Exigence Of Speed: British Brilliance

By Feann Torr - 10/05/2005

It's not the most modern-looking supercar to rear its exotically crafted head since the turn of the millennium, but the new dream machine from British-based MB Roadcars (MBR) promises to take up where McLaren's stunning F1 left off in the late '90s.

If you can get past the blockish 1980s nose of the EOS, (Exigence Of Speed), and you've got a penchant for the fastest cars in the world, you will most likely be impressed with what's on offer.

Like the McLaren F1, the new EOS positions the driver smack bang in the middle of the cockpit, while two passengers sit side-by-side behind the front seat. This allows for "maximum control and the most engaging and rewarding driving experience" according to MB Roadcars.

But there's more to distinguish the EOS supercar from your garden variety Lamborghinis and Ferraris than just a centrally positioned seat.

Take the engine for instance: with a small 4.0-litre capacity, the V8 mill that thumps away at a maniacal number of revolutions per minute is situated behind the driver (mid-mount) and is about 2000cc shy of its main competitors, not to mention being down 4-cylinders.

But where it makes up for its small size and 8-cylinder layout is in its incredible engine speeds. The 90° V8 engine has a redline of 10,000rpm and generates peak power of 368kW @ 9500rpm, which equates to a clean 500hp.

Preliminary statistics from MBR, which is headquartered near Silverstone, show that its new car is no pretender; the EOS will reach 100km/h from rest in 3.5 seconds, which would make it a serious competitor for the Ferrari Enzo and high end Pagani Zonda models.

As well as a 500 horsepower output at the crankshaft, the rear wheel drive British supercar's V8 engine generates 405Nm of torque @ 7500rpm and while this figure pales in comparison to the twist of the Zonda and Enzo V12s, it weighs just 1000kg, or 2200lbs, another subtle tip of the hat to the nimble McLaren F1.

The V8 engine is supplied by Mader Racing, and is based on the same all-alloy V8 unit that's used in the new GP2 racing series, though MBR stresses that in the EOS the rev-happy mill has been tuned for road use (torque output has been reduced somewhat for the EOS application).

Power is transferred to the ultra-wide rear wheels via a 6-speed manual gearbox.

The EOS will be capable of reaching speeds befitting of a true supercar, surpassing 322km/h (200mph) thanks to the combination of a low kerb weight, wind-cheating aerodynamics and of course the racecar-modified engine.

In addition to sourcing the 4.0-litre Mader Racing engine from outside the company, EOS creators MB Roadcars enlisted the help of numerous technical partners to strengthen the chassis of its promising-but-iffy-looking supercar.

Many of MBR's partners have motorsports backgrounds, and the company states that it has "established successful working relationships with Alcon (brake systems), Primary Designs (exhaust systems), Toyo (tyre supplier), Dymag (wheel manufacturer), Aerotrim (interior design), Jetblades (manufacturing) and Panther Composites (composite manufacturing)."

Could this be a serious tilt at the current big players from Europe and America? If the EOS performs as MBR claims, it's looking more and more likely.

Giving the car a competitive edge when it comes to cornering and braking, a composite lightweight monocoque chassis forms the framework of the confronting four wheeler. MBR talks about using the "latest composite aerospace materials" in the car's chassis that contribute to the EOS' overall rigidity, as well as keeping the driver and passenger nice and safe in what it terms as a "strong survival cell".

Many of MBR's engineers have backgrounds in Formula 1, and this expertise was called upon not just to get the car's aerodynamics spot on (more on this in a sec), but also to ensure the suspension is up to the task of dealing with high speed cornering.

MBR says the suspension layout in the EOS was inspired by modern racecars: double wishbones of unequal length with inboard springs and dampers are used front and rear, and was tuned to deliver maximum stability at all times and under heavy g-forces.

While the MBR EOS is shaping up to be a British-built giant-killer, the most controversial aspect is the car's exterior design. From almost all angles it looks very smooth, and has a great side profile. Crafted in the windtunnel, it's sleek and the wheels have been seamlessly integrated into the bodyshell - and then you have the old-school front apron.

Designed to mimic the double-element wing of an F1 racecar, it looks a bit funny. It's almost at odds with the rest of the car, particularly the curvy rear end, but them's the breaks. The front end was created to generate a specific amount of downforce, and in this instance function comes before form.

Taken as a whole, the body of the EOS is bristling with air intakes and apertures, used to cool the car's various systems, such as the hyperactive V8 engine and the brakes. As well as the angular front wing increasing downforce at the front, an integrated rear wing does the same for the rear, while a gargantuan rear diffuser and "side winglets (X-wings)" help increase traction for the rear wheels and improve high stability at the same time.

There it is - the latest supercar to hit the automotive scene, and it's a Briton. But one wonders whether the EOS dethrone the current kings of exotica from Italy and Germany? If it emulates the McLaren F1's performance levels, as the company has been alluding to, it could be one of the most potent sports cars ever built.

The EOS is expected to fetch about $US550,000, which translates to $A710,000 or €428,000. Listed below are the vital statistics of the new EOS and its competitors: