“Umqondo uwukwakha idumela, hhayi ukugibela ihhashi,” kusho uGerald Wigert ngezwi elithambile nelinokhahlo. Umongameli weVector Aeromotive Corporation akanalo ikhono lalokhu, yize kusukela ngo-1971 ebelokhu eklama futhi akha iVector twin-turbo, imoto enkulu enamandla amahhashi angu-625, enezihlalo ezimbili, enenjini ephakathi esebenzisa izinto ezithuthukisiwe kanye nobuchwepheshe bezinhlelo zezindiza. Kusukela emidwebweni kuya kumamodeli e-foam kuya kumamodeli agcwele, iVector yaboniswa okokuqala eMbukisweni Wezimoto waseLos Angeles ka-1976. Eminyakeni emibili kamuva, kwaqedwa iprototype esebenzayo, yahlanganiswa kusuka ezingxenyeni eziqoqwe ezindaweni zokulahla udoti futhi yahlanzwa izingxenye, ukuze kuhlinzekwe indlu. Uthe umnotho obuthakathaka kanye nokugxekwa okulimazayo kwabezindaba zezimoto kunciphisa imizamo yokuthola uxhaso, kuyilapho iphupho lakhe lokwakha i-fighter esekelwe phansi yemigwaqo libonakala lizogcwaliseka.
UWigt ufanelwe uhlobo oluthile lwendondo ngokubekezela, uhlobo oluthile lomvuzo ngokubekezela nje. Gwema lo mkhuba ngokunganaki imimoya ekhalayo yezigigaba ezihlulekile zikaTucker, uDeLorean noBricklin. I-Vector Aeromotive Corporation eWilmington, eCalifornia ekugcineni isilungele ukwakha imoto eyodwa ngesonto. Abaphikisi badinga ukuvakashela indawo yokugcina yokuhlangana, lapho izimoto ezimbili esizithwebule izithombe zazilungiselelwa ukuthunyelwa kubanikazi bazo abasha eSwitzerland (i-twin-turbo yokuqala ye-Vector W8 yathengiswa enkoseni yaseSaudi, eqoqweni layo lezimoto ezingu-25 lihlanganisa nePorsche 959 kanye neBentley Turbo R). Amanye amaVector angaba yisishiyagalombili asakhiwa ezigabeni ezahlukene zokuqedwa, kusukela ku-rolling chassis kuya ezimotweni eziseduze nokuqeda.
Labo abangakaqiniseki kufanele bazi ukuthi inkampani ikhule kusukela esakhiweni esisodwa nabasebenzi abane ngo-1988 yaya ezakhiweni ezine ezingamamitha-skwele angaphezu kuka-35,000 kanye nabasebenzi abacishe babe ngu-80 ngesikhathi sokubhala. Futhi i-Vector iphumelele ukuhlolwa okuhle kakhulu kokuphahlazeka kwe-DOT (ukuhlolwa kokuphahlazeka kwe-DOT okungama-30 mph ngaphambili nangemuva, emnyango nasophahleni nge-chassis eyodwa kuphela); ukuhlolwa kokukhishwa komoya kuyaqhubeka. Iqoqe imali engaphezu kwezigidi eziyi-13 zamaRandi ngeminikelo emibili ye-OTC yomphakathi.
Kodwa ngaphansi kwelanga elishisayo emini enkundleni yemidlalo yasePomona, eCalifornia, isenzo sokugcina sokholo sikaWigt sabonakala. Iloli eliyisicaba elinezinjini ezimbili zeVector W8 TwinTurbo liwela umgwaqo omkhulu ogandayiwe liya endaweni yokuhudula. Izimoto ezimbili zokuhlola zakhushulwa futhi umhleli wokuhlola umgwaqo uKim Reynolds wafaka enye ikhompyutha yethu yesondo lesihlanu kanye nekhompyutha yokuhlola umgwaqo ukulungiselela ukuhlolwa kokuqala kokusebenza kwe-Auto Magazine.
Kusukela ngo-1981, uDavid Kostka, iPhini likaMongameli wezobunjiniyela beVector, unikeze izeluleko ezithile zokuthi ungazithola kanjani izikhathi ezinhle kakhulu zokugijima. Ngemva kokuhlola okuvamile, uKim usunduza iVector emgqeni ophakathi bese eqalisa kabusha ikhompyutha yokuhlola.
Ukubukeka okukhathazekile kwavela ebusweni bukaKostya. Kumelwe kube njalo. Iminyaka eyishumi yokusebenza amahora ayi-12 ngosuku, izinsuku eziyisikhombisa ngesonto, cishe ingxenye yesithathu yempilo yakhe ephapheme, ingasaphathwa ingxenye enkulu yomphefumulo wakhe, inikezelwe emshinini.
