automotive sport

The new sports car has an impressive design and engineering pedigree. Formerly with Prodrive, Rodriquez subsequently joined the Mitsubishi World Rally Championship team as race engineer for Alister McRae and François Delecour. Rodriquez founded IFR Automotive in 2003 and began work immediately on the new sports car project, while handling confidential car and commercial vehicle assignments from industry clients.
Rodriquez has recruited a team of highly experienced automotive engineers, many with a similar top level motorsport background. Chief dynamics engineer Breno Oliveira, for example, also worked at Prodrive. The development of the car has also benefited from the input of Sergi Arranz, an experienced motor industry test driver who was previously head of dynamics testing at SEAT.
“For the Aspid our aim was to advance the current state-of-the-art particularly in the critical area of steering, handling and road holding,” says Rodriquez. “We have taken a new approach on vehicle dynamics, including a new construction method for the chassis, as well as developing new brakes and suspension arms. We’ve also broken with the tradition that says a long wheelbase, wide track and low ride height is best for performance; our chassis and suspension philosophy ensures the car can also be driven with ease on normal roads.”
“The electronics too are highly innovative and include a sophisticated interface between the driver and the car; a mere touch of the interactive screen located in the centre console and the Aspid is instantly reprogrammed with a whole new set-up to suit different road and track conditions. But mostly it will be the car’s rapid acceleration, cornering poise and equally brisk deceleration that will ensure a memorable driving experience.”
The Aspid is the only car in the world to meet both FIA safety requirements and European homologation standards. This means it already has the strength within its main body structure to avoid the need for an additional roll cage; it really can be driven from the road directly onto the race track without the need for any special preparation. And after a hard race the car is robust, durable and safe enough to be driven again on public roads.
Aspid prototypes feature a 2-litre engine; either naturally aspirated to deliver 270bhp or supercharged to 400bhp. The engines are highly modified by IFR, such that the engine block can be sourced from a number of possible suppliers. Power is delivered to the rear wheels through a manual 6-speed gearbox and limited-slip differential.