The Barabus TKR: It's Faster, But Uglier

[Vonie]

Barabus TKR takes over as world's fastest car

The Bugatti Veyron may no longer be the world's fastest car. Today — following a number of teasers and leaks — Barabus officially unveiled the TKR: a new 1005 horsepower supercar the automaker says is capable of doing zero to 60 mph in 1.67 seconds. What's more, the car reportedly has a top speed of 270 mph — nearly 20 more than the Veyron. Power comes from a 6.0 liter V8 twin-turbocharged with dual intercoolers. Details remain sparse, but the automaker says it will sell the car for £360,000, which should translate to around $500,000, using typical automotive market conversion rates.

It's worth noting that Barabus sometimes refers to the car as being able to hit 60 mph in "under 2 seconds," rather than the stated 1.67. Even so, there is still some doubt among enthusiasts if such a figure is even possible. Nonetheless, the car is on display at the 2006 British International Motor Show, and we expect to get more details in the near future. The TKR is said to have been in development for the last 10 years. The car is to be made in Italy and the power plant is built in the United Kingdom. Worldwide volume is projected to be 300-400 cars over the estimated three-year production run.

Barabus has not responded to requests for more detailed specifications.

(Note: we apologize for the low-resolution images — Barabus has been very slow to release press material for the car).

LLN

 

[Sting]

Saleen S7 springs to mind instantly upon seeing the shape. lol Nice to hear about a British built powerplant!

However, I do not think that is uglier than the Veyron!

 

[Jay]

Saleen....... Oh

The whole car just has a replica kit type look to it where the owner decided to build himself a twin turbo small block Chev to throw into it, I wouldn't pay £360,000 for it.

 

[CDailey]

Looks like a Saleen S7 and Ascari KZ1 mix.

 

[Dave A]

First off the Bugatti is still the fastest, this has never been driven over 250mp, it's tyres would probably melt, unless it uses tyres that are pretty much useless on anything but the smoothest surface and in the dry. Secondly it needs to hit a certain production number before it can take the Veyrons record away, if only 4 or 5 are ever made and sold then regardless of it's top speed, the Veyron still holds the fastest production car crown. It's an exciting car spec wise but it's all a bit too generic.

 

[TS]

Like I said at RSC: Damn that thing is ugly 👎

 

[Kylehnat]

I fail to see the ugly.

 

[McLaren]

The mini S7, for those of us who still can't afford it.

 

[YSSMAN]

It certainly looks like a mock-up of an S7 that was poorly done. It all sounds good and all in print, but it would be more important to actually find out if it is as fast as they claim or not...

 

[MarinaDiamandis]

Nice, but I agree with the kit-car statement. Looks like a bit of a 'rush-job' to me.

 

[F1GTR]

Hang on, is this Brabus the Mercedes tuner or a different company altogether?

EDIT: Oh Barabus. Looks like a narrow S7.

 

[Dave A]

It doesn't look that great, it doesn't have an identity of it's own, regardless of weather or not you like the Veyron thats one thing you have to give them credit for, they wen't out and made something different, there doesn't look like there's been any effort what-so-ever in regards to giving this car it's own identity. It doesn't look that good imo.

 

[iceburns288]

Claimed performance numbers (does not equal sign) actual performance

 

[Dave A]

Yep, theres a lot fo cars that can theoretically top out at over 153mph, including the Veyron itself, but right now, it isn't that easy creating road legal tyres that can handle it, for a company that doesn't have VAG's budget to suddenly come up with tyres that can handle 270mph is frankly a ridiculous idea. Sure the car may have the power and gearing to achieve that speed, but I'd bet a lot of money that on road legal tyre's, it never does. I also doubt thier claim of under 1.7 seconds to 60, nothing has done it that fast on anything but slicks, yes you can get some "cheater slicks" that are road legal in some places, but they seriously compromise the cars performance on anything but smooth surfaces and good weather.

 

[Sting]

Yep, theres a lot fo cars that can theoretically top out at over 153mph, including the Veyron itself, but right now, it isn't that easy creating road legal tyres that can handle it, for a company that doesn't have VAG's budget to suddenly come up with tyres that can handle 270mph is frankly a ridiculous idea. Sure the car may have the power and gearing to achieve that speed, but I'd bet a lot of money that on road legal tyre's, it never does. I also doubt thier claim of under 1.7 seconds to 60, nothing has done it that fast on anything but slicks, yes you can get some "cheater slicks" that are road legal in some places, but they seriously compromise the cars performance on anything but smooth surfaces and good weather.

