"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-horse-horsepower-engine-aeromotics esezingeni eliphezulu. ukwakhiwa kobuchwepheshe bezinhlelo. Ukusuka emidwebeni kuya kumamodeli agwebu kuya kumamodeli aphelele, iVector yaqala ukukhonjiswa e-Los Angeles Auto Expo ngo-1976. I-prototype esebenzayo yaqedwa eminyakeni emibili kamuva, yahlanganiswa ezingxenyeni eziqoqwe emagcekeni angcolile futhi zagezwa ezingxenyeni ezithile - ukuze kuhlinzekelwe indlu. imigwaqo yayibonakala imiselwe ukuba yinto nje eyiphupho.
U-Wigt ufanelwe uhlobo oluthile lwendondo ngenxa yokubekezela, uhlobo oluthile lomvuzo wokuqina. Buck the trend, indiva izipoki ezikhalayo ze-Tucker, DeLorean kanye ne-Bricklin adventures ehlulekile.I-Vector Aeromotive Corp. e-Wilmington, e-Calif., ekugcineni isilungele ukukhiqiza imoto eyodwa ngesonto. Abaphikisi badinga kuphela ukuvakashela indawo yabo yomhlangano wezimoto ezimbili ezintsha, lapho silungiselelwa khona izimoto ezimbili zokugcina abanikazi eSwitzerland (i-Vector W8 yokuqala yokukhiqiza i-twin-turbo yathengiswa enkosana yaseSaudi, iqoqo layo lemoto engu-25, elihlanganisa ne-Porsche 959 kanye ne-Bentley Turbo R) .Cishe ama-Vectors ayisishiyagalombili asakhiwa ngezigaba ezihlukahlukene zokuphothulwa, kusukela ekugingqeni i-chassis kuya ezimotweni eziseduze.
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.Ukuduma kwenjini engu-6.0-litre all-aluminium V-8 kushubile, kanti impempe ye-Garrett turbocharger ihambisana nokukhala kwe-Gilmer-type i-battle V-8 i-rearsing brack drive ne-rearsing bratt drive. i-torque nama-intshi emoto aya phambili, ishelela intambo yangaphambili ekhiyiwe endaweni egandayiwe.Ifana ne-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 - ishaya u-60 mph, imizuzwana ngaphambi kokushintsha kwe-1-2. isihlabathi kanye nemfucumfucu ye-orbital inyakaza ingene ku-vacuum njengoba ifomu layo elimise okwe-wedish liqhekeka 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). izinzuzo, kodwa 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, “Akusiyo imotho encane ephendulwe yafa, iyinjini 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 ilele ekuhlanganiseni kwayo okupholisayo okuveziwe, okwakhiwe nge-aluminiyamu futhi yapholishwa ukuze ibe kukhanya okukhazimulayo.Ingasuswa emotweni ngemizuzu embalwa ngokuxegisa ama-aero clamp amane akhishwa ngokushesha.Ixhunywe ku-turbocharger ye-Garrett epholile ngamanzi futhi inengxenye emaphakathi ne-carmpecic nendiza yendiza.
Ukuthungela kusingathwa amakhoyili angawodwana kusilinda ngasinye, futhi ukulethwa kukaphethiloli kwenziwa ngomjovo wembobo olandelanayo olandelanayo, kusetshenziswa ama-injection angokwezifiso avela eqenjini 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/lokudlulisa. I-GM Turbo Hydra-matic, esetshenziswa i-V-8 powered front-drive e-Oldsdo e-Elslonado ne-Elslonado ingxenye ye-3-speed transmission yakhelwe inhloso yi-Vector subcontractors esebenzisa izinto ezikwazi ukumelana no-630 lb-ft. I-Torque ekhiqizwa 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 ye-shell extrusion.Wachaza: “Ukube [isakhiwo] sonke besiyi-monocoque, ubungathola ukusonteka okuningi futhi bekuyoba nzima ukulakha ngokunembile. Ukube bekuyi-space frame, ubuyoshaya indawo eyodwa bese uthinta yonke enye into ngoba ishubhu ngalinye Ama-sub athatha 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 ingamelana kangcono nemithwalo 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.Ama-shock absorbers e-Koni ashintshwayo aneziphethu ezigxile asetshenziswa kakhulu.Amabhuleki angama-intshi angu-13 ama-discluminum ama-intshi angu-4 ama-alconntilated ama-intshi angu-4. amasondo amasondo afana nomklamo nalawo asetshenziswa ku-3800 lbs.I-NASCAR stock car, igobolondo le-aluminium emshinini wesondo libheka ububanzi be-can yekhofi.Alukho ucezu olulodwa lwe-chassis olusezingeni eliphansi, noma ngisho nokwanele.
