2014 Arash AF8
| ---- Specifications ---- | |||||
| Price | -- | Production | -- | ||
| Engine | 7 liter V8 | Weight | 2646 lbs | ||
| Aspiration | -- | Torque | 472 lb-ft @ 5000 rpm | ||
| HP | 550 hp @ 6500 rpm | HP/Weight | -- | ||
| HP/Liter | 78.6 hp per liter | 1/4 mile | -- | ||
| 0-62 mph | 3.5 seconds | Top Speed | 200 mph |
(from Arash Motor Company Press Release) Where could we start from and what heritage would we choose?
The previous models and the events that Arash Motor Company Ltd. had been involved with were a place to start the design. We had to look through our past to decide our future destiny. The AF8 subtly and by contrast does this with every curve, part and feature of its body.
The front of the car to the back has a story. From the front face of the car, its multi layered spoilers harks back to the company’s beginnings:
- The Farboud GT- The Farboud GT is an endurance sports car with beauty as well as strong and distinctive functions like its rear wing.
- The AF10 has a unique front wing and rear spoiler as well the spaceship style buttress intakes.
The imagination from our designers was endless.
In designing the concept drawings of the AF8, the designers had chosen cues from the past, but have left the future open to imagination, but with hints and suggestions of evolution embedded.
A short overhang front, a jet like forward position for the driver’s cockpit and the large flat rear back ends suggesting that the car is wider than normal which mentally indicates where all the power is coming from. The windscreen wide and shaped at the edges suggesting motorsport. The crease at the top of the roof line suggesting flow and integrity of air over the car. A short overhang rear suggesting speed, readiness to react and pounce, all energy in the rear portion of the car with its strong side view area and large lower intake channels. Curves and clean designs intertwined, a balance of style and discipline.
The side profile has the unmistakeable indication that this is Arash through the S or Z shape. This shape is carried over into the interior door cards of the car, as well as the front and rear lights. It has become its signature and a suggestion to the future.
The detail continues with large side air ducts that divert and force air into the engine intake system. Induction noise near the driver’s ears - a melody of excitement and energy. The rear engine cover uses an eclectic mix of beautiful meshing, glass shapes and naked lacquered carbon to make a complex, but beautiful shape of encasing the amazing V8 engine and gearbox.
AF8 has one of the largest rear tyres Michelin could supply - 345 width on 20 inch wheels - the largest contact patch we have ever made to date. Each wheel is made of forged aluminium, taking 3 days per wheel to machine and then finished in a dual paint system, polished and checked.
Almost every light on the AF8 uses LED technology, the ultimate in efficiency, cool radiance and crystal clear light emission. The rear light clusters are machined from a solid billet of aluminium to the finest detail and finally polished, anodised and lacquered for that deep multi layered look.
Finally at the back of the car is the permanently raised rear wing. All this, (without the added weight of assistance devices) is a true testament to every part considered and innovated beyond its initial idea.
And what does all this lead to? A beautiful design, low drag co efficiency and spectacular down force. A designer’s eye leads to innovation and thus to something timeless and leading to a future legacy.
Interior
The Arash AF8 was born to be on the race track. This is clearly visible by the DNA of the car shining through from its carbon fibres in the body and in its chassis. These DNA cues continue inside the car itself, evidenced by the materials, the layout of the controls and the seating position.
The pedals in perfect symmetry. The view out of the car being panoramic but almost "jet" like. The use of controls so intensely thought out.
Our first vision is for the most important controls to be in perfect reach and pleasant to touch:
- The steering wheel uses a blend of soft leather and carbon fibre for parts that do not constantly touch the hands
- The manual hand brake and gear stick lets you engage with the car and is a short distance from the wheel
- The dials enable instant viewing of the displays such as important driver information and speed indication. This is done via smooth flowing needles
Our second vision was to ensure that all other controls were touchscreen and quick to adjust, such as windows, lighting and of course, the most important feature, the ignition key.
The materials are lightweight and exquisite. Carbon fibre, aluminium and beautifully stitched leather is used everywhere. Titanium is used for the heater controls so that they stay warm to the touch in the winter and they are cool to touch in the summer. The cockpit is laid out to give a sense of purpose with its high rise central tunnel, "jet" like, exciting but comfortable and confidence inspiring. The carbon weave is visible in many places within the cockpit suggesting weight consideration, low volume construction and utter strength and stiffness.
The final mix in the equation of the interior is its suggestion of exclusivity. Every car made has a machined metal plaque indicating its rarity, its chassis number and its spirit of making something timeless.
Chassis
Carbon & aluminium reinforced "hybrid" tubular steel construction.
High tensile steel side impact tubes for side sills and door inner crash structures. Carbon reinforced roll cages system. The use of ’uni-directional carbon reinforced plastic' has been used in crash sensitive areas as well as the engine brace. This system is frequently used in formula and prototype racing cars.
Kevlar carbon reinforced plastic is used for wheel arch liners and floor areas to provide extra strength and ballistic protection against stone and external environmental harshness.
Engine
7.0 ltr, 550 bhp and in V8 configuration. These evocative statistics produce an emotional noise through combustion. It has motorsport DNA and low weight of approximately 120kg and has a low position to provide the best prerequisites for exceptional dynamic driving performance on the road as well as race track.
The engine itself has dry sump lubrication, a side mounted oil tank with baffle and anti foam packaging inside. The titanium connecting rods and the suction pumps of the engine have been designed with lightness in mind. The forged crankshaft is designed to be cruciform in construction to allow momentum and inertia to follow through the sweep of the piston movement in the crank thus producing exemplary power and torque figures.
The intake trumpet system is highly specialised to the AF8 making the engine breathe efficiently and strongly. The sound it makes from induction to exhaust is truly special and unique.
Gearbox
6 speed manual aluminium construction with separate oil cooler and pump. Light weight dual clutch plate with single mass machined fly wheel.
Exhaust
Stainless steel and titanium rear box construction. An active bypass valve at 3500 rpm allows for free flow exhaust activity and high level sound emission. The complete exhaust from engine output headers to exhaust tips is coated in a plasma ceramic coating system in black finish. This allows for 33% heat reduction from untreated exhausts as well as faster movement of exhaust gasses from the exhaust tips for increased horse power and an added “thrust” effect to the rear diffuser air flow.
Suspension
Double wishbone construction in S275 steel, polished and nickel plated. TIG welded formations. Machined oil filled aluminium dampers with adjustable bump & rebound
Brakes
Aluminium machined 6 piston monobloc construction. Aluminium disc housing with high tensile steel bolt fastenings. Cast steel floating rotors with cross drilling and fan style venting made during the casting process.
Wheels
The AF-8 wheel has been especially developed for the super sports car category. Its functionality is immediately visible. The vehicle has a 20 inch rear wheel and a 19 inch front wheel painted in 2 colours. The rims are painted in a gloss black as well as the inner barrels giving a three dimensional look. Their size gives them an advantage for driving dynamics and rolling resistance. The words ’stiff and light' appear again here for the wheels as found with the chassis. The words that our test drivers abide by.