“Umqondo uwukwakha idumela, hhayi ukugibela ihhashi,” kusho uGerald Wiegert ngezwi elithambile nelinolaka. Umongameli weVector Aeromotive akanalo ikhono lokukhetha lokhu, yize ebelokhu esebenza kusukela ngo-1971 ukuklama nokukhiqiza iVector enama-turbo amabili, imoto enkulu enama-injini amabili enamandla angu-625 esebenzisa izinto ezithuthukisiwe kanye nokwakhiwa kobuchwepheshe bezinhlelo zezindiza zezindiza. Kusukela emidwebweni kuya kumamodeli e-foam kuya kumamodeli agcwele, iVector yaboniswa okokuqala eLos Angeles Auto Expo ngo-1976. Imodeli esebenzayo yaqedwa eminyakeni emibili kamuva, yahlanganiswa ndawonye kusuka ezingxenyeni eziqoqwe ezindaweni zokulahla udoti futhi yahlanzwa kusuka ezingxenyeni - ukuze ihlinzeke ngendlu. Uthe umnotho obuthakathaka kanye nokugxekwa okulimazayo okuvela kwabezindaba bezimoto kunciphisa imizamo yokuthola uxhaso, futhi iphupho lakhe lokukhiqiza indiza yomhlabathi yemigwaqo lalibonakala lihloselwe ukuba yiphupho nje.
UWigt ufanelwe uhlobo oluthile lwendondo ngokubekezela, uhlobo oluthile lomvuzo ngokuphikelela. Hlukana nomkhuba, ungazinaki izipoki ezikhalayo ze-Tucker, DeLorean kanye ne-Bricklin adventures ezihlulekile. I-Vector Aeromotive Corp. eWilmington, eCalif., ekugcineni isilungele ukukhiqiza imoto eyodwa ngesonto. Abaphikisi badinga kuphela ukuvakashela indawo yokugcina yokuhlangana, lapho izimoto ezimbili esiziqophile zilungiselela ukuthunyelwa kubanikazi bazo abasha eSwitzerland (i-Vector W8 twin-turbo yokuqala yokukhiqiza yathengiswa enkoseni yaseSaudi, eneqoqo lezimoto ezingama-25, elihlanganisa 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 okungu-30 mph ngaphambili nangemuva, emnyango nasophahleni nge-chassis eyodwa nje); ukuhlolwa kokukhishwa komoya kuyaqhubeka. Iqoqe imali engaphezu kwezigidi eziyi-13 zamaRandi ngeminikelo emibili yomphakathi ethengiswa ngaphandle kwekhawuntara.
Kodwa elangeni elishisayo lasemini ePomona, eCalif., izinkundla zemidlalo yaseshashalazini, isenzo sikaWigt sokugcina sokholo sabonakala. Iloli eliyisicaba elalithwele amaVector W8 TwinTurbos amabili liwela umgwaqo omkhulu we-asphalt liya endaweni yokudonsela phansi. Izimoto ezimbili zokuthuthukiswa zakhushulwa, kwathi umhleli wokuhlolwa komgwaqo uKim Reynolds wafaka enye yazo ikhompyutha yethu yokuhlola isondo lesihlanu kanye nekhompyutha yokuhlola umgwaqo ukulungiselela ukuhlolwa kokuqala kokusebenza kwe-Auto Magazine.
Kusukela ngo-1981, iPhini likaMongameli wezobunjiniyela beVector, uDavid Kostka, unikeze iseluleko sokuthi ungafinyelela kanjani izikhathi zokusheshisa ezingcono kakhulu. Ngemva kokuhlola okuvamile, uKim usunduzela iVector emgqeni wokulinganisa bese ebeka kabusha ikhompyutha yokuhlola.
Ukubukeka okukhathazekile kwavela ebusweni bukaKostka. Bekufanele kube njalo. Iminyaka eyishumi yokusebenza amahora ayi-12 ngosuku, izinsuku eziyisikhombisa ngesonto, cishe ingxenye yesithathu yempilo yakhe ephapheme—ingasaphathwa ingxenye enkulu yomphefumulo wakhe—izinikele emotweni.
Akudingeki akhathazeke. UKim ubeka unyawo lwakhe emabhulekini, ukhetha igiya lokuqala bese esebenzisa i-throttle ukufaka i-drivetrain. Ukuduma kwenjini engu-6.0-litre all-aluminium V-8 kukhulu kakhulu, futhi ikhwela le-turbocharger likaGarrett lihambisana nokukhala kwebhande lohlobo lwe-Gilmer. Ibhuleki langemuva lilwa impi ehlulwayo nge-torque ye-V-8 kanye namasentimitha angaphambili emoto, ishelela i-tether yangaphambili evaliwe emgwaqweni. Kufana nenja ethukuthele edonsa imoto yayo.
