“Ingcinga kukwakha udumo, kungekhona ukukhwela ihashe,” utshilo uGerald Wigert ngelizwi elithambileyo nelirhabaxa. Umongameli weVector Aeromotive Corporation akanalo ulonwabo olufana nolwakhe, nangona ukusukela ngo-1971 ebeyila kwaye esakha iVector twin-turbo, i-supercar enamandla angama-625-horsepower, enezihlalo ezi-2, enenjini ephakathi esebenzisa izixhobo eziphambili kunye nobuchwepheshe beenkqubo zeenqwelo-moya. Ukusuka kwimizobo ukuya kwiimodeli zefoam ukuya kwiimodeli ezipheleleyo, iVector yaboniswa okokuqala kwiLos Angeles Auto Show ka-1976. Kwiminyaka emibini kamva, kwagqitywa iprototype esebenzayo, yahlanganiswa kwizinto eziqokelelwe kwiindawo zokulahla inkunkuma yaza yahlanjwa iindawo ezithile, ukuze kubonelelwe ngendlu. Uthe uqoqosho olubuthathaka kunye nokugxekwa okonakalisayo kwiindaba zeemoto kwaphazamisa imizamo yokufumana inkxaso-mali, ngelixa iphupha lakhe lokwakha umlo osekelwe emhlabeni wesitalato libonakala liza kuzaliseka.
UWigt ufanelwe luhlobo oluthile lwembasa ngokunyamezela, uhlobo oluthile lomvuzo ngokunyamezela okupheleleyo. Ziphephe ezi ndlela ngokungayinaki imikhonto ekhalayo yeziganeko ezingaphumelelanga zikaTucker, uDeLorean kunye noBricklin. I-Vector Aeromotive Corporation eWilmington, eCalifornia ekugqibeleni ikulungele ukwakha imoto enye ngeveki. Abachasi kufuneka batyelele kuphela indawo yokugqibela yokuhlanganisa, apho ezimbini zeemoto esizifoteyo zazilungiselelwa ukuthunyelwa kubanini bazo abatsha eSwitzerland (iVector W8 yokuqala yemveliso ezimbini yathengiswa kwinkosana yaseSaudi, eqokelelweyo leemoto ezingama-25 likwaquka iPorsche 959 kunye neBentley Turbo R). Malunga nesibhozo ezinye iiVectors zisakhiwa kumanqanaba ahlukeneyo okugqitywa, ukusuka kwi-chassis eqengqelekayo ukuya kwizithuthi ezisele zigqityiwe.
Abo bangekaqiniseki kufuneka bazi ukuba inkampani ikhule ukusuka kwisakhiwo esinye nabasebenzi abane ngo-1988 ukuya kwizakhiwo ezine ezifikelela ku-35,000 square feet kunye nabasebenzi abaphantse babe ngama-80 ngelo xesha lokubhala. Kwaye iVector iphumelele uvavanyo oluhle kakhulu lwe-DOT crash (uvavanyo lwe-30 mph ngaphambili nangasemva, ucango kunye nophahla kunye ne-chassis enye kuphela); uvavanyo lokukhupha umbane luyaqhubeka. Iqokelele imali engaphezulu kwe-13 yezigidi zeerandi kwimali yokusebenza ngokusebenzisa izibonelelo ezimbini ze-OTC zikarhulumente.
Kodwa phantsi kwelanga elitshisayo emini kwindawo yomboniso yasePomona, eCalifornia, isenzo sokugqibela sokholo sikaWigt sabonakala. Ilori ethe tyaba eneenjini ezimbini zeVector W8 TwinTurbo inqumla indlela ebanzi egangathiweyo ukuya kwindawo yokurhuqa. Iimoto ezimbini zovavanyo zakhutshwa kwaye umhleli wovavanyo lwendlela uKim Reynolds wafaka enye kwikhompyutha yethu yevili lesihlanu kunye nekhompyutha yovavanyo lwendlela ukulungiselela uvavanyo lokuqala lokusebenza lwe-Auto Magazine.
Ukususela ngo-1981, uDavid Kostka, iSekela-Mongameli wezoBunjineli kwiVector, unike iingcebiso malunga nendlela yokufumana amaxesha afanelekileyo okuqhuba. Emva kovavanyo oluqhelekileyo, uKim utyhala iVector kumgca ophakathi aze aqalise kwakhona ikhompyutha yovavanyo.
UKostya wabonakala ekhathazekile ebusweni. Iminyaka elishumi yokusebenza iiyure ezili-12 ngosuku, iintsuku ezisixhenxe ngeveki, phantse isithathu sobomi bakhe bokuvuka, ingasathethwa ke yinxalenye enkulu yomphefumlo wakhe, inikezelwe kumatshini.
