Supasse V Surprise: MazdaSpeed3-Powered Sports Car to Star at Tokyo

[chief_wiggum]

http://wot.motortrend.com/6568477/a...owered-sports-car-to-star-at-tokyo/index.html

The 2009 Tokyo Motor Show has another sports car reveal up its sleeve. We have just learned that the Supasse V sports car -- designed and built by a Japanese backyard builder Suzusho Ltd. -- will debut at Tokyo next week.

Tipping the scales at just 1874 lbs thanks to its liberal use of aluminum and fiberglass components, the coupe sits on a unique race-car style 'aluminum twin-tube monocoque spaceframe' with a copper tube frame addition at the rear end. The race car like styling is no accident either. Veteran Japanese F1 car designer Kenji Mimura is responsible for the V's great-looking lines, which feature a butterfly door layout.

The Supasse V is powered by a midship-mounted, specially tuned version of the 2.3-liter turbo from the MazdaSpeed3 (up to roughly 270 horsepower), mated to the Speed3's six-speed gearbox.

Slated to go on sale in Japan in mid-2010, Nagoya-based car parts and used car dealer Suzusho says it will build 100 units over four years with a price tag somewhere in the $50,000-$80,000 range.

 

[Sergius64]

Would be interesting to see what our engine can do in such a light car.

 

[ElGaspo]

i'm surprised they didn't try to amp up the engine some more. isn't the Australian version of the MS3 good for 280 hp right out of the box? if i'm paying $50k, i'm gonna want more than 265 hp...(yawn)

 

[bigdaddy]

i'm surprised they didn't try to amp up the engine some more. isn't the Australian version of the MS3 good for 280 hp right out of the box? if i'm paying $50k, i'm gonna want more than 265 hp...(yawn)

look at lotus. they offer cars for that much with only 240 HP. Then again, horsepower sells cars, torque wins races. Its got a good amount of torque, especially when its only carrying around 1800 lbs.

 

[oaklandopen]

that's pretty cool. just about 7 lbs/hp, which is better than the supercharged lotus exige. the lotus not only weighs more, but has less power.

it oughta be good for 0-60 times in the mid 3 second range. wonder if it's in direct competition with the lotus line? if so this should surpass the lotus in performance, and sounds like roughly the same price range

the only problem i see with the L3-VDT in something that light would be the traction. all that torque with no weight on the wheels seems like a traction problem to me, especially coming out of turns.

either way it does sound pretty badass

 

[Saskatchewan17]

That is really cool! It is a fantastic powerplant... not the best for modding... but was on Ward's best engine list and really is a great powerplant for a car like that.

 

[ElGaspo]

oops...i read too quickly. 7 lbs/hp is a damn good ratio, but still & all i'll stick to my previous opinion: if i'm putting down 50 large, i need more than 270 hp, otherwise i'll stay put w/ my lightly-modded MS3 (k) for a few more yrs.

 

[Sergius64]

oops...i read too quickly. 7 lbs/hp is a damn good ratio, but still & all i'll stick to my previous opinion: if i'm putting down 50 large, i need more than 270 hp, otherwise i'll stay put w/ my lightly-modded MS3 (k) for a few more yrs.

With 100 units over 4 years (sounds like in Japan) I doubt any of us will get a chance to buy this anyway

 

[oaklandopen]

yea...and honestly if i were to spend money like that on just a "toy", especially one like this or a lotus which is never meant to be a daily driver, i think i'd go for something like the ariel atom....which would spank pretty much anything

 

[ms6acton]

neat