“Umbono uwukwakha isithunzi, hhayi ukugibela ihhashi,” kusho uGerald Wigert ngezwi elithambile nelinokhahlo.Umongameli weVector Aeromotive Corporation akanakho ukunethezeka kwalokhu kwakamuva, nakuba kusukela ngo-1971 ubelokhu eklama futhi akha iVector twin-turbo, i-625-horsepower, 2-seat, supercar enenjini ephakathi esebenzisa izinto eziphambili kanye nobuchwepheshe bezinhlelo ze-aerospace.ukwakhiwa.Kusukela kumidwebo kuya kumamodeli anegwebu kuya kumamodeli aphelele, iVector yaqala ukukhonjiswa embukisweni wezimoto waseLos Angeles ngo-1976.Eminyakeni emibili kamuva, i-prototype esebenzayo yaqedwa, yaqoqwa ezingxenyeni eziqoqwe ezindaweni zokulahla imfucumfucu futhi zagezwa izingxenye, ukuze kuhlinzekwe indlu.Uthe umnotho ontekenteke kanye nokugxekwa okulimazayo emithonjeni yezindaba yezimoto kubukela phansi imizamo yokuthola uxhaso, kanti iphupho lakhe lokwakha umlweli waphansi emigwaqweni libonakala lizofezeka.
U-Wigt ufanelwe uhlobo oluthile lwendondo yokubekezela, uhlobo oluthile lomvuzo wokuphikelela.Gwema ithrendi ngokuziba izipoki ezikhalayo zezenzakalo ezihlulekile zika-Tucker, uDeLorean noBricklin.IVector Aeromotive Corporation eWilmington, eCalifornia ekugcineni isilungele ukwakha imoto eyodwa ngesonto.Abamelene nabo badinga kuphela ukuvakashela indawo yokugcina yomhlangano, lapho izimoto ezimbili esazithwebula zazilungiselelwa ukuthunyelwa kubanikazi bazo abasha eSwitzerland (i-twin-turbo Vector W8 yokuqala yokukhiqiza yadayiselwa inkosana yaseSaudi, okuqoqwe kwayo izimoto ezingama-25 kuhlanganisa nePorsche 959 kanye neBentley Turbo R).Cishe amanye amaVektha ayisishiyagalombili asakhiwa ezigabeni ezahlukene zokuphothulwa, kusukela ku-chassis kuya ezimotweni esezicishe zaqedwa.
Labo abangakaqiniseki kufanele bazi ukuthi inkampani isikhule isuka esakhiweni esisodwa kanye nabasebenzi abane ngo-1988 yaya kumabhilidi amane anengqikithi yamamitha-skwele angama-35,000 kanye nabasebenzi abacishe babe ngu-80 ngesikhathi sokubhala.Futhi iVector iphumelele ukuhlolwa kokuphahlazeka kwe-DOT okuhle kakhulu (30 mph ngaphambili nangemuva, ukuhlolwa kokuphahlazeka komnyango nophahla nge-chassis eyodwa kuphela);ukuhlolwa kokukhishwa kwegesi kuyaqhubeka.Ikhuphule ngaphezu kwezigidi ezingu-13 zamaRandi emalini yokusebenza ngeminikelo emibili ye-OTC yomphakathi.
Kodwa ngaphansi kwelanga elishisayo lasemini endaweni yasePomona, eCalifornia, isenzo sokugcina sikaWigt sokholo sabonakala.Iloli eline-flatbed elinezinjini ezimbili ze-Vector W8 TwinTurbo liwela umgwaqo ogandayiwe obanzi liya emgqeni wokudonsa.Lezi zimoto ezimbili zokuhlola zehliswa futhi umhleli wokuhlolwa komgwaqo u-Kim Reynolds wafaka eyodwa isondo lethu lesihlanu nekhompyutha yokuhlola umgwaqo ukulungiselela ukuhlolwa kokusebenza kokuqala kwe-Auto Magazine.
Kusukela ngo-1981, uDavid Kostka, i-VP yeVector of Engineering, unikeze izeluleko zokuthi ungathola kanjani izikhathi zokugijima ezihamba phambili.Ngemva kokuhlola okujwayelekile, uKim uphusha iVector emgqeni omaphakathi futhi aqalise kabusha ikhompuyutha yokuhlola.
Ukubonakala kokukhathazeka kwavela ebusweni bukaKostya.Kumele.Iminyaka eyishumi yokusebenza izinsuku zamahora angu-12, izinsuku eziyisikhombisa ngesonto, cishe ingxenye yesithathu yokuphila kwakhe kokuvuka, ingasaphathwa ingxenye enkulu yomphefumulo wakhe, inikezelwe emshinini.