Akukho okufanele akhathazeke ngakho. UKim unyathela i-brake pedal, ukhetha igiya lokuqala, bese enyathela i-gas pedal ukuze alayishe i-gearbox. Umsindo wenjini engu-6.0-litre all-aluminium V-8 unamandla kakhulu, futhi umsindo we-turbocharger kaGarrett uvumelana nokukhala kwe-Gilmer-style accessory belt drive. I-brake yangemuva ilwa impi engapheli ne-V-8 torque kanye ne-front-wheel drive yemoto, ishelela intambo yangaphambili evaliwe emgwaqweni. Lokhu kufana ne-bulldog ethukuthele edonsa imoto yayo.
Amabhuleki akhululwa futhi iVector yaphuma nge-wheel slip encane, intuthu evela kuMichelin ekhuluphele kanye nokuthambekela okuncane eceleni. Ngokuphazima kweso - imizuzwana engu-4.2 - ishesha ifike ku-60 mph, imizuzu embalwa ngaphambi kokushintsha okungu-1-2. IVector idlula ngokushesha njengeCan-Am enkulu, iqhubeka nokugijima phansi komzila ngokufutheka okwandayo. Isivunguvungu sesihlabathi kanye nemfucumfucu esemkhathini kuphenduka ku-vacuum njengoba isimo sayo esifana nesesigaxa sidabula umgodi emoyeni. Naphezu kwengxenye ecishe ibe yikota yemayela, umsindo wenjini wawusazwakala njengoba imoto idlula ngesivinini esisheshayo? 124.0 mph ngemizuzwana engu-12.0 kuphela.
Ihora leshumi nambili. Ngalesi sibalo, iVector iphambili kakhulu kunezimakethe ezinkulu njenge-Acura NSX (imizuzwana eyi-14.0), iFerrari Testarossa (imizuzwana eyi-14.2) kanye neCorvette ZR-1 (imizuzwana eyi-13.4). Ukusheshisa kwayo kanye nesivinini sayo kungene eqenjini elikhethekile, kanye neFerrari F40 kanye neLamborghini Diablo engakahlolwa njengamalungu. Ubulungu bunezinzuzo zabo, kodwa futhi bunezindleko zabo: IVector W8 TwinTurbo ithengiswa ngo-$283,750, okubiza kakhulu kuneLamborghini ($211,000) kodwa ingaphansi kweFerrari (inguqulo yase-US yeF40 ibiza cishe u-$400,000).
Ngakho-ke yini eyenza i-Vector W8 isebenze? Ukuze ngiphendule yonke imibuzo yami futhi ngibone indawo ye-Vector, uMark Bailey, iPhini likaMongameli wezokukhiqiza, owayeyisisebenzi saseNorthrop kanye nelungu langaphambili lomugqa we-Can-Am, ukuze anginike ithuba lokuphendula yonke imibuzo yami futhi anginike ithuba lokubona indawo ye-Vector.
Ekhomba indawo yenjini yeVector eyakhiwayo, wathi, “Lena akuyona injini encane ephendulwe yafa. Yinjini enkulu engasebenzi kanzima.”
I-pushrod enamalitha ayisithupha enama-aluminiyamu angu-90 degrees V-8, ibhulokhi eyenziwe ngeRodeck, ikhanda lesilinda elinama-valve amabili e-Air Flow Research. Amabhulokhi amade ahlanganiswa futhi ahlolwa yi-dyno yi-Shaver Specialties eTorrance, eCalifornia. Ngokwenani lalokho okubalulekile, uhlu lwezingxenye zenjini lubukeka njengohlu lukaKhisimusi lwabagibeli besifunda: ama-piston akhiwe nge-TRW, izinduku zokuxhuma zensimbi engagqwali yeCarrillo, ama-valve ensimbi engagqwali, izingalo ze-roller rocker, izinduku zokuxhuma ezihlanganisiwe, uwoyela owomile onezihlungi ezintathu ezihlukene. inqwaba yepayipi lensimbi enezihlanganisi ezibomvu neziluhlaza okwesibhakabhaka ezifakwe i-anodized ukuze zithwale uketshezi yonke indawo.
Impumelelo enkulu yale njini i-intercooler evulekile eyenziwe nge-aluminium futhi ipholishwe yakhanya kakhulu. Ingasuswa emotweni ngemizuzu embalwa ngokukhulula ama-clamp amane asheshayo akhipha i-aerodynamic. Ihlanganiswe ne-turbocharger ephindwe kabili epholiswe ngamanzi i-Garrett futhi iqukethe ingxenye ephakathi yemoto, i-impeller kanye ne-casing ethile yendiza.
