MEV Ltd

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MEV Ltd, or Mills Extreme Vehicles (MEV), is a kit car manufacturer based in Mansfield, UK. It was founded in 2003 by Stuart Mills and has developed and produced 12 different vehicles as diverse as commuter trikes, Off-road 4x4s, EVs and exoskeleton kit cars. MEV have sold many of their projects to other manufacturers, thus allowing themselves to focus on the core models (Sonic7 & Exocet) as well as new model development.

Tilting trike

MEV Tilting Trike

MEV's first model was a tilting trike, a single seat trike intended for commuter use. The whole front end tilted into the corner; a patent for the mechanism was awarded in 2005,[1] however this model has never been offered commercially.

Trek 4x4

MEV Trek 4x4

The Trek 4x4 is a single donor kit based on Range Rover Classic running gear, but mounted mid ships. It was introduced in August 2005 and aimed at the off-road enthusiast, with improved ground clearance, approach and departure angles, and reduced overall weight compared to donor. As well as being featured in Kit Car (May '06) & Total Kit Car (July '06), it was also featured in Total Off Road, and sold in Holland in addition to the UK, though production ceased in 2006.

R2

MEV R2

Electric kit car commissioned as a promotional vehicle by LiFeBATT, to showcase their products as well as challenging pre-conceived notions about what an electric vehicle is, in terms of vehicle type and performance.[2] To that end, the R2 (also known as the Electric Sports Car) is an open two-seater sports car, with high-performance (4.5 sec 0–60 time was the aim); it made its public debut at The National Kit Car Show at Stoneleigh on 4 May 2008.

R3

MEV R3

The R3, introduced in June 2007, shares the same unconventional seating & mechanical layout combination first seen in the McLaren F1, i.e. central driver three seat mid-rear RWD car. It was powered by a Ford Duratec 2.5 litre V6, and was featured in Total Kit Car [3] and is no longer in production.

Rocket

MEV Rocket

To date, the Rocket is the model that MEV is best known for; it was introduced in September 2007 and as of March 2011 remains in production under licence by RoadTrackRace Ltd (RTR). It was conceived as a self-build, budget response to the Ariel Atom, which is credited with creating a new genre of sportscar known as 'exoskeleton' or 'exoskeletal' cars. It is a single donor car using Ford Focus Mk.I components, but converts mechanical layout to mid-rear RWD. Reaction in the kit car press has been good, being featured in Complete Kit Car [4][5] Feb '11, Kit Car (Oct '07, Mar '11); it is also one of the few kitcars to be featured in the mainstream motoring press in recent years, being selected for a build project in Auto Express.[6] The Rocket has been sold in the UK, Europe & US, and even as far afield as Australia (after modification to meet the ADR – Australian Design Rules).[7] RTR acquired the production rights in April 2009, allowing MEV to focus on other models and development of future models.

Sonic7

MEV Sonic7

The Sonic 7 was conceived as more civilised alternative to the Rocket. Though still a roadster (though a windscreen, doors & roof are available as optional extras) it does feature an enclosed cockpit. Though very similar to the Rocket mechanically, it uses different, simplified, chassis constructed from straight, box section steel instead of the Rocket's curved, tubular sections. Launched in February 2008, it remains in production and has been sold in UK, USA, South Africa & Holland and Hungary (via a distributor).

Etrike

MEV Etrike

Single seat ultra compact electric commuter trike. Available since June 2008, the Etrike is sold as set of plans (including a component list) rather than a kit: the builder fabricates the chassis.

Atomic

MEV Atomic

Single seat side-by-side Bike Engined Car (BEC), introduced June 2009 and currently produced under licence by RTR.[8] This mechanical layout is intended to give optimal weight distribution (25% at each wheel) with driver on board. It uses engine from '98–'06 Yamaha R1 which, combined with its low overall weight of 334 kg,[9] gives a power-to-weight ratio in excess of 400 bhp per ton.

Missile

MEV Missile

The Missile is an electric exoskeleton car, powered by a brushless 3 phase 11 kW motor incorporating regenerative braking; it uses eighteen 50Ah lead-acid valve regulated batteries totalling 12kWh which can be charged overnight on a high frequency charger. Range is approximately 40 miles, top speed 50 mph and overall weight is 600kg, including 280 kg of batteries. It is not in production.

tR1ke

MEV TR1ke

Bike powered, RWD, two seater exo reverse trike introduced July 2009. So named as it uses engine, transmission and rear swing arm from a Yamaha R1 donor. Produced under licence by RTR since October 2009.[10]

Eco-exo

MEV Eco-exo.

Compact tandem seat RWD commuter exoskeleton reverse trike using major components from a Suzuki Burgman, meaning it can accept powerplants from 125cc to 650cc. The project was sold almost immediately (company also called Eco-Exo), and prototype passed MSVA in late 2010[11] and production started 2011.

Exocet

MEV Exocet

The MEV Exocet made its public debut in June 2010 at the Newark kit car show.[12] It is a front-engined, rear-drive, single-donor exoskeleton kitcar based on the Mk 1 / NA Mazda MX-5 and is aimed at the novice builder; some builders are now using the newer Mk 2 & Mk 2.5 / NB. To this end, aside from using a single donor, it makes use of as many of the donor's components with little or no modification. The MX-5 itself has an unusual subframe that allows the body to be removed, leaving the engine, drivetrain and suspension as a rolling assembly which is then transplanted to the Exocet chassis. Reception in the press has been good and it has been featured in Kit Car, Total Kit Car (TKC) and Complete Kit Car (CKC),[13] as well as being selected for a CKC build project.[14][15][16] Though designed primarily for UK, a left-hand drive version was developed and has been sold as far afield as the US [17] and Holland. The Exocet is currently in production with MEV Ltd. It is also made under licence in New Zealand

External links

References

  1. ↑ UK Patent No. GB2394701
  2. ↑ LiFeBATT R2 project retrieved 2 April 2011
  3. ↑ Total Kit Car, pp.58-60, July 2007.
  4. ↑ Complete Kit Car, front cover, pp.14-17, March 2008.
  5. ↑ Complete Kit Car, January 2009
  6. ↑ Brewer, Mike (14 July 2008)."Brewers Hit Kit".Auto Express (London: Dennis Publishing). Retrieved 19 March 2011
  7. ↑ Total Kit Car news headlines, 11 February 2011 retrieved 19 March 2011
  8. ↑ Complete Kit Car, front cover, pp. 16-20, December 2009.
  9. ↑ Atomic specification retrieved 2 April 2011
  10. ↑ Complete Kit Car, pp.16-20, December 2009.
  11. ↑ Eco-exo information page retrieved 2 April 2011
  12. ↑ Newark 2010 show report
  13. ↑ Complete kit Car, October 2010
  14. ↑ Complete Kit Car, pp. 52-54, March 2011
  15. ↑ Complete Kit Car, pp.52-56, April 2011
  16. ↑ Complete Kit Car, pp.62-66, May 2011
  17. ↑ Kevin Patricks Exocet build galleries on flickr
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