Aussie Spyder set to bite

AN Australian-designed and built V8 open-top sports car called the Redback Spyder will make its world debut at this month's Melbourne International Motor Show.

To be powered by a 300kW, mid-mounted, 4.0-litre, all-alloy Toyota engine, the two-seat Spyder is the work of Melbournian Nick Tomkinson, owner of Carbontech Replicas, a company that builds replica versions of the Lamborghini Countach.

The Spyder to be shown at the Melbourne show from February 28 will be for display only, but Mr Tomkinson hopes to have a full-runner ready for the Melbourne show in 2003.

Performance claims are startling with a 0-100km/h time of four seconds and a top speed of 320km/h.

Mr Tomkinson has designed the car based on his experience, including a study of Le Mans-type racers. While he has funded the project, 32 Australian companies* are sponsoring the Reback by contributing equipment and components.

Constructed around a semi-monocoque space frame that Mr Tomkinson says meets all Australian Design Rule specifications, the Spyder includes double wishbone suspension all-round with inboard springs and dampers, 12-inch disc brakes with four-pot callipers, 17-inch wheels and low-profile tyres, ground effects, a fully adjustable rear wing and composite bodywork.

Mr Tomkinson said it had always been a dream of his to build a car of this style, but he would not put a price on a production version.

In fact, selling the Redback - which has been built at a workshop at Essendon airport in Melbourne, was not even a concrete aim.

"The car's first goal is to get to the Melbourne motor show and advertise Aussie companies," he said.

"The moment it has done that it has become a success in its own right.

"After that, we obviously want to build one, and after that if we can sell some that would be good. But we don't have to sell one for me to feel that it is a success." The powerplant is the familiar all-alloy unit found in Lexus LS models, although Carbontech's own modifications to the throttle body and ignition have resulted in a substantial power boost.

The engine will feed its power through a five-speed transaxle, although Mr Tomkinson has not finalised the transmission choice.

The Redback will be one of a number of Melbourne show stars, which include the Lamborghini Murcielago, Morgan Aero and - at the other end of the scale - the Daihatsu Copen roadster.

The beautiful Jaguar R Coupe will also make its Australian debut, alongside the new S-Type R and X-Type 2.0-litre Jaguar production vehicles.

Audi, BMW, Bentley, Citroen, Chrysler, Daewoo, Daihatsu, Holden, Hyundai, Land Rover, Maserati, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, MG Rover, MINI, Nissan, Porsche, Peugeot, Subaru and Volkswagen will also have new models on display.

*Sponsors of the Redback Spyder are: Acrylic Sheet Form
Airport West Auto Electrics
Airport West Metal Polishing
A-Line Joinery
Antique Metal Work
Art 57
Autotek
Carbontech
Casa Non Ferrous
Culpan New Steel
David Pecorini Restorations
Engine Management Systems
Essendon Radiator Service
Everson Wheel Design
Fiber Glass International
First Choice
Ian Irvine Spray Painting
K&J Mitchell
K&H Surface Technologies
Norm Crawford Engineering
Northern Fibreglass
Northway Panels
PPG Industries
Projex Design
Quick Race Parts
Racecraft Industries
Signed On
Stageweld
Stuckey Tyre Services
Toyo-Pro
Whitehorse Industries
Wurth Australia