Akukho okumele akhathazeke ngakho.UKim unyathela ibhuleki, ukhetha igiya lokuqala, bese ugibela igas pedal ukuze alayishe ugesi.Ukubhonga kwenjini engu-6.0 litre all-aluminium V-8 kushubile, kanti i-whoosh ye-Garrett turbocharger ihambisana nokukhala kwebhande le-accessory belt drive.Ibhuleki elingemuva libambana ngezihluthu netorque engu-V-8 kanye ne-front-wheel drive yemoto, islayida ikhebula langaphambili elikhiyiwe ku-pavement.Lesi isifaniso se-bulldog ethukuthele edonsa imoto yayo.
Adedelwe amabhuleki futhi iVector yaphaphalaza yashelela kancane isondo, kushunqa intuthu ku-Michelin ekhuluphele kanye nokuncika kancane eceleni.Ngokucwayiza kweso - imizuzwana emi-4.2 - ishesha ifinyelele ku-60 mph, isikhashana ngaphambi kokushintsha kwe-1-2.IVector idlula njenge-Can-Am ene-bore enkulu, iqhubeka nokugijima yehle kuthrekhi ngokufutheka okwandayo.Isivunguvungu sesihlabathi kanye nemfucumfucu ye-orbital inyakaza ku-vacuum njengoba umumo wayo omise okwensephe udabula imbobo emoyeni.Naphezu kokucishe kube ingxenye yesine yemayela, umsindo wenjini wawusazwakala njengoba imoto idlula ngesivinini.isivinini?124.0 mph kumasekhondi angu-12.0 nje.
Ihora leshumi nambili.Ngalesi sibalo, iVector ihamba phambili kakhulu kumafulegi afana ne-Acura NSX (imizuzwana engu-14.0), i-Ferrari Testarossa (imizuzwana engu-14.2) kanye ne-Corvette ZR-1 (imizuzwana engu-13.4).Ukusheshisa kwayo nesivinini kungene ekilabhini ekhetheke kakhulu, eneFerrari F40 kanye neLamborghini Diablo engahloliwe njengamalungu.Ubulungu bunezinzuzo zabo, kodwa buphinde bube nezindleko zakho: IVector W8 TwinTurbo idayisa ngo-$283,750, ebiza kakhulu kuneLamborghini ($211,000) kodwa ingaphansi kweFerrari (inguqulo yase-US ye-F40 ibiza cishe u-$400,000).
Ngakho-ke yini eyenza iVector W8 isebenze?Ukuze uphendule yonke imibuzo yami futhi ungibonise indawo ye-Vector, u-Mark Bailey, i-VP Yezokukhiqiza, owayeyisisebenzi sase-Northrop futhi owayeyilungu lolayini we-Can-Am.
Ekhomba ichweba lenjini yeVector esakhiwayo uthe, “Lena akuyona injini encane ephothiwe yashona.Yinjini enkulu engasebenzi kanzima.”
Amalitha ayisithupha e-aluminiyamu engu-90 degree V-8 pushrod, u-Rodeck wenza ibhulokhi, i-Air Flow Research ikhanda lamasilinda amabili.Amabhulokhi amade ahlanganiswa futhi i-dyno yahlolwa ngabakwaShaver Specialties eTorrance, eCalifornia.Ngokufanelekile, uhlu lwezingxenye zenjini lubukeka njengohlu lukaKhisimusi lwabagijimi besifunda: amapiston omgunyathi e-TRW, izinti zokuxhuma insimbi engagqwali ye-Carrillo, ama-valve ensimbi engagqwali, izingalo ze-roller rocker, izinduku zokuxhuma ezifojiwe, uwoyela owomile onezihlungi ezintathu ezihlukene.inqwaba yepayipi yensimbi enokufakwa okubomvu okunodized nokuluhlaza okwesibhakabhaka ukuze ithwale uketshezi yonke indawo.
Impumelelo enkulu yale njini iyi-intercooler evulekile eyenziwe nge-aluminium futhi yapholishwa ngokukhazimulayo.Ingakhishwa emotweni emizuzwini embalwa ngokuxegisa izinsimbi ezine ezikhishwa ngokushesha ze-aerodynamic.Ihlanganiswe ne-Garrett turbocharger epholiswe ngamanzi ekabili futhi inengxenye yesikhungo sezimoto, i-impeller eqondene nendiza kanye ne-casing.
