Arash Farboud is the guy behind the Farboud cars – now known as the Farbio GTS. Apparently, according to Wikipedia, he was unhappy with the result, however from everything I’ve seen and read the Farbio GTS is an extraordinary car. However, the AF-10 is looking like it’s going to be something that little bit more. A truly scary, amazingly powerful, proper British supercar.
Here’s some information about the company before we look at the car itself:
“Arash Cars was established in March 2006 and has been working on AF10 ever since. The styling drawings were made in March 2005 by Arash Farboud Designs and have since been converted into computer models and aerodynamic CFD mesh models. The chassis was designed over a 6 month period by Ashley Gaunt in association with Arash Cars to package the bodywork and chosen engine.
The company is located in Sawston on the outskirts of Cambridge. Most testing will be conducted at Millbrook Proving Grounds 20 miles away from the company. The facility in Sawston Cambridge is equipped with a styling studio, painting booth, carbon lamination room, parts despatch area, Carbon Curing Autoclave Oven and polished epoxy floored car assembly stations. A board room and administration offices are also located at the site.”
The AF-10 is set to be priced at £172,000 – let’s just get that out of the way first of all. It isn’t something that you’re just going to pop down to the dealership and purchase on a whim. It is, as they say in the industry, aspirationally priced. That means unless you’re a model with a rich boyfriend or a hedge fund manager then you probably aren’t going to get in one.
So, what do you get for your (many) pounds? How about a handmade carbon-fibre body, that is produced in (of all places) Cambridge. The gearbox? From Italy. The engine? Well, Mr Farboud must have something for America, as he’s gone for an ‘interesting’ choice of the seven litre V8. The very same engine that powers the Corvette Z06 in fact. This gives a whopping 530bhp of power on tap, as well as a Bugatti-chasing 0-60 dash of 3.4 seconds.
Those looks are what really grab me though. The car is clearly inspired by racers that you see on the track at Le Mans and other similar events. This makes it look futuristic and of course makes all the lines exceptionally clean and aerodynamically efficient.
Don’t, however, get the wrong idea. This isn’t a car that can only be driven by amazingly talented drivers such as yours truly. Oh no. This is a superbly built vehicle with many parts chosen for reliability and comfort. This means that you get air con, sat nav, an MP3 player, a touch screen console and a rear view console.
What is most impressive about this feat of British automotive design? How about the fact that it only takes a few days instead of weeks to manufacture. This means that you could well be seeing an Arash AF-10 on the road by mid 2009. Mr Farboud, we salute you!
N.B. Can I please have a blast in one before the end of this year?
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