Amabhuleki akhululwa futhi iVector yaphuma ngesondo elincane, intuthu evela kuMichelin ekhuluphele kanye nohlangothi oluncane. Ngokuphazima kweso - imizuzwana emi-4.2 - ifinyelela ku-60 mph, imizuzu embalwa ngaphambi kokushintsha okungu-1-2. IVector idlula ngesivinini esikhulu njengeCan-Am, iqhubeka nokushesha phansi komzila ngokuqina okukhulu. I-vortex yesihlabathi kanye nemfucumfucu ye-orbital ingena endaweni engenalutho njengoba isimo sayo esifana nesesigaxa siphula isikhala emoyeni. Naphezu kwebanga elicishe libe yikota yemayela, umsindo wenjini wawusabonakala njengoba imoto idlula ngesivinini esisheshayo. Isivinini esingu-124.0 mph ngemizuzwana engu-12.0 kuphela.
Ihora leshumi nambili. Leso sibalo sibeka iVector phambili kakhulu kunezinqola zefulegi ezifana ne-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, lapho amalungu ayo eqasha kuyiFerrari F40 kanye neLamborghini Diablo engakahlolwa. Ubulungu bunezinzuzo zabo, kodwa futhi bunezindleko zabo; iVector W8 TwinTurbo ithengiswa ngo-$283,750, ibiza kakhulu kuneLamborghini ($211,000) kodwa ingaphansi kuneFerrari (i-F40 e-US eqondile ibiza cishe u-$400,000).
Ngakho-ke yini eyenza iVector W8 idlale kahle? Ukuze aphendule yonke imibuzo yami futhi anikeze uhambo oluqondisiwe lwesakhiwo seVector, uMark Bailey ungusekela Mongameli wezokukhiqiza, owayeyisisebenzi saseNorthrop kanye nomncintiswano wangaphambilini we-Can-Am.
Ekhomba indawo yenjini yeVector eyakhiwayo, wathi, “Akuyona injini encane ephendukile yaze yafa. Yimoto enkulu engasebenzi kanzima kangaka.”
I-pushrod V-8 enamalitha ayisithupha enama-aluminiyamu angu-90 degrees, eyenziwe yiRodeck, ikhanda lesilinda elinama-valve amabili elenziwe yi-Air Flow Research. Amabhulokhi amade ahlanganiswa futhi i-dynamometer yahlolwa yiShaver Specialties eTorrance, CA. Noma ngabe yini edingekayo; uhlu lwezingxenye zenjini lufundeka njengohlu lukaKhisimusi lomshayeli we-ring racer: Ama-piston e-TRW akhiwe ngensimbi engagqwali, izinduku zokuxhuma zensimbi engagqwali zeCarrillo, ama-valve ensimbi engagqwali, izingalo ze-roller rocker, ama-crank akhiwe ngensimbi, omile ngezihlungi ezintathu ezihlukene Uhlelo lokugcwalisa uphethiloli lwe-oyela. Iphakheji yepayipi lensimbi engagqwali elilukiwe elinezihlanganisi ezibomvu neziluhlaza okwesibhakabhaka ezifakwe i-anodized ukuze zithwale uketshezi yonke indawo.
Inkazimulo enkulu yale njini isekuhlanganisweni kwayo okubonakalayo kwe-intercooler, eyakhiwe nge-aluminium futhi yapholishwa yaba ukukhanya okukhazimulayo. Ingasuswa emotweni ngemizuzu embalwa ngokukhulula ama-aero clamp amane akhishwa ngokushesha. Ixhunywe ku-turbocharger ye-Garrett epholiswe ngamanzi kabili futhi iqukethe ingxenye yesikhungo semoto kanye ne-impeller kanye nendlu eqondene nendiza.
Ukushisa kuphathwa ngamakhoyili ngamanye esilinda ngasinye, futhi ukulethwa kukaphethiloli kwenziwa ngokujova kwe-port elandelanayo eminingi, kusetshenziswa ama-injector enziwe ngokwezifiso avela eqenjini le-Bosch R&D. I-Spark kanye nophethiloli kuhlanganiswa uhlelo lokuphatha injini oluhlelwe yi-Vector.
