Lightweight Aspid set to tackle Caterham

We recently told you about the Breckland Beira (more here), and now here's another niche lightweight sportster designed to cater to hardcore performance junkies.

Looking somewhat like a cross between a Caterham and a Chrysler Prowler, this is the Aspid, a minimalist tearaway conceived by automotive engineering consultancy IFR Automotive, and due to make its world debut on July 23 at the British International Motor Show. 

Its maker claims the two-seater is the result of a five-year development program by a distinguished team of automotive engineers aiming to create "exceptional levels of performance... without compromising the ease and reliability with which it can be driven about town and in the countryside."

Interestingly, IFR says the car's engine block can be sourced from a "number of possible suppliers", and claims that extensive tuning from its boffins can yield 200kW from a 2.0-litre atmo engine, or 300kW with a supercharger strapped on.

Power is delivered to the rear wheels through a manual six-speed gearbox and limited-slip differential.

True to the Caterham formula of keeping weight to a minimum, the Aspid's aluminium and carbonfibre construction means it tips the scales at a Kate Moss-esque (in automotive terms) 700kg, yielding a power to weight ratio of 430kW per tonne.

The claimed performance figures are nothing less than staggering, with the Aspid allegedly scorching from 0-100km/h in 2.8sec and past 160km/h in 5.9sec. 

Stopping power is no less eye-opening, with deceleration from 160km/h to standstill achieved in a claimed 3.0sec. Add to this cornering grip sufficient to generate 1.6g of lateral acceleration and you have the makings of a pretty handy track-attack weapon.

IFR says the Aspid's natural proving ground for its development includes the notorious mountainous roads used for the main stages of the Catalonia Rally. The mountains are near Reus in northern Spain, where the company is based, close to the coastal city of Barcelona. 

"The Aspid has been engineered to deliver a high level of driving pleasure," says company founder Ignacio Fernandez Rodriquez, whose initials give IFR Automotive its name. 

"It brings a new and unique definition to what a sportscar should be and what it can do.  From the outset our aim was to invoke the most intense emotions a car can generate, so the driver can really enjoy it for daily use with high levels of performance available on the track."

The car's design began with no restrictions and a three-dimensional geometric void -- literally an empty space -- was the start point for constructing the car.  This unusual approach allegedly delivered "the optimum linear relationship between all chassis and suspension variables". 

Formerly with Prodrive, Rodriquez founded IFR Automotive in 2003 and claims advance orders have already been taken for the Aspid. The first customers can expect to take delivery of their cars in mid-2009, says Rodriguez.

With a long list of options, no two Aspids will be exactly alike, but IFR says pricing will start around $150k. It goes on to add that "fully loaded models could cost twice as much". Phew!

In case you're wondering about its odd moniker, Aspid is the Spanish name for the small, quick snake that killed Cleopatra.  It is thought to have been a member of the cobra or viper family (not the Dodge V10-powered variety) and native to southern Europe. 

To comment on this article click here