Ukuthungela kusingathwa ngamakhoyili ahlukene kusilinda ngasinye, futhi uphethiloli ulethwa ngezimbobo eziningi ze-serial kusetshenziswa ama-injection angokwezifiso avela eqenjini lokuthuthukisa i-Bosch.Ukulethwa kwenhlansi nophethiloli kuhlanganiswa wuhlelo lokulawula injini oluphathekayo lweVector.
Ama-mounting plate mahle njengenjini ngokwayo, ayibeke eceleni kwembeleko.I-aluminum billet eluhlaza okwesibhakabhaka ene-anodized ne-embossed, ibholidi elilodwa libheke ohlangothini olungaphansi lwebhulokhi kanti elinye lisebenza njengepuleti le-adaptha lenjini/lokudlulisa.I-transmission i-GM Turbo Hydra-matic, eyayisetshenziswa ngaphambili kwamasondo i-Olds Toronado ne-Cadillac Eldorado V-8s ngeminyaka yama-70s.Kodwa cishe yonke ingxenye ye-3-speed transmission yakhiwe osonkontileka abangaphansi beVector ngezinto ezikwazi ukuphatha u-630 lb-ft.I-torque ekhiqizwa injini ku-4900 rpm kanye ne-7.0 psi boost.
U-Mark Bailey wangihambisa ngentshiseko endaweni yokukhiqiza, ekhomba uhlaka lwensimbi olukhulu lwe-chrome-molybdenum, iphansi lekhekheba lezinyosi ze-aluminium, kanye ne-epoxy enamathiselwe kuhlaka ukuze enze ishidi le-aluminium endaweni yegobolondo eliqinile elikhishiwe.Wachaza: “Uma [umklamo] uyi-monocoque, uthola ukusonteka okuningi futhi kunzima ukuwenza ngokunembile.Uma kuwuhlaka lwesikhala esigcwele, ukhipha indawo eyodwa bese uthinta yonke enye into, ngoba impande yepayipi ngayinye ithatha konke” Umzimba wenziwe amanani ahlukahlukene e-carbon fibre, kevlar, fiberglass mats, kanye ne-unidirectional fiberglass, futhi awekho amandla kagesi.
I-chassis eqinile ingaphatha kangcono imithwalo evela ezingxenyeni ezinkulu ezimisiwe.I-Vector isebenzisa ama-A-arms amabili e-beefy ngaphambili kanye nepayipi elikhulu le-De Dion ngemuva, elibekwe ezingalweni ezine ezilandelanayo ezifika ezansi ku-firewall.Ama-absorber ashintshekayo we-Koni aneziphethu ezigxilile asetshenziswa kabanzi.Amabhuleki amakhulu angu-13 amayintshi.Amadiski afakwe umoya ane-Alcon aluminium 4-piston caliper.Ama-wheel bearing ayafana ekwakhiweni kwalawo asetshenziswa kuma-3800 lbs.Imoto ejwayelekile ye-NASCAR, umphongolo wamasondo we-aluminium owenziwe ngomshini ubukeka cishe ngobubanzi bekani lekhofi.Ayikho ingxenye ye-chassis engekho ezingeni noma eyanele.
Ukuvakasha kwefekthri kwathatha usuku lonke.Kwakunokuningi okufanele ngikubone futhi u-Bailey wasebenza ngokuzikhandla ukuze angibonise zonke izici zokusebenza.Kumele ngibuye ngihambe.
KwakungoMgqibelo, futhi umshini wokuhlola ompunga we-slate esasiwuhlola wasiheha umnyango wawo owawuvuliwe.Ukungena ekhabetheni kuyinselelo kwabangaqali, enama-sill amaphakathi nesikhala esincane phakathi kwesihlalo nengaphambili lohlaka lomnyango.UDavid Kostka usebenzisa inkumbulo yakhe yemisipha ukuze akhwele phezu kwefasitela ngomusa we-gymnastic esihlalweni somgibeli, futhi ngagibela esihlalweni somshayeli njengenyamazane esanda kuzalwa.
Iphunga lomoya lesikhumba, njengoba cishe zonke izindawo zangaphakathi zimbozwe ngesikhumba, ngaphandle kwephaneli yensimbi ebanzi, enqunywe ngezinto ezincane ze-suede.I-Wilton wool carpeting iyisicaba ngokuphelele, ivumela i-Recaros elungiseka ngogesi ukuthi ibekwe phakathi kwamayintshi enye nenye.Indawo yokuhlala emaphakathi ivumela izinyawo zomshayeli ukuthi ziphumule ngqo kuma-pedals, nakuba i-wheel arch iphuma kakhulu.
