Ascari Ecosse

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Ascari Ecosse
Ascari Ecosse
Manufacturer Ascari Cars
Production 1998–1999
Successor Ascari KZ1
Class Sports car
Body style(s) 2-door coupe
Platform Rear mid-engine, rear-wheel drive
Engine(s) 4.7 L V8
Transmission(s) 5-speed manual[1]
Wheelbase 2,850 mm (112.2 in)[2]
Length 4,280 mm (168.5 in)[1]
Width 1,828 mm (72.0 in)[1]
Height 1,120 mm (44.1 in)[1]
Curb weight 1,250 kg (2,756 lb)[1]
Designer Lee Noble

The Ascari Ecosse is a mid-engine[1] sports car produced by Ascari Cars from 1998 to 1999[1]. It was the first production car released by the company and is based on the Ascari FGT concept car.

Contents

[edit] FGT

In 1995 Ascari introduced the FGT concept at various European motor shows, with a design by Lee Noble[1]. It featured a Chevrolet six litre fuel injected V8 engine placed midship behind the driver.

At the same time as the launch of the concept car, Klaas Zwart of the Netherlands chose to enter the FGT in racing, running a Ford V8 engine and entering into the British GT Championship. With the one concept car meeting the homologation requirements, Zwart managed to win an event at Silverstone Circuit in the car's debut season of 1995. The car would also attempt to qualify for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, but would not be fast enough to pass prequalifying. The car continued to maintain pace with newcomers to British GT in 1996, before Zwart would partner with William Hewland, owner of Hewland engineering, for a partial season in 1997 with only a best finish of fourth at Donington Park.

Following the 1997 season, Ascari would turn to mass-producing the FGT, renaming it the Ecosse.

[edit] Ecosse

The production version of the Ecosse was given a BMW V8 powerplant in place of the Chevrolet and Ford units, although this was further tuned by Hartge. The 4.4 liter engine produced around 300 hp (220 kW), while later larger 4.7 liter[1] units produced around 400 hp (300 kW)[1][3].

The spaceframe chassis and wishbone suspension carried a lightweight fibre glass body, weighing in at just 1250 kg (2756 lb). The Ecosse, with the larger 4.7 liter engine, was able of going from zero-to-sixty mph in 4.1 seconds[1][3] while top speed was achieved at 200 mph (322 km/h)[1][3]. Only 17 examples[1][3] are known to have been produced, however only nine of these remain today as the other eight have all been destroyed.

The Ecosse would eventually be replaced by the Ascari KZ1 in 2003.[4]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m 1999 Ascari Ecosse. Supercars.net Publishing. Retrieved on 2008-05-09.
  2. ^ Ascari Ecosse - Stats. PistonHeads.com Speed Matters. Retrieved on 2008-05-09.
  3. ^ a b c d Robert Farago (2001-11-27). Ascari Ecosse. PistonHeads.com Speed Matters. Retrieved on 2008-05-09.
  4. ^ Ascari SpeedNotes - History of the Company (PDF). Ascari Cars. Retrieved on 2008-05-09.

[edit] External links