Lightened chassis improves up on ZR1's performance
This year's Shanghai Auto Show has seen a number of debuts of world interest, so you'd think that a one-off design study based on a Corvette wouldn't garner much interest. There have been plenty of one-off Corvette-based cars, after all. On the other hand, the ‘Vette underpinnings are far from ordinary, sourced as they are from the new 638-horsepower ZR1. And the body is no ordinary flight of fancy either; the Mantide comes from the design house of Stile Bertone.
Very little of the Corvette's original lines remain on the Mantide, which is a teardrop-shaped coupe that takes inspiration from airplanes and Formula One cars, and possibly from a few places we can't even imagine. The radical design features a strong hood wrapped by dramatic flying buttresses at the Kamm-tailed rear. The fender flares and lines flowing through lines are reminiscent of the air intakes of a jet fighter, and blend with the functional air intakes that feed the engine and other components. The passenger cabin looks like a canopy, and the two-tone paint and butterfly doors play off of this resemblance. Amazingly, the design isn't just driven by appearance; the Mantide has undergone wind tunnel development and boasts a super-slippery 0.298 coefficient of drag and a 30% increase in downforce (Stile Bertone is not specific as to whether this increase is relative to the stock Corvette or to earlier versions of the Mantide's design).
The Mantide looks the part of a cutting-edge supercar, and the chassis ensures that it can deliver on that promise. The supercharged LS9 engine and Nurburgring-bred chassis of the 2009 Corvette ZR1 are just the beginning. The Mantide has carbon fiber body panels all around, as well as lightweight wheels, interior panels and racing seats. It's 100 kilos lighter than a stock ZR1. An FIA roll cage and four-point harnesses have also been installed. Between the diet and the improved aerodynamics, the Mantide improves upon the Corvette's performance significantly: 0-62 mph comes up in 3.2 seconds, and this car will run all the way up to 351 km/h (217 mph).
Source: insideprojectm via
jalopnik
Press Release (Click to expand)
Stile Bertone is proud to present the ULTRA HIGH PERFORMANCE one-off MANTIDE.
Few, if any, automobiles have been as awe-inspiring as the show-stopping prototypes and “fuori serie” cars designed by Stile Bertone - the Alfa Romeo Carabo, the Lancia Stratos Zero and the Lamborghini LP500 prototype to name just a few
TRADITION
Stile Bertone has a long history of creating one-off prototypes based on the mechanicals of Chevrolet’s sporting automobiles spanning over 50 years. Today, Stile Bertone is proud to utilize the mechanicals of the formidable 2009 Corvette ZR1. Employing know-how from the Le Mans winning Corvette C5R, the ZR1 is the greatest all-round performance car in the world, the undisputed “King of the Ring”, posting the fastest ever lap time for a true production car at 7:26:4 seconds on the famed Nurburgring Nordschleife in Germany, long considered the benchmark for a car’s true performance. Mantide has been designed and fully engineered in collaboration with the renowned Danisi Engineering and aims to be the world’s greatest street legal performance car, wrapped in an iconic and radical Stile Bertone design.
Mantide’s futuristic design draws equal inspiration from modern aerospace and the world of Formula One. The iconic theme is clear to see: a teardrop-like fuselage which tightly encases the mechanicals and the passenger cell which is embraced by two prominent wrapping aerodynamic appendages. While shockingly bold and technical, Mantide’s unique design maintains a sensuality unique to Italian sports cars thanks to a futuristic interpretation of the classic Kamm Back two volume silhouette.
The aerospace inspired design aesthetic is further characterised by innovative yet beautiful forms which are fully driven by performance: the low-slung nose, jet fighter style teardrop canopy and butterfly opening doors, as well as the numerous air inlets and exhausts for maximum air efficiency.
Mantide also boasts cutting edge aerodynamic performance fine-tuned in an advanced full scale wind tunnel. Features include a Le Mans prototype-derived flat floor and diffuser as well as “flying buttresses” which help to increase aero efficiency, guarantee a lower drag coefficient and greater levels of down force. The final aerodynamic results are class leading, with drag reduced by 25% (Cd 0.298) and a 30% improvement in down force. The Mantide not only delivers greater speed and stability, but also more efficiency and therefore lower fuel consumption.
The Mantide promises even greater performance than the ZR1, due to significant weight savings and its highly advanced aerodynamics. Using carbon fibre for all body panels, interior trim, seats and even the wheels, the overall vehicle weight has been reduced by 100 kilos. The result is a staggering 0-62mph in 3.2 seconds and a top speed of 351 kph (217mph) Safety and chassis rigidity have been increased with the incorporation of an FIA regulation triangulated roll cage, light-weight carbon fibre racing seats and 4pt racing harness for track use.
Stile Bertone invites you to follow Mantide on its year-long journey as it travels to major auto events around the globe at www.insideprojectm.com
Comments
View Comment Rules
Add Comment
Wickedated
April 20, 2009 5:15 PM
