At first glance RS Performance’s latest creation, the RSW Evo, could be taken for a heavily modified Lotus Exige. The reality is rather different however, for whilst it has its origins in the Exige (or Elise) it is a very different animal. Unveiled at the Autosports Show on 8 January, the self-styled “ultimate GT” is intended as a track car but can also be equipped for road use. To date it has already been accepted for Britcar Class 1 and Time Attack Pro competition, but not GT Cup.
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Build then begins with Pilbeam-designed and built rear subframe being fitted, extending the wheelbase by some 230mm to 2530mm. This incorporates Pilbeam’s own lightweight wishbones and CNC anodised uprights together with Koni dampers; Ohlins or Nitron are options. The engine and gearbox, mounted low in the chassis, provides suspension pick-up points single-seater style. At the front, lightweight wishbones again feature, together with an adjustable, hollow anti-roll bar.
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The bodywork is all-new, designed by John Keogh, and as an option can be created entirely in carbon, but essentially is manufactured to customer specification. Overall weight is lower than the original car but will of course vary according to specification. Inside the cockpit, only the dash and airbags are retained from the original. A FIA-specification roll cage is on the options list, as are air jacks and inboard brake adjustment. Build time is 12-14 weeks from receipt of the donor vehicle.
Prices range from £150,000 to £200,000 plus VAT, according to specification, so this is clearly not a cheap car. With the first car due to run in about three weeks’ time, RS attracted a lot of attention at the NEC, taking a number of orders on the first day, with two of them (to Le Mans spec.) destined for South Africa.
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Mike Pilbeam, responsible for the design of the suspension etc., should need no introduction either. He has been in motor sport for many years, including working for Team Lotus in the early seventies. Subsequently he set-up Pilbeam Racing from where he has been responsible for a variety of single-seat and sports-racers as well as working on touring car projects and the like for major manufacturers such as Honda, Peugeot and Vauxhall. His input into the RSW Evo is such that it even has a Pilbeam type number, MP99.
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Bron :
(RST-V8 ; 2,4 l , 5 kleppen per cilinder )