Injini enkulu iqala ukusebenza ngokuphenduka kokuqala kokhiye, ibambe ku-900 rpm.Injini ebalulekile nemisebenzi yokudlulisa iboniswa kulokho iVector ekubiza ngokuthi “isibonisi se-electroluminescent yesitayela sendiza,” okusho ukuthi kunezikrini zolwazi ezine ezihlukene.Ngaphandle kwesikrini, kukhona inkomba yokukhetha igiya kwesokunxele.Amathuluzi asukela kuma-tachometers kuye kuma-pyrometers okushisa kwegesi ephuma kabili anesibonisi “setheyiphu enyakazayo” esigijima siqonde ku-pointer engaguquki, kanye nesibonisi sedijithali ewindini lesikhombisi.I-Kostka ichaza ukuthi ingxenye ehambayo ye-tape inikeza kanjani izinga lokushintsha ulwazi oluboniswa yi-digital kuphela elingakwazi ukuhlinzeka.Ngacindezela i-accelerator ukuze ngibone ukuthi wayesho ukuthini futhi ngabona itheyipu igxuma umcibisholo ifinyelela cishe ku-3000 rpm bese ibuyela kokungenzi lutho.
Ngifinyelele iknob ye-shift efakwe ama-padded, ngingene ngokujulile ku-sill yefasitela ngakwesobunxele sami, ngasekela futhi ngabuyela ngaphandle ngokucophelela.Sikhetha umgwaqo, sehla emigwaqweni yaseWilmington saya kuFreeway waseSan Diego futhi sangena emagqumeni angaphezu kweMalibu.
Njengoba kwenzeka ezimotweni eziningi ezingavamile, ukubonakala kwangemuva akubonakali, futhi iVector inendawo eyimpumputhe iFord Crown Victoria ekwazi ukuyithatha kalula.Yelula intamo yakho.Ngamashutha amancane e-hood, engakubona kuphela iwindi langaphambili kanye nothi lwemoto ngemva kwami.Izibuko zangaphandle zincane kodwa zibekwe kahle, kodwa kufanelekile ukuhlela i-aphoyintimenti ngemephu yengqondo yethrafikhi ezungezile.Phambili, mhlawumbe iwindshield enkulu kunazo zonke emhlabeni inweba futhi ixhume kudeshibhodi, inikeza umbono oseduze wetiyela elingamayadi nje ukusuka emotweni.
Isiteringi siyirack esisizwa amandla kanye nephinikhodi, enesisindo esimaphakathi nokunemba okuhle kakhulu.Ngakolunye uhlangothi, akukho ukuzicabangela okukhulu lapha, okwenza kube nzima kubantu abangajwayele ukuzwana.Uma kuqhathaniswa, amabhuleki angewona ama-booster athatha umzamo omkhulu—amaphawundi angu-50 esitobhini sethu esingu-0.5-gram imitha ngalinye—ukwehlisa amaphawundi angu-3,320.vector kusuka ngesivinini.Amabanga ukusuka ku-80 mph kuya ku-250 amafidi kanye no-60 mph kuya ku-145 amafidi angamabanga angcono kakhulu e-Ferrari Testarossa, nakuba i-Redhead isebenzisa cishe uhhafu wengcindezi ekunyaweni ukuze yehlise ijubane.Ngisho ngaphandle kwe-ABS (uhlelo oluzonikezwa ekugcineni), izinyawo ziqondile futhi zinembile, futhi i-offset isethwe ukukhiya amasondo angaphambili ngaphambi kwangemuva.
U-Kostka ulibangise endaweni ephumela emgwaqweni omkhulu, ngiyavuma, futhi ngokushesha sazithola sesiphakathi kwezimoto ezizolile eziya enyakatho.Izikhala ziqala ukuvela phakathi kwezimoto, ziveze umzila osheshayo ovulekile okhangayo.Ngokweseluleko sikaDavide, ukubeka engozini amalayisensi nezitho.Ngacindezela i-shift knob emseleni cishe iyiyintshi ngabe sengihlehla, ukusuka ku-Drive ukuya ku-2. Injini yayisisonqenqemeni lokweqa ngokweqile, ngase ngicindezela incibiliko yegesi ye-aluminium enkulu ku-bulkhead yangaphambili.
