Hellcat: stand by for Rochdale supercar

[Pebb]

Source: 4car

More details have emerged on the Melling Hellcat, a phenomenally quick super-coupe under development in, of all places, Rochdale, Lancashire.

The Maserati of Minneapolis blog reports that the Hellcat, originally said to have a 700bhp V10 engine, is to get - wait for it - a quad-turbo unit giving up to 1,175bhp. Performance figures are estimated at 275mph and 0-60mph in an unbelievable 2.6 seconds.

Al Melling originally developed this V10 engine for TVR, before going it alone to build his own car. He has previously designed engines including the Speed Eight for TVR, as well as engines for F1 teams and superbike racers, and a V10 for Lola in the late 90s, although this was never raced.

As we reported here last year, the Hellcat will be front-engined but rear-wheel drive, will be built around a carbon fibre monocoque with carbon fibre panels and will weigh just 1,220kg. It will have independent suspension all round, six-speed manual transmission, and bucket seats with four-point harnesses; prices are set to be from around the £100,000 mark.

Melling plans to build around 50 Hellcats a year and is also working on a GT1-spec racing version with a view to competing against the Corvettes and Aston Martin DBR9s at Le Mans.

The cars will be sold via an as-yet unnamed specialist dealer only in the UK and it appears that distribution to the US is also under discussion.

 

[Dave A]

OMG Al Melling is building his own supercar , this will be nothing short of an up to date TVR Speed 12 only with a V10. And not a TVR. And not just any V10, they're using Mellings V10 , though his Nemeis V8 could probably produce thoes power figures. This is actually the first I've heared of this project but the V10 I've read about, it was at one point intended to be used in the Lola F1 car.

I am skeptical about the top speed claims as always, 250's possibly, but when physics dictated the Veyron's tyre's couldn't go any faster, unless this is running tyres that are useless in any condition but bone dry and very smooth surfaces, I can't seem them coming up with a more capable tyre. I love the sound of a car being designed and built by Al Melling though, it will be mental.

 

[Pebb]

OMG Al Melling is building his own supercar , this will be nothing short of an up to date TVR Speed 12 only with a V10. And not a TVR. And not just any V10, they're using Mellings V10 , though his Nemeis V8 could probably produce thoes power figures. This is actually the first I've heared of this project but the V10 I've read about, it was at one point intended to be used in the Lola F1 car.

I am skeptical about the top speed claims as always, 250's possibly, but when physics dictated the Veyron's tyre's couldn't go any faster, unless this is running tyres that are useless in any condition but bone dry and very smooth surfaces, I can't seem them coming up with a more capable tyre. I love the sound of a car being designed and built by Al Melling though, it will be mental.

I hope someday TVR can get Al Melling's V10 someday.

 

[Dave A]

Or get him to do a prpose built V12 rather than mating two of his AJP6's together. Though the simple existence of this car to me indicates that Melling may not be doing TVR's next engines, at present Ricardo are building his AJP6's for TVR. I think that whatever engine line replaces the AJP's will not be Mellings.

I wouldn't complain if they were Cosworths though . A Cosworth V8 in the next Cerbera.

That said I wonder how flexable his Nemesis V8 is, because TVR were waiting for a V8 for the Cerbera replacment, now they've made it official that car is coming in 2010, so that suggest that they have an engine in mind for it. Just a thought.

 

[Pebb]

Or get him to do a prpose built V12 rather than mating two of his AJP6's together. Though the simple existence of this car to me indicates that Melling may not be doing TVR's next engines, at present Ricardo are building his AJP6's for TVR. I think whaever engine line replaces the AJP's will not be Mellings.

I wouldn't complain if they were Cosworths though . A Cosworth V8 in the next Cerbera.

That said I wonder how flexable his Nemesis V8 is, because TVR were waiting for a V8 for the Cerbera replacment, now they've made it official that car is coming in2010, so that suggest that have an engine in mind for it. Just a thought.

What about two British Built Cosworth V8's together, or maybe two Speed Six Straight Six's together.