Amapuleti okufakela amahle njengenjini uqobo ayibeka eceleni endaweni yokubeka. I-billet ye-aluminium egayiwe eluhlaza okwesibhakabhaka neqoshiwe, enye ibopha ohlangothini lwesesekeli sebhloko kanti enye ifana nepuleti le-adapter yenjini/yokudlulisa. I-gearbox iyi-GM Turbo Hydra-matic, esetshenziswa yi-V-8 powered front-drive Olds Toronado kanye ne-Cadillac Eldorado ngawo-'70s. Kodwa cishe yonke ingxenye ku-gearbox enama-speed amathathu yakhiwe ngenhloso ngabakwa-Vector subcontractors besebenzisa izinto ezingamelana ne-630 lb-ft. I-torque ekhiqizwa yinjini nge-4900 rpm kanye ne-7.0 psi boost.
UMark Bailey wayenomdlandla njengoba engihambisa esitolo sokukhiqiza, ekhomba uhlaka olukhulu lwensimbi oluyi-chrome-molybdenum, phansi kwe-aluminium honeycomb, kanye ne-epoxy-bond futhi eboshwe ohlakeni ukuze kwakheke uhlaka oluqinile. Ishidi le-aluminium endaweni yokukhipha igobolondo. Wachaza: “Uma [isakhiwo] sasiyi-monocoque yonke, ubuzosonteka kakhulu futhi bekuyoba nzima ukuyakha ngokunembile. Uma konke kwakuyifreyimu yesikhala, ubuzoshaya indawo eyodwa bese uthinta konke okunye ngoba yonke ipayipi Ama-subs athatha konke.” Umzimba wakhiwe ngamanani ahlukahlukene e-carbon fiber, i-Kevlar, ama-fiberglass mat, kanye ne-fiberglass eqondene ne-unidirectional, futhi awucindezeleki ngokwesakhiwo.
I-chassis eqinile ingaphatha kangcono imithwalo yezingxenye ezinkulu zokumiswa. I-Vector isebenzisa izingalo ezimbili ze-A eziqinile ngaphambili kanye neshubhu enkulu ye-De Dion ngemuva, ebekwe yizingalo ezine ezilandelanayo ezifinyelela kuze kube se-firewall. Ama-shock absorbers alungisekayo e-Koni aneziphethu eziqondile asetshenziswa kabanzi. Amabhuleki amakhulu angama-intshi angu-13. Ama-disc aphefumulayo anama-caliper e-Alcon aluminium angu-4-piston. Ama-wheel bearings afana ngendlela efanayo nalawo asetshenziswa emotweni engu-3800 lbs. Imoto ye-NASCAR, igobolondo le-aluminium elinomshini wesondo libukeka njengobubanzi bethini lekhofi. Akukho neyodwa ingxenye ye-chassis engaphansi kwesilinganiso, noma eyanele nje.
Uhambo lwasefektri lwathatha usuku lonke. Kwakunokuningi okwakungabonwa futhi uBailey wasebenza ngokuzikhandla ukungibonisa zonke izici zokuhlinzwa. Kufanele ngibuyele emuva ngishayele.
UMgqibelo wafika, futhi imoto yokuthuthukiswa empunga esiyihlolile yabiza ngomnyango ovundlile. Ukungena kuwumsebenzi onzima kulabo abangawazi, onemingcele ephakathi nendawo kanye nesikhala esincane phakathi kwesihlalo kanye nengaphambili lohlaka lomnyango. UDavid Kostka usebenzisa inkumbulo yemisipha ukuze ashelele ngaphesheya komngcele futhi angene esihlalweni somgibeli ngomusa wokuzivocavoca; Ngingena esihlalweni somshayeli njengenyamazane esanda kuzalwa.
Umoya unuka okwesikhumba, njengoba cishe yonke indawo yangaphakathi imbozwe ngesikhumba, ngaphandle kwedeshibhodi enkulu, eqediwe ngendwangu encane ye-suede. Iphansi elinokhaphethi we-Wilton wool liyisicaba ngokuphelele, okuvumela amaRecaro alungiseka ngogesi ukuthi abekwe ngaphakathi kwamasentimitha ambalwa ukusuka komunye nomunye. Indawo yokuhlala ephakathi ivumela imilenze yomshayeli ukuthi ishaye ama-pedal aqonde, yize ukungena kwe-wheel arch kukhulu.
