Weber Sportscar: the World’s Fastest Street-Legal Sports Car
Like the Millennium Falcon, the Weber Sportcars faster one may not look like much, but it sounds like it might be capable of besting the former's Kessel Run time of under 12 parsecs. Hell, after looking over the manufacturer's stats, we think that the faster one might be able to tear a gaping hole in the space/time continuum.
Billed by its Swiss maker as the world's fastest street legal sports car, the faster one's ugly-but-aerodynamic carbon fiber body covers a vehicle that weighs in at a scant 1,984 pounds (900 kg). That mass is distributed 50:50 and is propelled by a 900-horsepower/774 lb-ft twin-supercharged V8 that begins its life as a garden-variety General Motors LS7 before Weber tears it apart and rebuilds it to its own specifications. The twin-blown eight is then mated to an in-house-developed 6-speed sequential gearbox. Power is directed to an intelligent AWD system (also developed in-house) that can send a maximum of 36% of power to the front wheels.
Stated performance numbers are of the astonishing variety: 0-62 mph in 2.7 seconds; 0-124 in 6.6 seconds; 0-186 in 16.2 seconds; and a top speed said to be over 248 mph. Helping rein in the insanity is a set of 12-piston, 15-inch ceramic brakes supplemented by the car's motorized rear wing, which, like the Bugatti Veyron's, doubles as an air brake when necessary. You can get into all the minutiae after the jump where we've pasted Weber Sportcars' full press release. Weird but wicked, the Weber Sportcars faster one is just the thing to settle that pissing contest you've been having with your Veyron-driving billionaire neighbor. If you give the nice people at Weber (at least) 1.6 million Swiss francs (plus VAT), they'll build one just for you.
PRESS RELEASE:
WEBER SPORTCARS faster one
Swiss Precision Creates the World's Fastest Street-Legal Sports Car
Legendary Swiss precision is no longer limited to the domain of creating of the world's most prestigious chronographs. It's time for the WEBER SPORTCARS faster one! Using a unique combination of high-tech engineering and uncompromising innovative styling geared toward maximum aerodynamic efficiency, WEBER SPORTCARS from Tobel in the Swiss canton Thurgau develops and builds the world's fastest street-legal sports car.
The two-seater weighs in at just 1,100 kilograms and is powered by a V8 engine with dual superchargers that produces 900 hp / 662.4 kW. Thanks to its exceptional power-to-weight ratio of 1.22 kilogram per hp, intelligent all-wheel drive and sophisticated aerodynamic properties the mid-engine racer sprints to 300 km/h in just 16.2 seconds and reaches a top speed of more than 420 km/h. Retail prices start at 1,620,000 Swiss Francs (export price without VAT).
Favorable aerodynamic properties are absolutely elementary in order to attain a top speed of more than 400 km/h. The car body of the WEBER SPORTCARS faster one is 204 centimeters wide and 115 centimeters high. It is made entirely from ultra-light yet super-strong carbon fiber. State-of-the-art aerodynamics computer software and wind-tunnel testing were employed to trim the carbon-fiber shell for maximum directional stability at the highest speeds. The aerodynamic downforce it creates is surpassed only by purebred racecars that do not have to comply with any legal requirements, e.g. ground clearance, et al.
The front of the car with its two characteristic WEBER SPORTCARS grilles seems almost vertical compared to that of other sports cars, and is the result of the aerodynamic research conducted. This particular design creates an air wedge in front of the car with positive effects on the airflow over the vehicle. The shape of the upward-sloped hood, which extends all the way to the flush-mounted windshield, produces aerodynamic downforce on the front axle to benefit directional stability. The headlamps with integrated LED turn signals and the LED taillights were both designed in-house by WEBER SPORTCARS.
The super sportscar measures 450 centimeters in length, and features doors that for aerodynamic reasons have no external door handles. They open and close instead at the push of a button. The two streamlined side view mirrors provide an excellent rearward view. Integrated into the roof is an airbox that supplies the engine with its intake air.
Streamlined air intakes integrated into the rear of the car supply intercoolers and oil cooler in the engine bay with fresh air. The smooth underfloor of the WEBER SPORTCARS faster one flairs into a wide upturned Venturi tunnel in the rear. This aerodynamic ploy contributes to the creation of strong aerodynamic downforces as does the electronically controlled deployable rear wing. This high-tech airfoil not only creates downforce but also serves as an air brake. Depending on current speed and driver-applied braking force the wing deploys into fully vertical position in 50 milliseconds. That creates up to 4,000 newtons of additional braking force.
The WEBER SPORTCARS faster one supercar is powered by a V8 engine with a displacement of 7,011 ccm, dry-sump oil system and dual superchargers. The engine is based on the LS7 engine but of the original engine only the cylinder block and the basic design using one central camshaft and rockers for valve activation remain.
