter budgets back then? There’s also a normally aspirated FWD version, the Albatross 2.0 Sport. On this trim, the LSD is a viscous item, and the tires are medium compound items that are narrower by 20mm front and rear. The suspension tune is also softer compared to that of the Turbo, but even so, it still manages to notch up a 200m skidpad figure of 0.9g. It’s lighter, too, with a weight of only 1054kg, thanks to fitment of smaller rear brakes, but inevitably this trim is slower (0-60 mph in 7.9 seconds and a top speed of 131 mph). This is due to its normally aspirated engine producing only 140 horsepower and 137 lb-ft of torque - but at least it can still run on regular unleaded. Oh, and this trim costs only $16,900 AMU - $4,300 less than the Turbo.
The Sport package is optional on the base model; it includes the Turbo’s aero kit (including a functional front and rear spoiler) and alloy wheels (which are optional without the Sport package). However, only the Turbo comes with fog lights and two-tone upholstery as standard, along with an optional black roof and mirrors on some exterior colors. In addition, the Sport package does not include fog lights or body-colored side mirrors (both of which are separate options).
Base model Albatross 2.0
If your budget is really tight, you can order an Albatross 2.0 without the Sport package, and at an even lower price of $15,500 AMU, the resulting car is even more affordable, but you’ll have to make do with 14-inch steel wheels, non-ABS brakes, an open diff, and a basic cassette tape stereo (although alloys, ABS, and a standard stereo are all available as separate options, and the Sport package includes all three items as standard). Also, the Albatross looks somewhat plain without its aero kit. Finally, the naturally aspirated FWD trims can be ordered with a 4-speed advanced automatic transmission (for an extra $400 AMU) as an option, but the Turbo cannot.
Option package availability
The Sport package is the only option pack available for the base model; in addition to this, the Turbo can be ordered with either a more luxurious Premium package or a sportier R package, but not both.
Premium package description
As for those who can afford a Turbo with some cash to spare, you may be tempted by the Premium package, which is exclusive to the Turbo, and adds a premium sound system with CD player, as well as leather seats and trim. It doesn’t add much weight, but it does add quite a bit to the price - all told, an Albatross 2.0 Turbo Premium costs $24,600 AMU, or $2,900 more than the standard Turbo.
R package description
Also exclusive to the Turbo, this and the Premium package are mutually exclusive; you cannot order both of them at once. However, this is meant for the serious driver, and as such comes with a sports interior, forged magnesium wheels, stiffer suspension, lower-profile high-performance tires, and a more aggressive aero kit. It costs $23,700 AMU - a good chunk more than the Turbo’s base price, but it’s still cheaper than the Premium package, and saves 30kg over the standard Turbo.
As far as safety is concerned, all trims come with a driver’s side airbag and manual 3-point seatbelts for all four occupants as standard.
Al-Rilma Revision
The car is now called the EMR ECT4 due to the Albatross name being given to a dedicated two-seater model line.
As before, the Premium and R packages are mutually exclusive on the Turbo, and both are unavailable on the base FWD non-turbo trim.