Injini enkulu iqala ukusebenza ekuqaleni kokushintsha kwenkinobho, izinzile ibe yi-900 rpm ingasebenzi. Imisebenzi ebalulekile yenjini kanye nokudlulisa iboniswa kulokho iVector ekubiza ngokuthi "isibonisi se-electroluminescent esilungiseka kabusha sesitayela sendiza" - okusho ukuthi kunezikrini ezine zolwazi ezahlukene ezitholakalayo. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi isikrini sinjani, kukhona inkomba yokukhetha amagiya ohlangothini lwesobunxele saso. Izinsimbi - kusukela kuma-tachometer kuya kuma-pyrometer okushisa okukhipha kabili - zinesibonisi "setheyiphu ehambayo" esihamba ngokuqondile ngesikhombisi esihleliwe, kanye nesibonisi sedijithali efasiteleni lesikhombisi. UKostka uchaza ukuthi isigaba setheyiphu ehambayo sinikeza kanjani ulwazi lwesilinganiso sokushintsha okungatholakali kalula yizibonisi zedijithali zodwa. Ngashaya i-accelerator ukuze ngibone ukuthi wayesho ukuthini, futhi ngabuka itheyiphu igxuma izungeze inaliti cishe ibe yi-3000 rpm, bese ngibuyela emuva ku-idle.
Ngithatha isibambo sokushintshwa esinophahla, ngacwila sajula efasiteleni ngakwesobunxele sami, ngaphenduka ngabuyela emgwaqweni ngokungazelele. Njengoba sesikhethe uhambo, sahamba emigwaqweni yaseWilmington saya eSan Diego Freeway saya emagqumeni angaphezu kweMalibu.
Njengakwamanye ama-Exotics, ukubonakala kwangemuva cishe akukho, futhi iVector inendawo engabonakali iFord Crown Victoria engayithatha kalula. Yelula intamo yakho. Ngamafasitela amancane e-hood, bengibona kuphela i-windscreen kanye ne-antenna yemoto ngemuva kwami. Izibuko zangaphandle zincane kodwa zibekwe kahle, kodwa kuyasiza ukugcina i-aphoyintimenti nemephu yengqondo yethrafikhi ezungezile. Ngaphambili, mhlawumbe i-windscreen enkulu kunazo zonke emhlabeni iyanwebeka futhi ihlangane ne-dash down, inikeza umbono oseduze we-asphalt emayadini ambalwa ngaphambi kwemoto.
Ukuqondisa kuyilungiselelo le-rack-and-pinion elisekelwa amandla elilula ngokulinganayo futhi linembile kakhulu. Ngakolunye uhlangothi, akukho ukuzicabangela okuningi, okwenza kube nzima ngabangajwayele ukuhambisana. Uma kuqhathaniswa, amabhuleki angasizwa adinga amandla amaningi—amakhilogremu angu-50 ukuze sime ngemitha engu-0.5g—ukudonsa amakhilogremu angu-3320. Ivektha kusuka ejubaneni. Amabanga asukela ku-80 mph kuya ku-250 feet kanye nasukela ku-60 mph kuya ku-145 feet amabanga amahle kakhulu eFerrari Testarossa—yize iRedhead isebenzisa cishe ingxenye yokucindezela kwephedali ukuze isuse isivinini. Ngisho noma ingenayo i-ABS (uhlelo oluzotholakala ekugcineni), ukuma kuqondile futhi kuyiqiniso, kanti ukukhetha kubekwe ukukhiya amathayi angaphambili ngaphambi kwamathayi angemuva.
UKostka waqonda emgwaqweni omkhulu osendleleni, ngiyavuma, futhi ngokushesha sase sisesiminyaminyeni sezimoto esincane esiya enyakatho. Izikhala ziqala ukubonakala phakathi kwezimoto, zembula umzila ovulekile osheshayo okhangayo. Ngeseluleko sikaDavid, ngifaka amalayisense nezinyawo engozini. Ngacindezela inkinobho yesigwedlo segiya phansi cishe nge-intshi eyodwa singene emgodini, ngabe sengiyidonsela emuva, kusukela ku-Drive kuya ku-2. Njengoba injini yayiseduze nokuphakamisa amandla, ngacindezela i-pedal enkulu yegesi ye-aluminium yaya engxenyeni engaphambili ye-bulkhead.