Fully agree with you on that point, however, I would love for them to get hold of some tyres that would handle the performance just to see if it can back up those figures. 1.67 seconds to 60, 270mph, I wanna see that happen!

 

[Iceman]

I seriously doubt it can break into the 1 second range to 60 mph. Is it even 4WD? If not I wouldn't think it could have any chance of putting all the power down so quickly (especially on road legal tires).

 

[Cosmic]

Tommy Kaira meets Saleen S7.

 

[fangorn_forest]

If I were Steve Saleen I think I'd sue! No kidding! That car is FAR too close to the S7 in terms of looks, at least at the front end, anyways. Everything looks like an almost exact copy. The headlights, the fender shapes, the small scoop at the base of the windshield, the scoop on the roof, the shape and placement of the grille and brake ducts at the front, the character line down the side of the car that curves down from the top of the front wheel well, the large cut-out area beneath that character line, EVERYTHING!! Major copyright infringement, IMO.

Edit: Just noticed another thing, the intake on the side of the car appears to be split up into multiple orifices by blade-like pieces, ala S7.

 

[Dave A]

It shares the style but not the dimensions and the shape is different all over, just not a lot but the fact is it's different all over. I don't think they can sue for that.

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

Did the guy put it together in his barn?

 

[Poverty]

*looks at the specification*

In theyre dreams

 

[McLaren]

Ah, I know what this is.

This is what happens when you breed a Saleen S7 with a Zonda.

I have no problem with the car. It looks ok, it's just way too obvious the creators like the Saleen and the Pagani.

 

[Dave A]

I can see S7 but I can't see any Zonda myself.

EDIT: Didn't see that pic the first time the page loaded, that is very Zonda influenced. This car really has zero identity of it's own.

 

[Onikaze]

I just wonder if they're aware of the difficulties in their endeavour over there.


Sorry, pet peeve.

 

[High-Test]

Ah.. a car that might break 250 and look pretty doing it, eh? Cool!

I don't know abaout you guys, but I like it. Plus, with the money they saved using pre '86 casting(perimeter valve cover bolts.. The heads are surely aftermarket though) Small block chevy motors, they may well have easily been able to get the Tires and keep cost down. Remember, these guys didn't spend zillions of dollars on a W16.

But, I do want to see how in the world that smallblock will take to all the RPMs. It's an old pushrod design, and they don't really like high revs unless they have some crazy cam that's above 290 degrees in duration. but then, the whole powerband has been moved way up. I'm pretty Skeptical of 1.67 seconds.

This and the Veyron are both engineering feats in their own rigt. VAG did something totally different with the Veyron, and these guys are taking a bunch of parts that have been tried and true and making them do things nobody would have dreamed of doing a few years ago.


A street legal smallblock good for 250+? Are you joking with me?

 

[Tornado]

This and the Veyron are both engineering feats in their own rigt. VAG did something totally different with the Veyron, and these guys are taking a bunch of parts that have been tried and true and making them do things nobody would have dreamed of doing a few years ago.
A street legal smallblock good for 250+? Are you joking with me?

It's only an engineering feat if it actually accomplishes said engineering goal. This reeks of Vector W8, and not in the cool way. In the "we can claim whatever" way.
It does look like someone hit an S7 with a truck, though.
​

 

[GT4_Rule]

Saleen S7 copy.

It is ugly but if claims are true, then I finally have a ultra-car that I can love instead of Veyron!

 

[niky]

Will somebody please re-fix the title? It's supposed to be BARABUS, not BRABUS. I spent the better part of the last hour trying to figure out if the whole thing was a hoax, or a joke.

Well, it apparently isn't a hoax...

Nearby was newcomer Barabus. We thought it was a spelling mistake, but the car on the stand was like no Brabus you've ever seen. The TKR is a bright blue rocket ship that's capable - if you believe the hype - of 0-60 mph in under two seconds. Top speed is said to be well in excess of 200 mph. Under the bonnet is a re-engineered Chevy twin-turbo V-8 capable of 1005 bhp at 6800 rpm. The first customer car is going to a Saudi Arabian in November, and he, like everyone else, is paying £300,000 ($550,000) for the privilege.

But it's a very sick joke... half a mill plus for a car that looks sooooooo... (as previously stated) kit car?

Looking at the poorly sorted aerodynamics... I'd be surprised if the car would remain stable up to 200mph, let alone 270.

 

[Dave A]

I don't see how they expect to keep the rear end of the car in check.

 

[McLaren]

Saudi Arabia doesn't surprise me.

Doesn't the Sultan with all the cars live there?