Building the Perfect Sports Car
With my road test of the Gallardo this week (story should be live soon!), I feel like I've had enough exposure to today's high-end exotics to know where each excels -- and where each falls short. Therefore, I'm proposing "the perfect sports car" by combining the best elements of each entry in this segment. In a world where I can pick and choose the exact components and attributes from each of these vehicles, this is the car I would construct:
1. Start with the Ford GT's chassis and body. Yes I own one and yes I'm biased, but I also know this car very well, and in terms of chassis structure it's the best one I've experienced. In terms of style, well, that's highly personal. But I think it's better looking than anything else out there right now (and I've seen 'em all up close and personal).
2. Throw in the Corvette Z06's engine. I love the engine in the F430 for its sound and overall passion, I love the SL65's seamless thrust, and I love the GT's high-end rush. But the Z06's combination of "torque-at-any-rpm" and (for me) addictive mechanical engine note makes it the best engine on the planet right now. It needs more power to really be the best (scary that 505 horsepower isn't enough anymore), but I know the engine could easily be pumped up to 600-plus with no issues.
3. Connect the Z06's engine to a Ferrari MANUAL transmission. The Ford GT's tranny is very good too, but there's nothing like slamming through Ferrari's metal-gate shifter. If you must go electrohydraulic clutch (you poser!!), then the Lamborghini Gallardo's works better than most. Yes, DSG is better still, but it's not officially offered in an exotic sports car (yet) so I'm ruling that out as a viable choice. Regardless, I'll take any of these over the Z06's shifter, which I believe uses busted glass for a lubricant.
4. I also want the F430's steering system. A shade better than the GT's, and worlds ahead of the Gallardo or AMG products -- which both feel heavy for heavy's sake while adding nothing to actual steering feel or feedback. The F430 is almost surreal in how much road data it transmits while not being at all "jumpy" or instrusive (yes, it is possible for a car's steering wheel to tell you too much about the road surface).
5. I'll take the braking power of the Corvette Z06 or Dodge Viper Coupe, but I want the pedal feedback from the F430 or Ford GT. Strange how the GT's brake feel is excellent, but its actual stopping numbers consistently come up worse than the Z06 or Viper. Maybe it comes down to tires.
6. Speaking of tires, I want the P Zero Corsas from the Gallardo. Truly astounding levels of both grip and progressive breakaway. Between these tires and the all-wheel drive system the Gallardo is capable of high cornering speeds, and even if/when you go beyond their grip that doesn't necessarily mean busted body work and insurance claims (Hello? Ferrari 360? Are you listening? Oh, wait, you were and created the F430, which is better but still not as progressive at the limit).
7. I also want the interior material quality from the Gallardo. No surprise here with VW/Audi at the top of this car's org chart. The suede headliner and supple seat leather (with contrasting piping in the SE model) isn't a surprise. After all, Ferrari offers the same thing. But when you run your hands over the door panels, console and even the lower dash and A-pillars and continue to find exquisitely crafted leather you see what separates the dead cows from the dead herds. Simply sublime.
8. Finally, I want the Gallardo's luxury content. The crystal-clear display screen, the audio system that plays memory cards (as well as CD-Rs), the dual-zone climate control, and the soothing instrument lighting (though I want that lighting integrated with the Ford GT's vintage gauge cluster layout, rather than the pedestrian tach/speedo design of the Gallardo). I also like the Lambo's rear-view camera. Like MP3 players, this is a feature long overdue on any high-end exotic -- especially if the engine is behind the driver.There you have it, the perfect sports car (at least in my mind). There are plenty of details still to be decided (wheel size and design, paint color and scheme, even drivetrain layout -- I'm more than willing to consider AWD), but the above list hits the big items that I'd love to see integrated into a single vehicle. Now what to call it?
The Forderrini GTFZ6 SE? Okay, that still needs some work.
- Posted by
- Karl Brauer February 10, 2006, 5:10 PM
- Permalink
- Categories:
- Chevrolet, Dodge, Ferrari, Ford, Lamborghini
It may be perfect, but I bet it would be priced way out of the everyman's reach...=) It's nice to dream, though....
How about adding the everyday driveability of a porsche 911/911 turbo.
shyamg22, at this point wouldn't you rather have the Cayman S for everyday driving?
There's a kit car out there called the Attack, built by K1. I hear stories of hybrid exotics built into its chassis (like a porsche 996 steering system, Audi TT suspention units, and yes, a Corvette engine).
Hey if anything, it's a start. Anyone up to it?
I'll take the Mach 5 at the top of the page; bullet proof, cuts down trees, goes under water, and jumps, all while winning races and saving the world. Who could ask for more!