"Umbono uwukwakha isithunzi, hhayi ukugibela ihhashi," kusho uGerald Wiegert ngezwi elithambile nelinolaka.Umongameli weVector Aeromotive akanabo ubukhazikhazi benketho yakamuva, nakuba esebenze kusukela ngo-1971 ukuze aklame futhi akhiqize i-twin-turbo Vector, i-625-horseatutics mid-engine-engine-technology ye-Aeromotive ye-Aeromotive ethuthukisiwe. Imidwebo ye-rom ukuze ibe namamodeli amagwebu kuya kumamodeli aphelele, iVector yaqala ukukhonjiswa e-Los Angeles Auto Expo ngo-1976. I-prototype esebenzayo yaqedwa ngemva kweminyaka emibili, yahlanganiswa ezingxenyeni eziqoqwe emagcekeni angcolile futhi zagezwa ezingxenyeni ezithile - ukuze kuhlinzekwe indlu. iphupho.
U-Wigt ufanelwe wuhlobo oluthile lwendondo ngenxa yokubekezela, uhlobo oluthile lomvuzo wokuqina. Buck the trend, uziba izipoki ezikhalayo ze-Tucker, DeLorean kanye ne-Bricklin adventures ehlulekile.I-Vector Aeromotive Corp. e-Wilmington, Calif., ekugcineni isilungele ukukhiqiza imoto eyodwa ngesonto.Abaphikisi badinga kuphela ukuvakashela indawo yomhlangano wezimoto ezimbili eSwitzerland, abanikazi bezimoto ezintsha badinga ukuvakashela izindawo zabo zomhlangano eSwitzerland. ukukhiqizwa kokuqala kwe-Vector W8 twin-turbo kudayiselwe inkosana yaseSaudi, iqoqo layo lezimoto ezingu-25, elihlanganisa ne-Porsche 959 kanye ne-Bentley Turbo R) .Cishe ama-Vectors ayisishiyagalombili asakhiwa ezigabeni ezihlukahlukene zokuphothulwa, kusukela ku-chassis eginqikayo kuya ezimotweni eseziphelile.
Labo abangakaqiniseki kufanele bazi ukuthi inkampani ikhule isuka esakhiweni esisodwa kanye nabasebenzi abane ngo-1988 kuya ezakhiweni ezine eziphelele ngaphezu kwamamitha-skwele angu-35,000 kanye nabasebenzi abacishe babe ngu-80 ngesikhathi sokubhala.Futhi i-Vector iphumelele ukuhlolwa okuhle kakhulu kokuphahlazeka kwe-DOT (30 mph ngaphambili nangemuva, ukuhlolwa kokuphahlazeka komnyango nophahla nge-chassis eyodwa nje);ukuhlolwa kokukhipha ukungcola kuyaqhubeka.Inyuse ngaphezu kwezigidi eziyi-13 zamarandi emalini yokusebenza ngokusebenzisa iminikelo emibili yomphakathi etholakala ngaphandle kwekhawunta.
Kodwa elangeni elikhipha umkhovu etsheni ePomona, eCalif., ezinkundleni zemibukiso, kwabonakala isenzo sokholo sika-Wigt sokugcina. Iloli eline-flatbed elithwele i-Vector W8 TwinTurbos ezimbili liwela umgwaqo oyitiyela obanzi liya endaweni yokudonsa. Izimoto ezimbili ezithuthukisiwe zehliswa, futhi umhleli wokuhlolwa komgwaqo uKim Reynolds wafaka eyodwa yazo ukuze ihlolwe ukusebenza kwe-Auto test okokuqala kwe-Auto test i-computer yethu yesihlanu.
Kusukela ngo-1981, i-VP yeVector of Engineering, u-David Kostka, unikeze izeluleko ezithile mayelana nendlela yokufinyelela izikhathi zokusheshisa ezingcono kakhulu.Ngemva kokuhlolwa okujwayelekile, u-Kim uphusha i-Vector emgqeni wesiteji futhi usethe kabusha ikhompuyutha yokuhlola.
Ebusweni bukaKostka kwavela ukukhathazeka.Bekufanele.Iminyaka eyishumi esebenza amahora angu-12 ngosuku, izinsuku eziyisikhombisa ngesonto, cishe ingxenye yesithathu yokuphila kwakhe ephapheme—ingasaphathwa eyengxenye enkulu yomphefumulo wakhe—izinikele emotweni.
