It is with great regret that I am unable to permanently replace Mephisto due to the extreme cost of such a project, even though it would be an extremely tempting proposition for Kai.
However, as a direct result of my inability to give Kai the new hypercar that he clearly deserves, I have chosen to replace Toothless with something that is… not so toothless. I propose that he use a 2016 Kramer K4 Coupe 3.0 as a daily driver instead.
The K4 Coupe looks like a muscle car, and is in fact rear-wheel-drive, but patently isn’t one. For starters, it actually relishes corners as much as straight lines thanks to its well-sorted all-independent suspension at each corner, and stops on a dime courtesy of vented discs front and rear. It is still quite quick off the mark, though, with enough grunt for Kai to have serious fun. Fuel economy of 9.57 L/100 km is surprisingly good for such a big car.
The drivetrain and suspension incorporate no fancy electronic components, since Kai, or any enthusiast worth their salt for that matter, is expected to have an easy time tinkering with them. In addition, the rear wing is not active, but is manually adjustable, again to save cost and minimize complexity. A premium interior and infotainment suite ensure decent levels of comfort for a daily driver. We haven’t forgotten about involvement, though; the example seen here is equipped with a close-ratio six-speed manual transmission for improved acceleration.
The 3.0 trim level is powered by a turbocharged 3.0-litre straight-six (codenamed ANB3) running on 95 RON unleaded and developing just over 320 bhp at 6900 rpm - well before its 7500-rpm redline. In stock form, the engine is tuned for a surprisingly effective blend of power and efficiency, with plenty of torque low down in the rev range. Tuning options include enlarged turbochargers, reinforced titanium conrods and billet steel crank, aggressive cam profiles, and an extended redline, although none of these have been installed on this stock version. It is also possible to increase the level of boost, but this would require such measures as reducing the compression ratio, using more conservative ignition timing, enriching the air/fuel mixture and increasing the cooling capacity, just to preserve the engine’s reliability. Nevertheless, despite it almost being as long as its engine bay will allow, the ANB3 engine is quite easy to work on.
It is expected that this car will cost $22,500 including markups (although some dealers may increase the markup to 20% from the usual 10%), and even though all quality sliders (except for interior, entertainment, and safety) have been set to 0, the strong reliability record of this car means it will last a lifetime, and will in fact most likely outlive Kai - or anyone who buys it, for that matter. Go on, you know you want one!
@Sillyworld wants me to submit a really tempting option for Kai when considering a new daily driver… I may just have created a legitimate contender, at the very least.