Ukuvakasha kwefekthri kwathatha usuku lonke.Kwakuningi kakhulu okwakuzobonwa futhi u-Bailey wasebenza ngokuzikhandla ukuze angibonise zonke izici zokuhlinzwa.Kufanele ngibuyele futhi 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 isikhumba, njengoba cishe yonke indawo yangaphakathi imbozwe ngesikhumba, ngaphandle kwedeshibhodi enwetshiwe, eqedwa ngendwangu encane ye-suede.Iphansi elinokhaphethi loboya be-Wilton liyisicaba ngokuphelele, livumela i-Recaros eshintshwa ngogesi ukuthi ibekwe phakathi kwamayintshi ambalwa ukusuka kwenye.
Injini enkulu iphila ekujikeni kokuqala kokhiye, izinze ifinyelele ku-900 rpm ingasebenzi.Injini ebalulekile nemisebenzi yokudlulisela iboniswa kulokho iVector ekubiza ngokuthi “isitayela sendiza esiphinde silungiselwe i-electroluminescent display” - okusho ukuthi kunezikrini ezine zolwazi ezihlukene ezitholakalayo.Ngaphandle kwesikrini, kukhona inkomba yokukhetha igiya ohlangothini lwaso kwesokunxele. Isibonisi "se-tape ehambayo" esigijima siqonde nge-pointer engaguquki, kanye nesibonisi sedijithali efasiteleni lesikhombi.I-Kostka ichaza ukuthi isigaba se-tape esinyakazayo sinikeza kanjani ulwazi lwezinga lokushintsha okuboniswa kwedijithali kuphela okungenakukwazi.Ngishayele i-accelerator ukuze ngibone ukuthi wayesho ukuthini, futhi ngayibuka itheyipu igxuma inaliti cishe ku-3000 rpm, bese ngibuyela emuva ngingenzi lutho.
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 e-hood, ngabona kuphela iwindshield kanye nothi lwemoto ngemuva kwami. Izibuko zangaphandle zincane futhi zibeke i-aphoyintimenti ekhoneni eliphansi, kodwa i-aphoyintimenti ikhokha kahle ukuze igcine i-traffic phezulu. ngaphambili, okungenzeka ukuthi iwindi elikhulu kunawo wonke emhlabeni liyanwebeka futhi lihlangane nedeshi eliya phansi, linikeza umbono oseduze wetiyela emayadi ambalwa ngaphambi kwemoto.
Ukuqondisa kuwuhlelo olusizwa amandla 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-0.320g yethu yokudonsa i-stopvetog 320g yephawundi yehle ukusuka ku-0.320g ukudonsa phansi. isivinini.Amabanga asuka ku-80 mph kuya ku-250 amafidi futhi asuka ku-60 mph kuya ku-145 ezinyaweni angamabanga angcono kakhulu e-Ferrari Testarossa—nakuba i-Redhead isebenzisa cishe uhhafu wengcindezi yokunyathela ukuze iqede isivinini.Ngisho ngaphandle kwe-ABS (uhlelo oluzogcina lutholakala), izitobhi ziqondile futhi ziyiqiniso, ngokuchema okubekwe ukukhiya amasondo angaphambili.
I-Kostka iqonde emgwaqeni onguthelawayeka, ngiyavuma, futhi ngokushesha sase sisemotweni encane eya enyakatho. Izikhala ziqala ukuvela phakathi kwezimoto, ziveze umzila osheshayo ovulekile ohehayo. Ngokweseluleko sikaDavid, ukubeka amalayisensi engozini kanye nezitho zomzimba. Ngaphushela ifindo legiya lishona phansi cishe i-intshi lishona emseleni, ngase ngidonsela emuva, ngihlehle enjinini ye-Wi, ngisuka e-Wi-Fi. i-aluminum gas pedal enkulu eya ngaphambili kwe-bulkhead.
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, awenzi phansi), futhi inokuqina, okungamatshe kancane okungikhumbuza ikhwalithi yethu ye-3Zsan yesikhathi eside, i-NiZsan ku-Tour damper 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 elincane elimnyama.
Ngokushesha sajikela ngasenyakatho ngasezintabeni nasemigwaqweni eyinselele ye-canyon. Ekuhlolweni kosuku lwangaphambilini, iVector ikhiqize amagremu angu-0.97 ebhodini lokushwibeka lasePomona, inani eliphakeme kakhulu esake saliqopha kunoma yini enye ngaphandle kwemoto yomjaho. Kule migwaqo, unyawo olukhulu lwamathayi e-Michelin XGT Plus (255/45116-4516-3ZR16ZR16R1ZR1) ikhuthaza ukuzethemba okukhulu.I-Cornering iyashesha futhi ibukhali, futhi ukucaba kokuma kwamakhona kuhle kakhulu.Ama-windshield struts amakhulu avame ukuvimba umbono wethu we-apex yamakhona erediyasi encane esihlangabezane nayo, lapho i-Vector engu-82.0-inch-wide-wide izizwa kancane njengenkunzi esitolo se-china.Imoto ilangazelela ukugoba okukhulu, ukujika okukhulu nokusetshenziswa kwayo kungaba yi-egrip enkulu, lapho amandla asetshenziswayo angaba khona lapho kungaba khona ukujika kwayo okukhulu, lapho amandla asetshenziswayo angaba khona. ngokunemba nangokuzethemba.Akunzima 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.