The rise of the small, purpose-built track car has been one of the more interesting automotive trends of the 21st century. While companies like Lotus have always built street cars with track-inspired performance, vehicles like the Ariel Atom meet the barest of standards for street car use. The Atom doesn’t even have a roof, because it adds weight.
Enter VŪHL, another competitor in this rich niche market of street-legal race cars. Headquartered in Mexico, this small manufacturer wants to build and sell a mid-engine, two-seater sports car powered by a 2.0 liter EcoBoost engine. We say “Si, si!”
The VŪHL 05, as it is creatively called, will focus on lightweight components centered around a carbon fiber monocoque that weighs just 172 pounds. The entire car, engine included, is just over 1,500 pounds. This super-light weight will allow the VŪHL 05 to compete with the likes of the Ariel Atom and KTM X-Bow.
The 2.0 liter EcoBoost will be tuned to produce 285 horsepower and 310 ft-lbs of torque, allowing for a 3.7 second sprint from 0 to 60 mph. Top speed is estimated to be 150 mph, and you’ll be able to row your own gears through a six-speed transmission. Just because it’s light doesn’t mean it’ll be cheap though; the VŪHL 05 will start at $84,000. Carbon fiber is expensive!