Melbourne-built E-Vade to Make World Debut at Melbourne Motor Show

Step aside for a minute there Ariel Atom; there’s a new sheriff in town. E-Vade is the name and Australia is the county. Well, country in this instance. The E-Vade is the result of a lifelong dream by former naval Commander David Walter. He and his wife Peta have been working on the dream for over six years, and the results should be astonishing both on and off the track.

Instead of going the kit-car way like many would and have, Walter took the road less travelled by designing and building his own sports car. Using lightweight materials, the E-Vade came out a two-seater in the mould of normal roadsters. This was achieved by utilizing a steel space-frame chassis clad in fiberglass. Thus 995kg is all the E-Vade weighs on a scale, that weight reduced by 50kg for the track version of the car.

Thrust is provided by a 3.5 V6 engine from Nissan, which is longitudinally mounted behind the driver and kicks out 300kW (405 bhp). The lighter track version of the E-Vade gets more beef in the form of 500kW (680 bhp). Each version uses a 5-speed transaxle.



E-Vade should be more popular in track form for track days since speed laws Down Under are seriously enforced. It’s easy to see how this thing can evade angry traffic officials though. A sweet feature is the built-in hydraulic jack system that can lift the car up to 20cm high to change tyres and so on.

Although to be shown at the Melbourne International Motor Show which runs from February 29, the car is not meant for public sale, rather for the builder’s own private enjoyment. However, Walter reckons if they do end up selling them to interested parties “then that's something extra".

Source: Melbourne Motor Show

Australian Hyper Car E-Vade Takes to the Track

WCF reported on the E-Vade previously, with a drip of drool and a glint of excitement in our eyes. Finally the Melbourne Motor Show will reveal the finished product to the public, and these are the first pictures for yours and our own pleasure.


A bit of performance testing at VACC Park in Port Melbourne has been underway to make sure the car’s go matches its look। While many have compared the concept to something akin to an Ariel Atom or similar, the E-Vade is still heavy, thanks to, in no small part, to its V6 engine.


Both versions that have been produced will be on display at the show। Designer and builder David Walter took one of the cars to a dockyard in Williamstown where his ship is docked.



Source: Melbourne Motor Show




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Melbourne-built E-Vade to Make World Debut at Melbourne Motor Show

Ariel Atom 500 V8 Breaks Cover

Ariel is about to rewrite history with its upcoming Atom 500, a V8-powered mini-space shuttle that pulls out figures of over 1,000 bhp per tonne. This from a 2.4-litre V8, which is perhaps paying homage to current Formula One rules. It is supercharged and revs to 10,000 rpm.

The 6-speed sequential gearbox is just the correct package to go with Atom 500, that along with launch control will quickly make toast of the wheels on take-off, probably almost every time. Built with an integrated function steering wheel, carbon fiber panels and aerofoils, Atom 500 is all about lightness, as seen on the bathroom scale when it hits its maximum mass of 500 kilograms.

“For a few customers the Atom 500 will be the ultimate expression of lightweight performance,” says Simon Saunders who is director at Ariel, “and represents the outer limits of what is achievable in a road registered car. We also use this sort of project to explore the possibilities of how we can improve our standard cars.”

Pricing will be confirmed soon and production is strictly limited to a few units. Those lucky, or brave enough to buy one, will probably experience what very few humans on earth have ever experienced.

Source: PistonHeads.com




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Australian Hyper Car E-Vade Takes to the Track

Seat Leon Cupra K1 Styling Kit

As if the menacing Cupra’s look wasn’t enough, SEAT is now offering its UK customers an even scarier car to drive in, with the K1 Limited Edition Styling Kit. Purely a plastic surgery kit – the 2.0-litre turbo still kicks out 240 bhp/ 179kW. SEAT has gone a step further by slightly dropping the price of a standard Cupra by some 200 quid, helping to make good headway for the inclusion of K1 for future purchases.

Where the major changes are made is just about the only area allowed for general public consumption, which is the exterior. There’s more than just a passing resemblance to the Sport BTCC car, SEAT’s race-winning maverick, as BTCC forms the basic inspiration for the look.

Colours offered are Inferi Black, Emocion Red, Luna Grey and Candy white. Work has been done on both bumpers, side skirts and rear spoiler. Exhaust system has borrowed from big brothers Porsche and Audi by going central and oval for shape respectively. Wheels will be 18-inch alloys which cost £205 RRP and come in either black or white.

Press Release

Fresh for the imminent ‘08’ plate change SEAT is giving its most potent road-going model – the muscular Leon Cupra – the option of an even more sporty look courtesy of a dramatic limited edition styling kit version.

The impressive additions to the Leon’s already lithe lines give the 240 PS, turbocharged 2.0-litre Cupra even more of the look of the race-winning SEAT Sport BTCC car, which is set to compete for top honours again this year.

Boasting a bespoke K¹ boot badge, the limited edition car’s comprehensive styling additions include extensively re-worked front and rear bumpers, smart side skirts, a more pronounced tailgate spoiler and unique chrome-tipped, centrally-mounted, oval exhaust.

The car’s enhancements come in a range of eye-catching colours: Inferi Black, Emocion Red, Luna Grey and Candy White, and it is available to order now through the SEAT UK dealer network.

Great value at just £1,000 RRP over the standard Cupra, the K¹ additions arrive at the same time as a change to the Leon range-topper’s equipment manifest. Powerful Bi-xenon headlights, complete with AFS dynamic bend lighting that follows the turn of the steering wheel to help ensure the beam is always pointing precisely where the car’s headed, are now a £870 option.

At the same time new, optional, 18” Orion alloy wheels in black or white are made available at £205 RRP.

The best news for Cupra fans, though, is that the standard car’s price has been trimmed, from £19,695 RRP to £19,495 RRP, to make the 153 mph flier even easier on the pocket. The body kitted K¹ therefore costs £20,495 RRP.

SEAT UK’s Head of Marketing, Steve Robertson, said of the Cupra changes: ‘The K¹ styling kit gives the car even more road presence, and clearly recalls the look of our super-quick BTCC competitor.

Subaru Forester pricing announced (U.S)

Last month, Subaru debuted the Forester SUV and this month, they have revealed the pricing for the new compact SUV.

Priing will start at $19,995 which which undercuts its predessor by $1200 but thats without the $665 destination charge. The PZEV (Partial Zero Emissions) model will start from $20,195 and the XT Limited will be priced from $28,195 excluding destionation charge.

The crossover is what Subaru calls a "more SUV-like" look, in part due to its 3.6-inch-longer wheelbase, now up to 103.0 inches.

Power will come from a 2.5 litre petrol normally aspirated and turbocharged engines. The turbo models will be mated with an automatic transmission. VDC (Vehicle Dynamic Control) and traction control will be standard across the range. It will go on sale in April.

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Subaru Forester uncloaked

2009 Subaru Forester

Subaru Forester pricing announced (U.S)

Last month, Subaru debuted the Forester SUV and this month, they have revealed the pricing for the new compact SUV. Priing will start at $19,995 which which undercuts its predessor by $1200 but thats without the $665 destination charge. The PZEV (Partial Zero Emissions) model will start from $20,195 and the XT Limited will be priced from $28,195 excluding destionation charge. The crossover is

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