Bese kufika ukusheshisa okusheshayo, okuphoqa igazi elisezicutshini zobuchopho ukuba lifike ngemuva kwekhanda; uhlobo olukugcina ugxile endleleni engaphambili, ngoba uzofika lapho uthimula. I-wastegate elawulwa ngogesi ingena cishe nge-7 psi, ikhulula amandla nge-swish ehlukile engenalutho. Shaya amabhuleki futhi; ngethemba ukuthi angizange ngimesabise indoda eseDatsun B210 ephambi kwami. Ngokudabukisayo, asikwazi ukuphinda inqubo ngegiya eliphezulu emgwaqweni omkhulu ongenamingcele ngaphandle kokwesaba ukungenelela kwamaphoyisa.
Uma sibheka ukusheshisa okumangalisayo kwe-W8 kanye nesimo se-wedge, kulula ukukholelwa ukuthi izofinyelela ku-200 mph. Nokho, iKostka ibika ukuthi umugqa obomvu wesithathu ungafinyeleleka — ufinyelela ku-218 mph (kufaka phakathi nokukhula kwethayi). Ngeshwa, kuzodingeka silinde olunye usuku ukuqinisekisa lokhu, njengoba i-aerodynamics yesivinini esiphezulu semoto isalungiswa.
Kamuva, njengoba sasishayela phansi ePacific Coast Highway, isimo seVector sokuphucuka sabonakala. Sizwakala sincane futhi sishesha kakhulu kunobubanzi baso obukhulu kanye nesitayela esikhangayo. Ukumiswa kubamba amaqhubu amancane kalula, amakhulu ngokuzola (futhi okubaluleke kakhulu, akukho phansi), futhi sinekhwalithi eqinile, enamadwala kancane engikhumbuza iNissan 300ZX Turbo yethu yesikhathi eside, efakwe ku-valve ye-Tour damper. Hlola isibonisi ukuthi wonke amazinga okushisa kanye nokucindezela kuvamile.
Izinga lokushisa ngaphakathi kweVector Black lishisa kancane, nokho. “Ingabe le moto ine-air conditioner?” Ngabuza ngezwi eliphakeme kunokuvamile. UDavid wanqekuzisa ikhanda wacindezela inkinobho kuphaneli yokulawula i-air conditioner. I-air conditioner esebenza kahle ayivamile emotweni engavamile, kodwa ukuqhuma komoya obandayo kuqhuma cishe ngokushesha kusuka emithonjeni embalwa ye-eyeball emnyama ene-anodized.
Ngokushesha saphendukela enyakatho saya ezintabeni kanye nemigwaqo ethile ye-canyon enzima. Ekuhlolweni kosuku olwedlule, i-Vector ikhiqize amagremu angu-0.97 ku-skateboard ye-Pomona, inani eliphakeme kakhulu esake saliqopha kunoma yini enye ngaphandle kwemoto yomjaho. Kule migwaqo, unyawo olukhulu lwamathayi e-Michelin XGT Plus (ngaphambili okungu-255/45ZR-16s, ngemuva okungu-315/40ZR-16s) lukhuthaza ukuzethemba okukhulu. Ukushayela ekhoneni kuyashesha futhi kubukhali, futhi ukuthamba kwendawo ekhoneni kuhle kakhulu. Izinsika ezinkulu zefasitela lomoya zivame ukuvimba umbono wethu wengxenye yamakhona amancane esihlangane nawo, lapho i-Vector engu-82.0-intshi ububanzi izwakala njengenkunzi esitolo saseShayina. Imoto ifisa ukujika okukhulu, lapho i-throttle ingabanjwa khona futhi amandla ayo amakhulu nokubamba kungasetshenziswa ngokunemba nangokuzethemba. Akunzima ukucabanga ukuthi sishayela i-Porsche yokugijima ekhuthazelayo njengoba sigijima kula makhona amakhulu.
UPeter Schutz, usihlalo kanye ne-CEO yePorsche kusukela ngo-1981 kuya ku-1988 futhi oyilungu lebhodi lezeluleko leVector kusukela ngo-1989, wayengeke akulahle lokhu kuqhathaniswa. “Kufana kakhulu nokwenza i-962 noma i-956 kunokwenza noma yiluphi uhlobo lwemoto yokukhiqiza,” esho. “Futhi ngicabanga ukuthi le moto ingaphezu kobuchwepheshe enganginabo ngokugijima ekuqaleni kweminyaka yawo-1980.” Ngibonga uGerald Wiegert kanye nethimba lakhe lonjiniyela abazinikele, kanye nabo bonke abanye ababenokubekezela nokuzimisela ukufeza amaphupho abo.