Ukushisa kuphathwa ngamakhoyili ahlukene esilinda ngasinye, futhi uphethiloli ulethwa ngamachweba amaningi alandelanayo kusetshenziswa ama-injector enziwe ngokwezifiso avela eqenjini lokuthuthukisa iBosch. Ukulethwa kwe-spark kanye nophethiloli kuhlanganiswa uhlelo lokuphatha injini oluhlelwe yiVector.
Amapuleti okufaka amahle njengenjini uqobo, ayibeka ohlangothini lwe-cradle. I-billet ye-aluminium egayiwe eluhlaza okwesibhakabhaka ene-anodized futhi embossed, enye ibopha ohlangothini olungaphansi kwebhulokhi kanti enye isebenza njengepuleti le-adapter yenjini/yokudlulisa. I-gearbox iyi-GM Turbo Hydra-matic, eyayisetshenziswa kuma-Olds Toronado nama-Cadillac Eldorado V-8s asebenzisa amasondo angaphambili ngawo-70s. Kodwa cishe yonke ingxenye ye-gearbox enamajubane amathathu yakhiwe ngenhloso ngabakwa-Vector abangaphansi kwabo ngezinto ezikwazi ukuphatha i-630 lb-ft. I-Torque ekhiqizwa yinjini ku-4900 rpm kanye ne-7.0 psi boost.
UMark Bailey wangihambisa ngentshiseko esitezi sokukhiqiza, ekhomba uhlaka olukhulu lwensimbi oluyishubhu lwe-chrome-molybdenum, phansi kwe-aluminium honeycomb, kanye ne-epoxy enamathiselwe ohlakeni ukuze kwakheke ishidi le-aluminium endaweni yegobolondo eliqinile elikhishwe. Wachaza: “Uma [umklamo] wonke ungowe-monocoque, uthola ukusonteka okuningi futhi kunzima ukuyakha ngokunembile. Uma kuwuhlaka olugcwele isikhala, ukhipha indawo eyodwa bese uthinta konke okunye, ngoba impande ngayinye yepayipi ithatha konke” Umzimba wakhiwe ngamanani ahlukahlukene e-carbon fiber, i-kevlar, omata be-fiberglass, kanye ne-fiberglass eqondene nendawo, futhi akukho voltage.
I-chassis eqinile ingaphatha kangcono imithwalo evela ezingxenyeni ezinkulu zokumiswa. I-Vector isebenzisa izingalo ezimbili ze-A eziqinile ngaphambili kanye nepayipi elikhulu le-De Dion ngemuva, elifakwe ezingalweni ezine ezilandelanayo ezifinyelela phansi ku-firewall. Ama-shock absorbers e-Koni alungisekayo anezipringi ezigxilile asetshenziswa kabanzi. Amabhuleki amakhulu angama-intshi angu-13. Ama-disc angena umoya anama-caliper e-Alcon aluminium angu-4-piston. Ama-wheel bearings afana ngendlela efanayo nalawo asetshenziswa kuma-3800 lbs. Imoto ejwayelekile ye-NASCAR, i-aluminium wheel casing enziwe ngomshini ibukeka njengobubanzi bethini lekhofi. Ayikho ingxenye ye-chassis engaphansi kwesilinganiso noma eyanele nje.
Uhambo lwasefektri lwathatha usuku lonke. Kwakunokuningi okwakungabonwa futhi uBailey wasebenza ngokuzikhandla ukungibonisa zonke izici zomsebenzi. Kufanele ngibuyele emuva ngihambe.
KwakuyiMgqibelo, futhi umshini wokuhlola ompunga weslate esasiwuhlola wasibiza ngomnyango wawo ovulekile. Ukungena ekhabini kuyinselele kulabo abangawazi, ngama-sill aphakathi nendawo kanye nesikhala esincane phakathi kwesihlalo kanye nengaphambili lohlaka lomnyango. UDavid Kostka usebenzisa inkumbulo yakhe yemisipha ukuze akhuphuke phezu kwe-sill yefasitela ngobuhle bokuzivocavoca esihlalweni somgibeli, mina ngagibela esihlalweni somshayeli njengenyamazane esanda kuzalwa.