The lightweight aluminum block was upgraded with high-performance parts such as a precision-balanced crankshaft, precision-balanced piston rods and forged pistons, a camshaft with sharper timing, and two cylinder heads with larger valves and intake and outlet ports tuned for optimal mixture flow.
The engine peripherals were also modified extensively. They now include a custom-developed high-performance fuel injection system and an also custom-developed supercharging system with one mechanical belt-driven supercharger per bank of cylinders. Maximum boost pressure is limited to 1.0 bars.
The stainless-steel exhaust system features metal catalysts with low back pressure as well as a muffler bypass valve for an impressive sound experience.
The engine management system stems from the world of car racing and orchestrates the perfect interaction of all components and parameters. At the same time buttons on the steering wheel give the driver the option to select different mappings to adjust power output and throttle response to the specific driving situation. The engine electronics also are responsible for meeting stringent EURO IV exhaust emission limits.
The WEBER SPORTCARS faster one twin-supercharger engine delivers 900 hp / 662.4 kW at 7,000 rpm and produces a peak torque of 1,050 Nm at 3,900 rpm.
The transmission was a proprietary development by WEBER SPORTCARS which also builds it in-house. The semi-automatic sequential six-speed gearbox is operated via shift paddles on the steering wheel, the method of choice in today's super sports cars. Of special importance was an extremely short shift time of just 50 milliseconds between gears, as well as maximum durability under the enormous strain of 1,050 Nm of gut-wrenching torque.
The intelligent all-wheel drive system with dynamic power distribution to all four wheels is also a proprietary development from WEBER SPORTCARS. Electronically controlled differentials ensure maximum traction under all road conditions and thus always the best-possible acceleration. Up to 36 percent of the engine's power is transferred to the front wheels.
The combination of light-weight design, enormously powerful engine, high-end four-wheel drive, an active traction control system derived from Formula One racing and innovative aerodynamics gives the WEBER SPORTCARS faster one acceleration times previously only attained by purebred racecars. The two-seater sprints from rest to 100 km/h in just 2.5 seconds and reaches 200 km/h after just 6.6 seconds. Thanks to its favorable power-to-weight ratio and exceptionally low drag it passes the 300 km/h-mark after just 16.2 seconds. Top speed is more than 400 km/h.
To realize the projected performance WEBER SPORTCARS has developed an optimal symbiosis of light-weight design, power and aerodynamics. The entire frame of the WEBER SPORTCARS supercar weighs just 65 kilograms and like almost all components and tools it is manufactured in-house at WEBER SPORTCARS. It is made from high-end aluminum usually reserved for aerospace applications. The tools for making the high-strength aluminum profiles were also created by WEBER SPORTCARS. These profiles are then welded into a tubular frame whose exact design was determined using FEM (finite element method) computer software.
These measures result in exception torsional rigidity: Under a load of 30 metric tons the WEBER SPORTCARS faster one body flexes just 1.0 degrees. For an ideal weight distribution ratio of 50:50 and the lowest possible center of gravity the sportscar is equipped with four fuel tanks that have a combined capacity of 110 liters.
The suspension of the supercar brings purebred racing technology to the street. That includes upper and lower A-arms milled from one piece by WEBER SPORTCARS, and struts with a multitude of selectable settings for bound and rebound on both axles.
Especially light custom wheels were manufactured for the ultra-wide track. The front axle features size 10Jx20 rims shod with size 285/25 ZR 20 tires. They transfer steering wheel inputs and up to 36 percent of the engine's power to the road. The rear axle is fitted with size 13Jx20 wheels and size 325/25 ZR 20 tires.
In addition to the high-tech air brake WEBER SPORTCARS selected only the best of the best when it came to designing a brake controlled by a high-tech ABS anti-locking system. WEBER SPORTCARS produced its own 12-piston fixed calipers that viciously grab vented ceramic disc brakes measuring 380 x 34 millimeters on front and rear axle. These brakes can bring the two-seater to a stop from 100 km/h in short 30 meters or so.
The two-seater cockpit of the WEBER SPORTCARS faster one with integrated safety cell combines purebred carbon-fiber and leather racing looks with the creature comforts nowadays associated with a super sports car. Customers can freely choose their favorite color combination.
The Formula 1 style steering wheel is another in-house development. It incorporates controls for engine mapping and traction control system as well as shift paddles for the sequential gearbox.
Among the comfort features present are power steering, climate control system, power windows and a sound system with integrated navigation system. A rearview camera facilitates maneuvering in reverse.
As an alternative, WEBER SPORTCARS offers an uncompromising racing interior with carbon-fiber competition seats and six-point seatbelts.