Akukho nto afanele ayixhalabele. UKim unyathela i-brake pedal, ukhetha igiya yokuqala, aze anyathele i-gas pedal ukuze alayishe i-transmission. Ingxolo yenjini ye-6.0-litre all-aluminium V-8 inamandla ngakumbi, kwaye isandi se-turbocharger yeGarrett siyahambelana nesandi se-Gilmer-style accessory belt drive. I-brake yangasemva ilwa ne-V-8 torque kunye ne-front-wheel drive yemoto, itshixa intambo yangaphambili evaliweyo phezu kwendlela. Le yi-analogue ye-bulldog enomsindo etsala imoto yayo.
Iibhuleki zakhululwa kwaye iVector yaphuma ngevili elincinci, umsi ovela kwiMichelin etyebileyo kunye nokuthambekela kancinci ecaleni. Ngokuphanyaza kweliso - imizuzwana emi-4.2 - ikhawuleza ukuya kwi-60 mph, imizuzu embalwa ngaphambi kokutshintsha kwe-1-2. IVector idlula ngokukhawuleza njengeCan-Am enkulu, iqhubeka nokubaleka kumzila ngomsindo okhulayo. Isivuthuvuthu sesanti kunye nenkunkuma ye-orbital ijikeleza kwi-vacuum njengoko imo yayo efana ne-wedge ikrazula umngxuma emoyeni. Nangona phantse ikota yemayile, isandi senjini sasisavakala njengoko imoto idlula ngesantya se-124.0 mph kwimizuzwana eli-12.0 kuphela.
Intsimbi yeshumi elinesibini. Ngokwale nani, iVector iphambili kakhulu kwiinkampani eziphambili ezifana neAcura NSX (imizuzwana eli-14.0), iFerrari Testarossa (imizuzwana eli-14.2) kunye neCorvette ZR-1 (imizuzwana eli-13.4). Ukukhawulezisa kunye nesantya sayo kungene kwiklabhu ekhethekileyo, kunye neFerrari F40 kunye neLamborghini Diablo engavavanywanga njengamalungu. Ubulungu buneenzuzo zabo, kodwa bukwaneendleko zabo: IVector W8 TwinTurbo ithengiswa nge-$283,750, ebiza kakhulu kuneLamborghini ($211,000) kodwa ingaphantsi kuneFerrari (inguqulelo yase-US yeF40 ixabisa malunga ne-$400,000).
Ngoko ke yintoni eyenza iVector W8 isebenze? Ukuze ndiphendule yonke imibuzo yam kwaye ndibone indawo yeVector, uMark Bailey, isekela likaSekela-Mongameli weMveliso, owayesakuba ngumsebenzi waseNorthrop kunye nelungu langaphambili lomgca weCan-Am, ukuze ndibone yonke into endiyibuzayo kwaye ndibone indawo yeVector.
Ekhomba kwindawo yenjini yeVector esakhiwayo, wathi, “Le ayisiyo injini incinci ejikelezisiweyo yafa. Yinjini enkulu engasebenzi nzima kangako.”
I-pushrod ye-aluminium eyi-90 degrees V-8 yeelitha ezintandathu, ibhloko eyenziwe yiRodeck, i-Air Flow Research ene-valve ezimbini. Iibhloko ezinde zahlanganiswa kwaye zavavanywa yiShaver Specialties eTorrance, eCalifornia. Ngokwexabiso lazo, uluhlu lwezixhobo zenjini lufana noluhlu lweKrisimesi lwee-circuit racers: ii-TRW forged pistons, ii-Carrillo stainless steel connecting rods, ii-stainless steel valves, ii-roller rocker arms, ii-forged connecting rods, ioyile eyomileyo enezihluzo ezintathu ezahlukeneyo. i-steel hose bundle ene-anodized red and blue fittings ukuze ithwale ulwelo kuyo yonke indawo.
Eyona mpumelelo ibalaseleyo yale njini yi-intercooler evulekileyo eyenziwe nge-aluminium kwaye ipholishiwe ukuze ikhazimle. Ingasuswa kwisithuthi ngemizuzu embalwa ngokukhulula ii-clamp ezine ezikhawulezayo zomoya. Idityaniswe ne-turbocharger ezimbini zeGarrett ezipholisiweyo ngamanzi kwaye inecandelo eliphakathi lesithuthi, i-impeller kunye ne-casing ekhethekileyo yenqwelo-moya.
