Concept Climax is almost ready

Could this be the future of the British supercar. Under development since 2005 we’ve spied a working prototype of the Concept Climax out testing and it looks every bit as stunning as the original concept.

Designed by two Coventry automotive students, the supercar is a salute to the past but and a vision for the twenty-first century. The purpose of the car is also to show being green doesn’t have to be dull!

Powered by a flat-four-cylinder, mid-engined, turbocharged engine, the car will be able to run on E85 bioethanol to further improve performance and emissions.

The powerplant produces 296bhp, which is fed to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox. And a lightweight composite body and space frame chassis mean the Climax will weigh less than a Lotus Elise.

As a result, 0-60mph takes less than 4 seconds and top speed is 170mph. Considering this performance, economy is reasonable, with 27.4mpg combined and C02 emissions of 243g/km.

Neat touches to the exterior include flip up mirrors, aero screens and remote opening doors. Inside, cabin features include neoprene racing seats and a removable steering wheel. The car’s suspension is also fully adjustable.

A price tag of around £80,000 is quoted on the website www.climaxcars.co.uk.