Akumele akhathazeke. UKim ubeka unyawo lwakhe phezu kwamabhuleki, akhethe igiya lokuqala bese esebenzisa i-throttle ukuze alayishe i-drivetrain. Ukubhonga kwenjini engu-6.0-litre all-aluminium V-8 kushubile, kanti nempempe ye-Garrett turbocharger ihambisana nokukhala kweGilmer-type kanye ne-rearsing brake drive ne-rearsing brake drive ne-loarsing carne accessory ye-V-8 yokulwa. ama-intshi aya phambili, eslayida intomba engaphambili ekhiyiwe endaweni egandayiwe.Kuyi-analogi yenja ethukuthele edonsa imoto yayo.
Amabhuleki akhululiwe futhi iVector yanqamuka ngokuzulazula kwesondo kancane, imfucumfucu yentuthu evela ku-Michelin ekhuluphele kanye nestep kancane. Ngokucwayiza kweso - imizuzwana emi-4.2 encane - ishaya u-60 mph, imizuzwana ngaphambi kwe-shift ka-1-2.IVektha idlula kuhle kwe-brand-bore, iqhubekela phambili nokukhuphuka kwe-canbitalm. imfucumfucu ingena ku-vacuum njengoba isimo sayo esimise okwe-wedish siqhekeza imbobo emoyeni.Naphezu cishe kwengxenye yesine yemayela, umsindo wenjini wawusazwakala njengoba imoto yayidlula ku-trap.speed?124.0 mph ngemizuzwana engu-12.0 nje.
Ihora leshumi nambili.Leso sibalo sibeka iVector phambili kakhulu kubaphathi befulegi njenge-Acura NSX (imizuzwana engu-14.0), i-Ferrari Testarossa (imizuzwana engu-14.2) kanye ne-Corvette ZR-1 (imizuzwana engu-13.4). futhi inezindleko zayo;iVector W8 TwinTurbo idayisa ngo-$283,750, ibiza kakhulu kuneLamborghini ($211,000) kodwa ingaphansi kweFerrari (i-US-spec F40 ibiza cishe u-$400,000).
Ngakho-ke yini eyenza i-Vector W8 ibeke uphawu? Ukuze uphendule yonke imibuzo yami futhi unginikeze uhambo oluqondisiwe lwesikhungo se-Vector, u-Mark Bailey uyi-VP Yezokukhiqiza, owayeyisisebenzi sase-Northrop kanye nembangi yangaphambili ye-Can-Am.
Ekhomba ichweba lenjini yeVector esakhiwayo, uthe, “Akuyona injini encane ephendulwe yafa.Yinjini enkulu engasebenzi kanzima.”
Six-litre all-aluminium 90-degree pushrod V-8, block eyenziwe nguRodeck, 2-valve head cylinder eyenziwe yi-Air Flow Research.Amabhulokhi amade aqoqwe futhi i-dynamometer ihlolwe yi-Shaver Specialties e-Torrance, CA.Noma ngabe yini edingekayo;uhlu lwezingxenye zenjini lufundeka njengohlu lukaKhisimusi lomjahwe wendandatho: amapiston omgunyathi e-TRW, izinti zokuxhuma insimbi engagqwali ye-Carrillo, amavalvu ensimbi engagqwali, izingalo zerocker, amakhrenki afojiwe, ome ngezihlungi ezintathu ezihlukene Isistimu yokugcwalisa i-oil sump.Inqwaba yepayipi yensimbi engagqwali elukiwe enokufakwa okubomvu nokuluhlaza okwesibhakabhaka ukuze ithwale uketshezi yonke indawo.
Inkazimulo yale njini isekuhlanganiseni kwayo okupholisayo okuveziwe, okwakhiwe nge-aluminiyamu futhi yapholishwa ukuze ibe kukhanya okukhazimulayo.Ingasuswa emotweni ngemizuzu ngokuxegisa izinsimbi ezine ezikhishwa ngokushesha ze-aero. Ixhunywe kuma-turbocharger e-Garrett apholile ngamanzi futhi aqukethe ingxenye emaphakathi ne-carmpecic nendiza yendiza.