Ukutshisa kuphathwa ngeekhoyili ezahlukeneyo kwisilinda nganye, kwaye ipetroli ihanjiswa ngee-serial ports ezininzi kusetyenziswa ii-injectors ezenziwe ngokwezifiso ezivela kwiqela lophuhliso lweBosch. Ukuhanjiswa kwe-spark kunye nepetroli kulungelelaniswa yinkqubo yolawulo lweenjini ezicwangcisiweyo zeVector.
Iipleyiti zokuxhoma zintle njengemoto ngokwayo, ziyibeka ecaleni kwe-cradle. I-billet ye-aluminium eyosiweyo eluhlaza okwesibhakabhaka neyongeziweyo, enye ibolts kwicala elingaphantsi kwebhloko kwaye enye isebenza njengepleyiti ye-adapter ye-injini/yokudlulisa. I-transmission yi-GM Turbo Hydra-matic, eyayisetyenziswa kwi-Olds Toronado kunye neCadillac Eldorado V-8s eziqhuba amavili angaphambili ngeminyaka yoo-70. Kodwa phantse yonke into ye-transmission ye-3-speed yakhiwe ngenjongo ngabanini beVector abangaphantsi kwabo ngezinto ezikwaziyo ukuphatha i-630 lb-ft. I-Torque eyenziwe yinjini kwi-4900 rpm kunye ne-7.0 psi boost.
UMark Bailey wandihambisa ngenzondelelo kumgangatho wemveliso, endibonisa isakhelo esikhulu sentsimbi ye-chrome-molybdenum, imigangatho ye-aluminium honeycomb, kunye ne-epoxy encamathiselwe kwisakhelo ukwenza iphepha le-aluminium kwindawo yeqokobhe eliqinileyo elikhutshiweyo. Wachaza: “Ukuba [uyilo] luyi-monocoque yonke, ufumana ukujija okuninzi kwaye kunzima ukuyakha ngokuchanekileyo. Ukuba yifreyimu epheleleyo, ukhupha indawo enye uze uchaphazele yonke enye into, kuba ingcambu nganye yombhobho ithatha yonke into” Umzimba wenziwe ngamanani ahlukeneyo e-carbon fiber, i-kevlar, ii-fiberglass mats, kunye ne-unidirectional fiberglass, kwaye akukho voltage.
I-chassis eqinileyo ingayiphatha ngcono imithwalo evela kwizinto ezinkulu zokumiswa. I-Vector isebenzisa iingalo ezimbini ze-A eziqinileyo ngaphambili kunye nombhobho omkhulu we-De Dion ngasemva, oxhonywe kwiingalo ezine ezilandelanayo ezifikelela ezantsi kwi-firewall. Ii-shock absorbers ezilungisekayo ze-Koni ezinee-concentric springs zisetyenziswa kakhulu. Iibhuleki zinkulu nge-13 intshi. Iidiski eziphefumlayo ezine-Alcon aluminium 4-piston calipers. Iibheringi zamavili zifana ngendlela yoyilo nezo zisetyenziswa kwiikhilogram ezingama-3800. Imoto eqhelekileyo ye-NASCAR, i-aluminium wheel casing enziwe ngomatshini ijongeka ngathi yi-cani yekofu. Akukho ndawo ye-chassis engaphantsi komgangatho okanye eyaneleyo.
Uhambo lwasefektri luthathe imini yonke. Bekuninzi kakhulu ekufuneka kubonwe kwaye uBailey usebenze nzima ukundibonisa yonke into eyenzekileyo. Kufuneka ndibuyele ndihambe.
BekungoMgqibelo, kwaye umatshini wovavanyo ongwevu weslate esasiwuvavanya wasibiza ngomnyango wawo ovulekileyo. Ukungena kwikhabhini ngumceli mngeni kwabo bangaziyo, kunye neengqengqelo eziphakathi nendawo kunye nendawo encinci phakathi kwesihlalo kunye nomphambili wesakhelo somnyango. UDavid Kostka usebenzisa inkumbulo yakhe yemisipha ukunyuka phezu kwengqengqelo yefestile ngobuhle be-gymnastic ukuya kwisihlalo somkhweli, kwaye ndakhwela kwisihlalo somqhubi njengenyamakazi esandul' ukuzalwa.
Umoya unuka njengesikhumba, njengoko phantse yonke indawo yangaphakathi igqunywe ngesikhumba, ngaphandle kwepaneli yezixhobo ebanzi, ehonjiswe ngezinto ezibhityileyo zesuede. Ikhaphethi yoboya beWilton ithe tyaba ngokupheleleyo, ivumela iiRecaros ezilungiselelwa ngombane ukuba zibekwe ngaphakathi kwe-intshi enye kwenye. Indawo yokuhlala ephakathi ivumela iinyawo zomqhubi ukuba ziphumle ngqo kwiipedali, nangona i-arch yevili iphuma kakhulu.