Umoya unuka okwesikhumba, njengoba cishe zonke izindawo zangaphakathi zimbozwe ngesikhumba, ngaphandle kwephaneli yezinsimbi ebanzi, ehlotshiswe ngezinto ezincane ze-suede. Ikhaphethi yoboya beWilton iyisicaba ngokuphelele, okuvumela amaRecaro alungiseka ngogesi ukuthi abekwe ngaphakathi kwamasentimitha ahlukene. Indawo yokuhlala ephakathi ivumela izinyawo zomshayeli ukuthi ziphumule ngqo kuma-pedal, yize i-wheel arch ivele kakhulu.
Injini enkulu iyaphila ngokujika kokuqala kwekhi, ingasebenzi ku-900 rpm. Imisebenzi ebalulekile yenjini kanye nokudlulisa iboniswa kulokho iVector ekubiza ngokuthi “isibonisi se-electroluminescent esilungiseka kabusha sesitayela sendiza,” okusho ukuthi kunezikrini ezine zolwazi ezahlukene. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi isikrini sinjani, kunesibonakaliso sokukhetha amagiya ngakwesobunxele. Izinsimbi ezisukela kuma-tachometer kuya kuma-pyrometer okushisa egesi ephumayo amabili zinesibonisi “setheyiphu ehambayo” esihamba siqonde ngaphesheya kwesikhombisi esimisiwe, kanye nesibonisi sedijithali efasiteleni lesikhombisi. UKostka uchaza ukuthi ingxenye ehambayo yetheyiphu inikeza kanjani ulwazi lwesilinganiso sokushintsha okunganikezwa yizibonisi zedijithali zodwa. Ngacindezela i-accelerator ukuze ngibone ukuthi wayesho ukuthini futhi ngabona itheyiphu igxuma umcibisholo iye cishe ku-3000 rpm bese ibuyela emuva kokungenzi lutho.
Ngithatha inkinobho yokushintsha efakwe uthango, efakwe ngaphakathi kwefasitela ngakwesobunxele sami, ngabuyela emuva futhi ngabuyela ngaphandle ngokucophelela. Sikhetha umgwaqo, saya emigwaqweni yaseWilmington saya eSan Diego Freeway saya emagqumeni angaphezu kweMalibu.
Njengoba kunjalo ngezimoto eziningi ezingavamile, ukubonakala kwangemuva cishe akukho, kanti iVector inendawo engabonakali iFord Crown Victoria engayithatha kalula. Yelula intamo yakho. Ngezivalo ezincane ze-hood, engangikubona nje kwakuyi-windscreen kanye ne-antenna yemoto ngemuva kwami. Izibuko zangaphandle zincane kodwa zibekwe kahle, kodwa kufanelekile ukuhlela i-aphoyintimenti nemephu yengqondo yethrafikhi ezungezile. Ngaphambili, mhlawumbe i-windscreen enkulu kunazo zonke emhlabeni iyanwebeka futhi ixhumeke kudeshibhodi, inikeza umbono oseduze we-asphalt emayadini ambalwa ukusuka emotweni.
Isiteringi siyi-rack kanye ne-pinion esizwa amandla, enesisindo esimaphakathi kanye nokunemba okuhle kakhulu. Ngakolunye uhlangothi, akukho ukuzikhukhumeza okukhulu lapha, okwenza kube nzima ngabantu abangajwayelene ukuzwana. Uma kuqhathaniswa, amabhuleki angewona ama-booster adinga umzamo omkhulu—amakhilogremu angu-50 esitobhini sethu esingu-0.5-gram ngemitha—ukwehlisa amakhilogremu angu-3,320. i-vector kusuka esivinini. Amabanga asukela ku-80 mph kuya ku-250 feet kanye no-60 mph kuya ku-145 feet amabanga amahle kakhulu e-Ferrari Testarossa, yize i-Redhead isebenzisa cishe ingxenye yokucindezela ku-pedal ukuze yehlise ijubane. Ngisho noma ingenayo i-ABS (uhlelo oluzonikezwa ekugcineni), izinyawo ziqondile futhi zinembile, kanye nesethi ye-offset yokubopha amasondo angaphambili ngaphambi kwangemuva.
UKostka waqonda endleleni yokuphuma emgwaqweni omkhulu, ngiyavuma, futhi ngokushesha sazithola sisesiminyaminyeni sezimoto esizolile enyakatho. Izikhala ziqala ukubonakala phakathi kwezimoto, zembula umzila ovulekile osheshayo okhangayo. Ngeseluleko sikaDavid, ngifaka amalayisense nemilenze engozini. Ngacindezela inkinobho yokushintsha emseleni cishe nge-intshi bese ngiyidonsela emuva, kusukela ku-Drive kuya ku-2. Injini yayiseduze nokweqisa, futhi ngacindezela i-pedal enkulu yegesi ye-aluminium engxenyeni engaphambili.