 

[Dave A]

We've already had the two Speed Six's, they're the AJP6 engines. Two Cossie V8's would certainly be something but I've always been under the impression a purpose built engine should be a better option. A 16 cylinder TVR concept does exist though, but it wasn't designed by TVR themselves and was never intended to be anything but a design study. Which is all it was.

On another note, Jeremy Clarkson has already requested to test this car when it's available, so I think the chances are high that it will appear on TopGear.

 

[Pebb]

We've already had the two Speed Six's, they're the AJP6 engines. Two Cossie V8's would certainly be something but I've always been under the impression a purpose built engine should be a better option. A 16 cylinder TVR concept does exist though, but it wasn't designed by TVR themselves and was never intended to be anything but a design study. Which is all it was.

On another note, Jeremy Clarkson has already requested to test this car when it's available, so I think the chances are high that it will appear on TopGear.

I saw that concept, called the Speed 16, and I must say a Cerbera Speed 16 with a W16 or V16 could still happen.

 

[Jim Prower]

And naming it after a WWII Grumman doesn't hurt...

 

[Dave A]

Notice it's lhd in that pic, I read news today that they cars will also be being assembled in the US by Roush but it could just be that Roush will be selling them, the news was unconfirmed with regards to Roush' role, but it is confirmed that Roush have a role with regards to the cars appearance in the US. The manufacture will be here, quite local to where I live, Rochdale is just a few miles outside Manchester.

 

[YSSMAN]

Built by Roush, eh? Thats cool. His headquarters is only a few hour drive from where I live. It will be interesting to see the car in final-spec, but I too am a bit skeptical on the top-speed issue.

 

[Jim Prower]

Oh...that's a sexy car.

and it does remind me of WWII aircraft, especially in that paint/bare metal/ whatever. Not the Grumman Hellcat, (round ol' thing,) but a P-51D comes to mind....

 

[opendriver]

1200hp out of a quad turbo V-10? A banks TT V-8 can make the same on pump gas. But what is the torque on motor? If its anything over 900 FTLBS, ill be impressed



It sounds like someone is drowning in the exhaust pipes

 

[Dave A]

You do realise that the number of cylinders means nothing with regards to how much horsepower an engine should be capable of producing in terms of an on paper statistic. An inline 4 can produce over 1000bhp, and technically it can produce it extremely reliably too. It's a nothing argument to say "why can the only get that much bhp from a V10 when you can just as much from a V8", guess what, you can get just as much from a V6, or an inline 6 or an inline 4 if you designed the engine for it.

I love it how people talk about high bhp figures like 1000bhp isn't impressive, they did it with the Veyron, and when they couldn't use the 16 cylinders argument they used the "yeah but it has 4 turbos so it still should produce more" argument. Sure you can make more, the the more power you pull from an engine the more highly strung that engine is, the more highly strung the engine is the hotter it will run, the faster parts will wear and less reliable it is likely to be. You try to make a 1000+bhp road can that will last for at least 70000 miles and is offered with a 3 year warranty comparable to the one you get with a 1.2 liter Lupo. Then it's not easy.

 

[opendriver]

Ah yes, I forgot to mention that it has to be reliable. So I guess there is a reason they always "de-tune" cars

 

[Dave A]

Great vid by the way 👍.

But I would just like to point out, the car in that video is the original prototype, the design has changed and the car now looks like the one in thoes pics I posted. It looks better imo.

 

[Philly]

Who is doing the chassis? This guy is an engine designer. I don't question hs ability to build a good chassis, but I wonder if it will be excellent. To be fast, a car has to be able to corner. This isn't a drag car. Although, it does have weight going for it.

Top speed? no. It cost millions of dollars to produce the Veyron tires and they are good for what, 260 mph tops? I don't think they will shell out that much for a tyre. The engine? That's probably enough to send the car that fast.

The design looks cool. It looks really fast. I would hope we can see that engine or something like it in a TVR. That would be a sweet car.

 

[Dave A]

I wouldn't doubt that with dragster slicks on it could reach over 260, possibly 270mph, but by the same token, with dragster slicks and no limiter, the Veyron could go over 252mph, how much over we don't really know.