Injini enkulu iyaphila ngokujika kwesitshixo okokuqala, ingasebenzi kwi-900 rpm. Imisebenzi ebalulekileyo yenjini kunye nokudluliselwa iboniswa kwinto iVector eyibiza ngokuba "siboniso se-electroluminescent esihlengahlengiswayo sendlela yenqwelomoya," oko kuthetha ukuba kukho izikrini ezine zolwazi ezahlukeneyo. Nokuba sisikrini sinjani, kukho isalathisi sokukhetha iigiya ngasekhohlo. Izixhobo eziqala kwii-tachometers ukuya kwii-pyrometers zobushushu begesi ephumayo ezimbini zine-"moving tape" display ehamba ngokuthe nkqo kwi-fixed pointer, kunye ne-digital display kwifestile ye-pointer. UKoska uchaza indlela inxalenye ehambayo yeteyipu ebonelela ngayo ulwazi lwesantya sotshintsho olungenakubonelelwa zii-digital displays zodwa. Ndicinezele i-accelerator ukuze ndibone ukuba uthetha ukuthini kwaye ndabona iteyipu itsiba utolo ukuya kwi-3000 rpm yaze yabuyela kwi-idle.
Ndifikelele kwiqhosha lokutshintshela elinophahla, elifakwe nzulu kwifestile ngasekhohlo kwam, ndabuyela umva ndaza ndabuyela ngaphandle ngononophelo. Sikhethe indlela, sahamba ngezitalato zaseWilmington saya kwiSan Diego Freeway saza sangena kwiinduli ezingaphezulu kweMalibu.
Njengoko kunjalo kwiimoto ezininzi ezingaqhelekanga, ukubonakala ngasemva akukho, kwaye iVector inendawo engabonakaliyo enokuthi iFord Crown Victoria ikwazi ukuyithwala ngokulula. Yandisa intamo yakho. Ngezivalo ezimxinwa zehood, into endandiyibona yi-windscreen kunye ne-antenna yemoto engasemva kwam. Izipili zangaphandle zincinci kodwa zibekwe kakuhle, kodwa kufanelekile ukucwangcisa idinga kunye nemephu yengqondo yezithuthi ezingqongileyo. Ngaphambili, mhlawumbi i-windscreen enkulu emhlabeni iyanwebeka kwaye iqhagamshela kwideshibhodi, inika umbono osondeleyo we-asphalt kwiiyadi ezimbalwa ukusuka emotweni.
Ukuqhuba kuxhomekeke kumandla kunye ne-pinion, enobunzima obuphakathi kunye nokuchaneka okugqwesileyo. Kwelinye icala, akukho bukhulu bokuzingca apha, okwenza kube nzima kubantu abangaqhelanga ukudibana. Ngokuthelekisa, iibhuleki ezingasebenzisi mandla zithatha umgudu omkhulu—iikhilogram ezingama-50 kwi-stop yethu ye-0.5-gram ngemitha—ukwehlisa iikhilogram ezingama-3,320. i-vector kwisantya. Umgama ukusuka kwi-80 mph ukuya kwi-250 feet kunye ne-60 mph ukuya kwi-145 feet yeyona migama ilungileyo kwiFerrari Testarossa, nangona iRedhead isebenzisa malunga nesiqingatha soxinzelelo kwi-pedal ukuze yehlise isantya. Nokuba ingenayo i-ABS (inkqubo eza kunikezelwa ekugqibeleni), iinyawo zithe tye kwaye zichanekile, kunye ne-offset iseti yokutshixa amavili angaphambili phambi kwangasemva.
UKostka waya kwindlela yokuphuma esiya kuhola wendlela, ndiyavuma, kwaye kungekudala sazifumana sikwimoto ezolileyo eya emantla. Izikhewu ziqala ukubonakala phakathi kweemoto, zityhila indlela evulekileyo ekhawulezayo ekhangayo. Ngokwecebiso likaDavid, ndibeka emngciphekweni iilayisensi kunye nemilenze. Ndacinezela iqhosha lokutshintsha kwi-groove malunga ne-intshi enye ndaza ndarhoxa, ukusuka kwiDrive ukuya kwi-2. Injini yayisele isondele ekugqithiseni, ndaza ndacinezela i-pedal enkulu yegesi ye-aluminium kwi-bulkhead yangaphambili.