Ukuthungela kusingathwa amakhoyili angawodwana kusilinda ngasinye, futhi ukulethwa kukaphethiloli kusetshenziswa umjovo wembobo olandelanayo olandelanayo, kusetshenziswa ama-injection angokwezifiso avela kuthimba le-Bosch R&D.
Amapuleti akhwezayo amahle njengoba injini ngokwayo iwabeka eceleni kumbeleko. I-aluminum billet eluhlaza okwesibhakabhaka ene-anodized ne-embossed, ibholidi elilodwa lifinyelela ohlangothini lwesisekeli sebhulokhi kanti elinye liphinda kabili njengepuleti le-adaptha lenjini/lokudlulisela. I-GM Turbo Hydra-matic, esetshenziswa i-V-8 powered front-drive e-Oldscan e-Elscaldone yonke kanye ne-Elscronado. I-3-speed transmission yakhelwe inhloso ngosonkontileka abancane beVector abasebenzisa izinto ezikwazi ukumelana no-630 lb-ft. Torque ekhiqizwe injini ku-4900 rpm kanye ne-7.0 psi boost.
U-Mark Bailey wayenomdlandla njengoba engidabula esitolo sokwenza izinto, ekhomba uhlaka lwensimbi olukhulu lwe-chrome-molybdenum, phansi kwekhekheba lezinyosi ze-aluminium, kanye ne-epoxy-bond futhi yafakwa kuhlaka ukuze kwakheke uhlaka oluqinile.Ishidi le-aluminium endaweni yokukhishwa kwamagobolondo.Wachaza: “Uma [isakhiwo] besiyi-monocoque, ubungathola ukusonteka okuningi futhi bekuyoba nzima ukulakha ngokunembile.Ukube bekuyi-space frame, ubuzoshaya indawo eyodwa bese uthinta yonke enye into ngoba wonke amashubhu Ababhalisile bathatha yonke into.”Umzimba wakhiwe ngamanani ahlukahlukene e-carbon fibre, i-Kevlar, ama-fiberglass mats, kanye ne-unidirectional fiberglass, futhi ngokwesakhiwo awunawo ukucindezeleka.
I-chassis eqinile ingakwazi ukuthwala kangcono imithwalo yezingxenye ezinkulu ezilengayo.IVector isebenzisa izingalo ze-beefy double A ngaphambili kanye neshubhu elikhulu le-De Dion ngemuva, elimiswe izingalo ezine ezilandelanayo ezinwebeka yonke indlela eya ku-firewall.I-Koni adjustable shock absorbers eneziphethu eziqinile zisetshenziswa kakhulu.Amabhuleki angama-astonntilated ama-intshi angu-13 ama-astonntilasentimitha ama-alconntilated ama-intshi angu-4. okufanayo ngomklamo nalawo asetshenziswe ku-3800 lbs.Imoto yesitoko ye-NASCAR, igobolondo le-aluminium emshinini wesondo libheka ububanzi be-can yekhofi.Alukho ucezu olulodwa lwe-chassis olusezingeni eliphansi, noma luvele lwanele.
Ukuvakasha kwefekthri kwathatha usuku lonke.Kwakuningi kakhulu okwakuzobonwa futhi u-Bailey wasebenza ngokuzikhandla ukuze angibonise zonke izici zokuhlinzwa.Kufanele ngibuye ngishayele.
Ufikile uMgqibelo, imoto ethuthukisiwe enombala ompunga esiyihlolile yakhangwa isicabha sokushwiba eseluliwe. Ukungena kuwumsebenzi onzima kwabangafundile, onemibundu emaphakathi nendawo encane phakathi kwesihlalo nengaphambili lomnyango.Ngingene esihlalweni somshayeli njengenyamazane esanda kuzalwa.
Umoya unuka lesikhumba, njengoba cishe yonke indawo yangaphakathi imbozwe ngesikhumba, ngaphandle kwedeshibhodi enwetshiwe, eqedwa ngendwangu encane ye-suede.Isitezi esinokhaphethi soboya be-Wilton siyisicaba ngokuphelele, sivumela i-Recaros eshintshwa ngogesi ibekwe phakathi kwamayintshi ambalwa ukusuka kwenye.