Regarding the chassis, Melling doesn't have much to do with that, he said in an interview that he leaves the chassis to other people. To him it's just a place to put his engine on. He'll have a team of chassis engineers who will sort that out.

 

[Pebb]

Oh man I just love the sound, but that has to be the best sounding V10's yet in a road car.

 

[Philly]

it seems as though this whole car is just about the engine. A car is much more than that. Nobody designs a car so they can show off their engine. You design the engine for the car. While I'm sure it will be fast, I'm going to have to disapprove of the car. Might as well have a glass front end to show off the engine and neon signs saying "LOOK!!"👎

 

[McLaren]

This all seems fine and dandy right now, but imho, it seems more of a "I have a faster penis" award than what an actual supercar was once thought of.

 

[Tornado]

I'd have to agree. I'm getting tired of this stupid "how high is your top speed?" rubbish. It was pointless in 1993, and it is pointless now. And that 0-60 time is most likely pure fantasy.

 

[McLaren]

I'd have to agree. I'm getting tired of this stupid "how high is your top speed?" rubbish. It was pointless in 1993, and it is pointless now. And that 0-60 time is most likely pure fantasy.

Well, you gotta admit, the McLaren still accomplished the goal of the ultimate driver's car back then.

 

[Tornado]

That is true. But it is also true that it wasn't designed first hand to be straight-up fastest in top speed, like, say, the XJ220 was.

 

[YSSMAN]

Oh man I just love the sound, but that has to be the best sounding V10's yet in a road car.

I'm a bit wishy-washy on the sound overall. Don't get me wrong, it sounds better than any Honda or Nissan out there, but it is certainly no Carrera GT when it comes to automotive symphonies. The styling of the prototype is pretty so-so, and I hope they make it a bit more aggressive in the production version. I do like the idea of Rousch building them in America, however that still doesn't make them the ultimate American/British supercars. That title will continue to ride with the Mosler MT900S, and I think George Lucas would agree...

 

[Philly]

It can't compete with the Bugatti, except price. The Bugatti is probably as fast, and car transport you in the lap of luxury. This is a track car. I'll give it the edge on handling, but it might not be by much. This car's strongest point is the fact that it costs around one fifth the price?

 

[Pebb]

I'd have to agree. I'm getting tired of this stupid "how high is your top speed?" rubbish. It was pointless in 1993, and it is pointless now. And that 0-60 time is most likely pure fantasy.

The 0-60 MPH time it can be done.

 

[HiQQory]

The prototype is better looking IMO, the newer version is too busy. Too much holes, intakes etc. But since this is a "My Penis is faster then yoo" They kinda belong there, for the rich boyracers.

 

[Dave A]

Personally I wasn't that keen at all on the prototype but I think the re-design is okay. It's not a stunner but I bet it stands the test of time better than most car designs do.

it seems as though this whole car is just about the engine. A car is much more than that. Nobody designs a car so they can show off their engine. You design the engine for the car. While I'm sure it will be fast, I'm going to have to disapprove of the car. Might as well have a glass front end to show off the engine and neon signs saying "LOOK!!"👎

No this car isn't to show off the engine, the emphsis is being placed on the engine because it's Al Melling, one of the best engine designers in the world. The engine isn't brand new, it's not something he's just designed with the idea that he will show it off in a car. The car is being used to try and kick start British engineering again. The main purpose of this car itself though is to get a British designed and built car to win it's class at LeMans again, it's been a while since that's happened. Like I said before, the chassis and everything else is being deigned properly too, just not by Melling. He isn't a chassis specialist, so he has chassis specialists doing the chassis. He's concentrating on the engine. Imo this car if it works out well could do wonders for the British car industry in terms of recognition and attention.

With regards to the 0-60 time, it's certainly feasible, but it'll depend on how well the car can put the power down.

 

[McLaren]

The 0-60 MPH time it has can be done.

"It has can be done."

What are you saying? That is has been done, or that it can?

 

[Dave A]

Missing a comma that's all. The 0-60 time it has, can be done.