Oku kulandelwa kukukhawulezisa okwethutyana okubangela ukuba igazi elikwiithishu zobuchopho lihambe liye ngasemva kwentloko; okukwenza ugxile kwindlela engaphambili kuba uza kufika apho xa uthimla. I-wastegate elawulwa ngombane idubula malunga ne-7 psi, ikhulula amandla ngesandi esingaqhelekanga. Cinezela iibhuleki kwakhona, ndiyathemba ukuba andizange ndothuke le ndoda ikwiDatsun B210 ephambi kwam. Ngelishwa, asinakuphinda le nkqubo ngesantya esiphezulu kwindlela enkulu ngaphandle koloyiko lokungenelela kwamapolisa.
Xa sijonga ukukhawulezisa okumangalisayo kwe-W8 kunye nokuma kwayo kwe-wedge, kulula ukukholelwa ukuba iza kufikelela kwi-200 mph. Nangona kunjalo, uKostka uxela ukuba umgca obomvu wesithathu unokufezekiswa – i-218 mph (kuquka nokukhula kwetayara). Ngelishwa, kuya kufuneka silinde olunye usuku ukuze sifumane impendulo, njengoko i-aerodynamics yemoto kwisantya esiphezulu isasebenza.
Kamva, njengoko sasiqhuba ngemoto kwiPacific Coast Highway, indlela ephucukileyo yeVector yabonakala. Ibonakala incinci kwaye ikhawuleza ngakumbi kunobubanzi bayo obukhulu kunye nesitayile sayo esinomtsalane. I-suspension igwinya amaqhuma amancinci ngokulula, amakhulu ngokupholileyo (kwaye okubaluleke ngakumbi ayigugi) kwaye inendawo eqinileyo, enamatye amancinci endikhumbuza i-Nissan 300ZX Turbo yethu ende eyenziwe ngeTour Shock valve. Jonga kwisibonisi ukuba onke amaqondo obushushu kunye noxinzelelo aqhelekile.
Nangona kunjalo, ubushushu ngaphakathi kwiVector Black buphezulu kancinci. – Ngaba le moto ine-air conditioner? Ndibuze kakhulu kunesiqhelo. UDavid wanqwala waza wacinezela iqhosha kwiphaneli yokulawula i-air conditioner. I-air conditioner esebenza kakuhle ayifumaneki kwiimoto ezingaqhelekanga, kodwa umoya obandayo uphuma ngokukhawuleza kwiimoto ezimbalwa ezimnyama ezifakwe i-anodized eye vents.
Kungekudala sajika saya emantla saya kwiintaba kunye neendlela ezinzima ze-canyon. Kuvavanyo losuku oludlulileyo, iVector ifumene i-0.97 grams kwi-skateboard yePomona, eyona iphezulu esakha sayirekhoda kuyo nayiphi na enye into ngaphandle kwemoto yomdyarho. Kule ndlela, umzila omkhulu wamatayara eMichelin XGT Plus (255/45ZR-16 ngaphambili, 315/40ZR-16 ngasemva) uvuselela ukuzithemba. Ukujika emakhoneni kuyakhawuleza kwaye kubukhali, kwaye uzinzo emakhoneni luhle kakhulu. Iintsika ezinkulu zefestile yemoto zithanda ukuvala umbono ophezulu kwiikona ezixineneyo esidibene nazo, apho iVector eyi-82.0-intshi ububanzi ivakala ngathi yindlovu kwivenkile yaseTshayina. Imoto inqwenela ukujika okukhulu, okukhulu apho ungabamba khona ipedali yegesi kwaye amandla ayo amakhulu kunye nokubamba kungasetyenziswa ngokuchanekileyo nangokuqiniseka. Akunzima ukucinga ukuba sikhwele i-Porsche enduro njengoko sibaleka kwezi kona zinde.
UPeter Schutz, uSihlalo kunye ne-CEO yePorsche ukususela ngo-1981 ukuya ku-1988 kwaye wayelilungu lebhodi yeengcebiso yeVector ukusukela ngo-1989, wayengenakuyityeshela le ntelekelelo. “Kufana kakhulu nokwakha i-962 okanye i-956 kunokwakha nayiphi na imoto yemveliso,” utshilo. “Kwaye ndicinga ukuba le moto idlula oko ndandikwenza xa ndiqhuba umdyarho ekuqaleni kweminyaka yoo-1980.” Ndibulela uGerald Wiegert kunye neqela lakhe leenjineli ezizinikeleyo, kunye nabo bonke abanye ababenesibindi nokuzimisela ukwenza amaphupha abo azaliseke.