Injini enkulu iphila ekujikeni kokuqala kokhiye, izinze ifinyelele ku-900 rpm ingenzi lutho. Imisebenzi yenjini ebalulekile neyokudlulisela iboniswa kulokho iVector ekubiza ngokuthi “isitayela sendiza esiboniswa kabusha se-electroluminescent display” - okusho ukuthi kuyatholakala izikrini ezine zolwazi ezihlukene. ” isibonisi esihamba siqonde ngesikhombi esingaguquki, kanye nesibonisi sedijithali efasiteleni lesikhombi.I-Kostka ichaza ukuthi isigaba setheyiphu enyakazayo sinikeza kanjani ulwazi lwezinga loshintsho olungakwazi ukuboniswa yidijithali kuphela.Ngishaye ngamandla i-accelerator ukuze ngibone ukuthi wayesho ukuthini, ngase ngibuka itheyiphu igxuma yenaliti cishe ku-3000 rpm, ngase ngibuyela emuva ku-idle.
Ngifinyelele isibambo esigudluziwe esigudluziwe, ngashona phansi efasiteleni elingakwesokunxele, ngabuyela emuva futhi kancane kancane ngabuyela emgwaqweni. Ngemva kokukhetha ukushayela, saqonda emigwaqweni yase-Wilmington sibheke kuFreeway wase-San Diego siya emagqumeni angaphezu kweMalibu.
Njengakwamanye ama-Exotics, ukubonakala kwangemuva cishe akukho, futhi iVector inendawo eyimpumputhe iFord Crown Victoria engakwazi ukuyithatha kalula. Yelula intamo yakho. Ngamashutha amancane ehood, ngabona kuphela iwindshield kanye nothi lwemoto ngemuva kwami. Izibuko zangaphandle zincane, izibuko zincane, zibekwe ngendlela eqondile, kodwa zibeke imephu ekahle, zibeke imephu ekahle, zibeke ibalazwe ngendlela efanele. iwindshield enkulu kunazo zonke emhlabeni inweba futhi ihlangane nedeshi eya phansi, inikeze umbono oseduze wetiyela emayadi ambalwa ngaphambi kwemoto.
Ukuqondisa kuwuhlelo olusizwa ngogesi lwe-rack-and-pinion olulula ngokulingene ngokunemba okuhle kakhulu.Ehlangothini eliphansi, akukho ukuzicabangela okuningi, okwenza kube nzima kwabangajwayele ukuzwana.Uma kuqhathaniswa, amabhuleki angasizwanga adinga amandla amaningi—amakhilogremu angu-50 ku-0.320 pounds wehla nge-stoplocity 3.55 pounds ukusuka ku-0.320g pounds down to drop down imitha. s kusukela ku-80 mph kuya ku-250 izinyawo futhi kusukela ku-60 mph kuya ku-145 izinyawo amabanga angcono kakhulu e-Ferrari Testarossa-nakuba i-Redhead isebenzisa cishe ingxenye yokucindezela kwe-pedal ukuqeda isivinini.Ngisho ngaphandle kwe-ABS (uhlelo oluzogcina lutholakala), izitobhi ziqondile futhi ziyiqiniso, ngokuchema okubekwe ukukhiya amathayi angaphambili ngaphambi kwengemuva.
I-Kostka iqonde kuthelawayeka on-remp, ngiyavuma, futhi ngokushesha sase sisemgwaqweni omncane oya enyakatho. Izikhala ziqala ukuvela phakathi kwezimoto, ziveze umzila osheshayo ovulekile ohehayo. Ngokweseluleko sikaDavid, ukubeka amalayisense engozini kanye nezitho nemilenze. Ngaphushela inkinobho yegiya lever phansi cishe i-intshi ekujuleni kwe-groove, ngabe sengihlehla enjinini enkulu, ngisuka enjinini eyi-galumu ngibuyela emuva. s i-pedal eya ku-bulkhead yangaphambili.
Bese kulandela ukusheshisa okuluhlaza, okusheshayo okuphoqa igazi esicutshini sobuchopho ngemuva kogebhezi;uhlobo olukugcina ugxile emgwaqeni ongaphambili, ngoba uzofika lapho uma uthimula.I-wastegate elawulwa ngogesi ingenela cishe ku-7 psi, ikhulule i-boost nge-swish eyimbobo ehlukile.Shaya amabhuleki futhi;ngethemba ukuthi angizange ngisabise umfana we-Datsun B210 phambi kwami. Ngokudabukisayo, asikwazi ukuphinda inqubo ngegiya eliphezulu emgwaqeni omkhulu ongavinjelwe ngaphandle kokwesaba ukungenelela kwamaphoyisa.