Lokhu kulandelwa ukusheshisa okukhulu, okwesikhashana okubangela ukuba igazi ezicutshini zobuchopho ligeleze liye ngemuva kwekhanda; okukwenza ugxile endleleni engaphambili ngoba uzofika lapho uthimula khona. I-wastegate elawulwa ngogesi idubula cishe nge-7 psi, ikhulula amandla ngomsindo ophawulekayo. Shaya amabhuleki futhi, ngithemba ukuthi angizange ngithuse indoda eseDatsun B210 ephambi kwami. Ngeshwa, asikwazi ukuphinda le nqubo ngegiya eliphezulu emgwaqweni omkhulu ongenamingcele ngaphandle kokwesaba ukungenelela kwamaphoyisa.
Uma sibheka ukusheshisa okumangalisayo kwe-W8 kanye nesimo se-wedge, kulula ukukholelwa ukuthi izofika ku-200 mph. Kodwa-ke, iKostka ibika ukuthi umugqa obomvu wesithathu ungafinyeleleka – 218 mph (kufaka phakathi nokukhula kwethayi). Ngeshwa, kuzodingeka silinde olunye usuku ukuze sithole, njengoba i-aerodynamics yemoto ngesivinini esiphezulu isaqhubeka.
Kamuva, njengoba sasishayela ngomgwaqo iPacific Coast Highway, isimo se-Vector esiphucuzekile sabonakala. Sibonakala sincane futhi sishesha kakhulu kunobubanzi baso obukhulu kanye nesitayela esikhangayo. I-suspension igwinya amaqhubu amancane kalula, amakhulu ngokupholile (futhi okubaluleke kakhulu ayigobi) futhi inendawo eqinile, enamadwala kancane engikhumbuza i-Nissan 300ZX Turbo yethu ende elungisiwe nge-Tour Shock valve. Hlola esibukweni ukuthi wonke amazinga okushisa kanye nokucindezela kuvamile.
Kodwa-ke, izinga lokushisa ngaphakathi kweVector Black liphakeme kancane. – Ingabe le moto ine-air conditioner? Ngabuza kakhulu kunokujwayelekile. UDavid wanqekuzisa ikhanda wacindezela inkinobho kuphaneli yokulawula i-air conditioner. I-air conditioner esebenza kahle ayivamile ezimotweni ezingavamile, kodwa umoya obandayo uqhuma cishe ngokushesha emithonjeni embalwa yamehlo emnyama ene-anodized.
Ngokushesha saphendukela enyakatho saya ezintabeni kanye nemigwaqo enzima ye-canyon. Esivivinyweni sosuku olwedlule, i-Vector ithole amagremu angu-0.97 ku-skateboard ye-Pomona, okuphezulu kakhulu esake sakurekhoda kunoma yini enye ngaphandle kwemoto yomjaho. Kule migwaqo, umzila omkhulu wamathayi e-Michelin XGT Plus (ngaphambili okungu-255/45ZR-16, ngemuva okungu-315/40ZR-16) ukhuthaza ukuzethemba. Ukushayela emakhoneni kuyashesha futhi kubukhali, futhi ukuzinza emakhoneni kuhle kakhulu. Izinsika ezinkulu zefasitela lomoya zivame ukuvimba umbono phezulu kwamakhona aqinile esihlangane nawo, lapho i-Vector engu-82.0 intshi ububanzi izwakala njengendlovu esitolo sase-china. Imoto ifisa ukujika okukhulu, okukhulu lapho ungabamba khona i-pedal yegesi futhi amandla ayo amakhulu nokubamba kungasetshenziswa ngokunemba nangokuzethemba. Akunzima ukucabanga ukuthi sigibela i-Porsche enduro njengoba sigijima kula makhona amade.
UPeter Schutz, uSihlalo kanye ne-CEO yePorsche kusukela ngo-1981 kuya ku-1988 futhi oyilungu lebhodi lezeluleko leVector kusukela ngo-1989, wayengeke akushaye indiva lokhu kuqhathaniswa. “Kufana kakhulu nokwakha i-962 noma i-956 kunokwakha noma iyiphi imoto yokukhiqiza,” esho. “Futhi ngicabanga ukuthi le moto idlula lokho engangikwenza ngokugijima ekuqaleni kweminyaka yawo-1980.” Ngibonga uGerald Wiegert kanye nethimba lakhe lonjiniyela abazinikele, kanye nabo bonke abanye ababenesibindi nokuzimisela ukufeza amaphupho abo.