MKI MR2 Aero Concept

[Snax]

It's probably not going to matter much since it's going to be a limited range EV, but I need to do some repairs on the front end anyway. If the rear skirts get done, it will probably be just for fun. I'm only building it for a useable range of 15 miles, so we're probably just talking top-speed potential here.

[Dynamically Aero]

Originally Posted by Snax

It's probably not going to matter much since it's going to be a limited range EV, but I need to do some repairs on the front end anyway. If the rear skirts get done, it will probably be just for fun. I'm only building it for a useable range of 15 miles, so we're probably just talking top-speed potential here.

This might be old news to you, but have you ever seen the Group B and Group S MR2s?

[repete86]

Another rally fan! Yay!

[Snax]

I've been an MR2 fan for a long time, but I'd not seen those before. Before I got interested in EVs, those are the kinds of cars that I would otherwise be inclined to build.

That group-S car has a huge intercooler! The turbo lag through all of that piping must have been tricky to deal with though.

[repete86]

Definitely, but the group S and group b cars were so incredibly powerful that the wheels were often spinning faster than the car was going, especially around turns. It's amazing to see old videos of group b in action. How they didn't all get killed is beyond me.

[repete86]

Here are some Group B videos just to show how nuts these guys were. I don't think that there was ever a point where any of these drivers had complete control over their cars. They were just too fast.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quDX36WJM7k

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQNYuHR9NBw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jA4jqpgBnAM

[Bill in Houston]

Wicked cool. Those were the days...

[Snax]

Nice finds. No doubt, the difference between the 300 odd HP the WRCs are capped with today is no comparison to trying to keep control with more than double that. I think the Cosworth RS reportedly had somewhere around 650HP in race trim. Coupled with a chassis that barely weighed a ton, it's no wonder they spent so much time exploring low level flight. One of my previous cars was belting out roughly 400 HP through it's AWD system and weighed in at a scant 2500 lbs. It was far faster than I was prepared to deal with on anything but paved surfaces. I LOVED IT!

Lacking any contention for any real prize money in any competition, it was an exercise in engineering and fuel consumption excess however. I just couldn't justify the need to keep a car that got as little as 7 MPG at full boil, low 20's just cruising. It was no longer practical in any meaningful way.

I think I'm past that, mostly . .

[repete86]

I would like to one day build a project rally car when I can afford to, but I wouldn't be driving it that often since the mileage would really suck. I'm looking into older hatchbacks though like the old GTI's, Rabbits, Omnis, and Escorts. It would be cool to make a green biodiesel or WVO rally car, but the environment isn't really my point with my rally car, and any diesel motor will slow me down substantially.