Wooden supercar: The vehicle is faster than a Porsche
Posted on 02/25/2008 10:21:59 PM PST by TigerLikesRooster
Last updated at 12:01pm on 20th February 2008
The world's first wooden supercar has been unveiled - and it's faster than a Porsche or a Lamborghini.
The 'Splinter' car can turn out a whopping 700bhp from its twin supercharged, 4.6litre V8 engine - almost 300bhp more than a Porsche 911.
And with a top speed of a staggering 240mph, it will leave the Porsche or even the brand new Lamborghini Revanton trailing in its wake.
Scroll down for more...
Wooden supercar: The vehicle is faster than a Porsche
The entire car, which is made from a combination of maple, plywood and MDF, weighs just 1,134kg - some 240kg less than the super lightweight Porsche.
The eco-friendly two seater, which is fitted with a six-speed, manual gearbox, can sprint from 0 to 60mph in just over three seconds.
But despite its awesome power, designers say the stylish petrol driven car will still be able to do up to 20mpg.
Designer Joe Harmon, who is head of the project, said: "Wood is a truly amazing material to work with.
"It has a higher strength-to-weight ratio than aluminium or steel, and it possesses a versatility that makes many different types of construction techniques possible.
"The look, feel, and smell of a natural material like wood is not seen elsewhere and cannot be faked, and the satisfaction involved in making something from a piece of wood is awesome.
"This is a supercar designed to push boundaries and prove the potential of wood as a material."
Scroll down for more...
Carefully carved: The car is made completely out of wood
The 15ft-long car has a laminated wood veneer chassis and wooden wheel rims inside giant 20 inch diameter tyres.
Suspension is provided through laminated wooden arms and springs made from orange wood.
Joe, from North Carolina, US, added: "The light weight is achieved through careful design and composite construction.
"The Splinter is not made from any carved-out, solid chunks of wood, but rather moulded laminates."
Scroll down for more...
Under the bonnet: The wooden car can reach a top speed of 240mph
The car is due to hit the road later this year. The design company, Joe Harmon Design, has not yet decided on a price for the supercar.
And according to 27-year-old Joe, it might not be long before Formula One star Lewis Hamilton is behind the wheel of a wooden car.
He said: "An F1 car could definitely be made from wood.
"Some extremely creative engineering would have to go into it to overcome the strength-to-weight and mouldability benefits of carbon fibre, but it's definitely possible.
"Getting permission to race it would probably be a bigger challenge than engineering it. But it would be fun to try."
Drivers are kept safe by a roll cage which also stiffens the chassis and defines the rear profile of the car.
Ping!
I bet it travels at warp speed after it gets wet.
I wood like two, please.
A woodie!
And you can just sand out the dings when you hit something. No need for a body shop. Just some good ol’ 220 grit and some polyurethane.
Eco friendly? Yeah, can we please see the materials hazard sheets on the laminate glues?
So instead of using Turtle Wax...I have to use Pledge?
Not interested, I’d rather have carbon fiber.
The Tree Hugger Lobby will see this never happens...
But, but, but, it is biologically degradable and eco-friendly.:-)
If you want to die fast, great.
I’m sure it does just wonderful in a crash...
No crumple zones... Just crushing death...
Fire just might be a bit of a problem too...
Brilliant engineering...
A woody that give you a woody!!!
700HP in a 2,500 pound wooden car........ that’s what they call new lead in your pencil.
With that radar absorbing wood shell I bet it is good at evading police radar.
Still, I wouldn’t want to be in one in a crash. Looks to have absolutely no reinforced framework for passenger crash protection.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.