Uma sibheka ukusheshisa okuhlaba umxhwele kwe-W8 kanye nokuma kwe-wedge, kulula ukukholelwa ukuthi izofika ku-200 mph. U-Kostka ubika, nokho, ukuthi umugqa obomvu wesi-3 uyafezeka - ukushaya u-218 mph (kuhlanganise nokukhula kwesondo). Ngeshwa, kuzodingeka silinde olunye usuku ukuze siqinisekise lokhu okusetshenzwa phezulu, njengoba i-carbox isaqhubeka.
Kamuva, njengoba sehla ngomgwaqo omkhulu we-Pacific Coast, imvelo yeVector ephucuzekile yabonakala. Izwakala incane futhi ithambile kunobubanzi bayo obukhulu futhi ibukeka ngendlela emangalisayo. I-Suspension inyusa amaqhuqhuva amancane kalula, amakhulu ngokuzola (futhi okubaluleke nakakhulu, akukho ukushona phansi), futhi inokuqina, okungamatshe kancane okusikhumbuza ikhwalithi yohambo lwe-Nimpers ye-30 ye-tumper ende ye-Nimpers ye-Nimpers 300 ekhuphukayo ye-Nimpers ye-300 yesikhathi eside esikhumbuza kalula, amakhudlwana ngokuzola. i-valve.Hlola isibonisi ukuthi wonke amazinga okushisa nezingcindezi zivamile.
Izinga lokushisa ngaphakathi kweVector Black liyashisa kancane, nokho.”Ngabe le moto inawo okomoya?”Ngabuza ngezwi eliphakeme kunokwejwayelekile.UDavid wavuma ngekhanda futhi wacindezela inkinobho kuphaneli yokulawula isimo somoya.Isiphephetha-moya esisebenza kahle ngempela asivamile emotweni yangaphandle, kodwa ukuqhuma komoya obandayo kuqhume cishe ngaso leso sikhathi embotsheni yeso elimnyama elimnyama.
Ngokushesha sajikela ngasenyakatho ngasezintabeni nasemigwaqweni eyinselele ye-canyon. Ekuhlolweni kosuku lwangaphambilini, iVector ikhiqize amagremu angu-0.97 ebhodini lokushibilika lase-Pomona, inani eliphakeme kakhulu esake saliqopha kunoma yini enye ngaphandle kwemoto yomjaho. Kule migwaqo, unyawo olukhulu lwamathayi e-Michelin XGT Plus (255/45114646ZR16R1ZR1) .Ikhona liyashesha futhi libukhali, futhi ukucaba kokuma kwamakhona kuhle kakhulu.Ama-windshield struts amakhulu avame ukuvimba umbono wethu we-apex yamakhona ama-radius amancane esihlangabezane nawo, lapho i-Vector engu-82.0-inch-wide-wide izizwa kancane njengenkunzi esitolo se-china.Imoto ilangazelela ukujika okukhulu, okukhulu, lapho amandla angakwazi ukugoba khona futhi angakwazi ukugoba futhi aqine. Kunzima ukucabanga ukuthi sishayela umjaho we-Endurance Porsche njengoba sigijima kulawa makhona amarediyasi amakhulu.
UPeter Schutz, usihlalo kanye ne-CEO ye-Porsche kusukela ngo-1981 kuya ku-1988 futhi oyilungu lebhodi labeluleki leVector kusukela ngo-1989, akakuchithi ukuqhathanisa.” Empeleni kufana nokwenza u-962 noma 956 kunokwenza noma yiluphi uhlobo lwemoto yokukhiqiza,” esho.” Futhi ngicabanga ukuthi le moto ingaphezu kobuchwepheshe enganginabo ekuqaleni kweminyaka eyisishiyagalombili emijahweni.”Sithulela isigqoko uGerald Wiegert nethimba lakhe lonjiniyela abazinikele, nakubo bonke abanye ababenesineke nokuzimisela ukwenza amaphupho abo aphile.