Lokhu kulandelwa ukusheshisa okunonya, kwesikhashana okubangela ukuthi igazi elisezicubu zobuchopho ligelezele ngemuva kwekhanda;okukwenza ugxile emgwaqeni ongaphambili ngoba uzofika lapho uthimula.I-wastegate elawulwa nge-elekthronikhi ivutha cishe ngo-7 psi, ikhulula i-boost nge-thod yesici.Ngiphinde ngishaye amabhuleki, ngiyethemba ukuthi angizange ngithuke umfana ohamba ngeDatsun B210 phambi kwami.Ngeshwa, asikwazi ukuphinda le nqubo ngegiya eliphezulu kuthelawayeka ongavinjelwe ngaphandle kokwesaba ukungenelela kwamaphoyisa.
Uma sibheka i-W8′s ukusheshisa nokuma kwe-wedge, kulula ukukholelwa ukuthi izoshaya u-200 mph.Kodwa-ke, u-Kostka ubika ukuthi umugqa obomvu we-3 ungafinyeleleka - 218 mph (kuhlanganise nokukhula kwesondo).Ngeshwa, kuzomele silinde olunye usuku ukuze sithole, njengoba i-aerodynamics yemoto enejubane eliphezulu isewumsebenzi oqhubekayo.
Kamuva, njengoba sihamba ngomgwaqo omkhulu wePacific Coast, isimo seVector esiphucuzekile sabonakala.Ibonakala incane futhi ishesha kakhulu kunobubanzi bayo obukhulu kanye nesitayela esihle kakhulu.Ukumiswa kugwinya amaqhuqhuva amancane kalula, amakhulu ngokupholile (futhi okubaluleke nakakhulu awekho ukuxega) futhi kunokugibela okuqinile, okunamatshe kancane okungikhumbuza ivalve yethu yesikhathi eside ye-Tour Shock eshunwe i-Nissan 300ZX Turbo.Hlola kusibonisi ukuthi wonke amazinga okushisa nezingcindezi zijwayelekile.
Nokho, izinga lokushisa ngaphakathi kweVector Black liphakeme kancane.– Ingabe le moto ine-air conditioning?ngibuze ngikhulumela phezulu kunokwejwayelekile.UDavid wavuma ngekhanda wase ecindezela inkinobho ku-air conditioning control panel.I-air conditioning esebenza kahle ngempela ayivamile ezimotweni zangaphandle, kodwa ukusakazwa komoya obandayo uqhuma cishe ngaso leso sikhathi kusuka ezimbotsheni zamehlo ezimbalwa ezimnyama.
Ngokushesha sajikela enyakatho emagqumeni nasemigwaqweni enzima yasemihosheni.Ovivinyweni lwangosuku lwangaphambilini, iVector ithole u-0.97 amagremu ebhodini lokushwiba i-Pomona, inani eliphakeme kakhulu esake saliqopha kunoma yini enye ngaphandle kwemoto yomjaho.Kule migwaqo, umzila omkhulu wamasondo e-Michelin XGT Plus (255/45ZR-16 ngaphambili, 315/40ZR-16 ngemuva) ukhuthaza ukuzethemba.I-Cornering iyashesha futhi ibukhali, futhi ukuzinza kwamakhona kuhle kakhulu.Izinsika ezinkulu ze-windshield zivame ukuvimba ukubuka phezulu kwamakhona erediyasi eqinile esiye sahlangana nayo, lapho iVector engu-82.0-inch-wide izwakala kancane njengendlovu esitolo se-china.Imoto ihalela amajika amakhulu, amakhulu lapho okwazi khona ukubamba i-gas pedal futhi amandla ayo amakhulu nokubamba kungasetshenziswa ngokunemba nokuzethemba.Akunzima ukucabanga ukuthi sigibele i-Porsche enduro njengoba sigijima kulawa makhona amade.
UPeter Schutz, uSihlalo kanye ne-CEO ye-Porsche kusukela ngo-1981 kuya ku-1988 futhi eyilungu lebhodi labeluleki leVector kusukela ngo-1989, wayengeke akushaye indiva ukuqhathanisa.“Empeleni kufana nokwakha i-962 noma i-956 kunokwakha noma iyiphi imoto yokukhiqiza,” esho.“Futhi ngicabanga ukuthi le moto idlulela ngalé kwalokho engangikwenza ngokugijima ngasekuqaleni kweminyaka yawo-80.”Sincoma uGerald Wiegert kanye nethimba lakhe lonjiniyela abazinikele, kanye nawo wonke umuntu owaba nesibindi nokuzimisela ukwenza amaphupho abo afezeke.