Nothing quicker than a speeding Bullet

AN ambitious plan by Perth-based company Advanced Engine Components Limited (AEC) could see it become Australia's premier sports car manufacturer.

AEC last week brought the Bullet Roadster V8 SS to market, claiming it is the quickest locally built production car and among the quickest supercars in the world.

The company says the MX-5-based sports car will accelerate to 100km/h in less than four seconds and is capable of 12-second standing quarter-mile passes, combined with a top speed limited to 250km/h.

AEC purchased NSW-based performance car-maker Bullet Supercars in April this year and subsequently formed its Bullet Supercar Division to produce the high performance sports cars.

They will be built in a new, state of the art facility in Brisbane, following a recent relocation from the project's original base in NSW.

At this stage, pricing for the ultra high-performance supercharged Bullet V8 SS (Sprintex special) has been set at $118,000, while the entry level Bullet Roadster V8 will cost $98,000.

The Bullet V8 is powered by a naturally aspirated, 4.0-litre, all-alloy, quad cam V8 engine that pumps out 225kW. The engine was purchased direct from Toyota's luxury Lexus division and is the same unit found under the bonnet of the now superseded LS400 model.

In the Bullet V8 SS, the engine is fitted with a Sprintex twin-screw supercharger to produce in excess of 320kW of power, although emissions and compliance testing will decide final engine specifications.

A full Australia Design Rules (ADR) program is due to be completed soon, which will allow the Aussie supercars to be registered in any state or territory.

Meanwhile, the cars have been fully costed with bodykit tooling and all structural modifications designed, digitised and transferred to the tooling shop ready for production.

The cars closely resemble a Mazda MX-5, as dictated by the donor body of the Japanese sports car, although there are substantial modifications to all aspects of the body, drivetrain, suspension and brakes relative to the performance on offer.

There is a specially engineered full-length space frame chassis, longer wheelbase (+67mm) and wider tracks (+45mm front and +20mm rear), a five-speed manual transmission and Borg Warner differential with a choice of final drive ratios.

The list continues with adjustable race-tuned suspension, Brembo brakes and 17-inch ROH alloy wheels with Kumho Surpra 712 tyres measuring 215/40 at the front and 255/40 at the rear.

Body styling changes include a one-piece bonnet/bumper/front quarter panel unit made from a fibreglass/carbon fibre composite that is hinged at the front and features a centre-mounted air intake.

The outside edges of the bumper and the front and rear wheel arches are heavily flared.

Side skirts, a new rear bumper with integrated dual exhaust outlets, alloy rollover hoops behind both seats, a speedster-style soft-top cover and carbon-fibre brake-cooling ducts just aft of the doors complete the exterior modifications.

Inside there are race-style sports seats, a Momo steering wheel, alloy gear knob and in the Bullet SS an Alpine sound system with CD player.

The options list extends to a custom hard-top with special contouring to allow race helmets to be worn, air-conditioning, leather trim and an alarm system.

Owners can also customise their cars in terms of exterior and trim colour choices and final specification. So with the company targeting the luxury performance market and professionals looking to purchase a lifestyle vehicle, it is unlikely any two Bullet Roadsters will be exactly the same.

AEC has set a limit on production for the first year of 50 vehicles but believes it can lift capacity over time or as dictated by customer demand.

The company is now taking deposits to prioritise the 12 orders on its books.

Six cars have been built already while vehicles seven through 12 are in production.

AEC has also received strong interest from the US for the Bullet Roadsters but given the left-hand drive issues and tough emissions laws for that market, the company has chosen to focus its attention on the right-hand drive markets of Hong Kong, the Middle East and UK for export potential.

The Bullet models can be purchased direct from AEC with customers offered the opportunity to view their car during the build phase, as well as a single day track test program after it rolls of the production line.

PRICING:
Bullet Roadster V8 $98,000
Bullet Roadster V8 SS $118,000

Hillier heads race for hot Falcon coupe

THE Falcon 300+ coupe project is far from dead in the water according to AEC, but it could be beaten into production by another, even hotter two-door Falcon built by original coupe designer Hillier Conversions.

It is believed Hiller Conversions will unveil its own Falcon coupe at next year's Melbourne motor show with more than 400kW.

Meanwhile, AEC chairman Peter Malone continues to push the joint AEC/Millard Design project, which took pride of place on Ford's Melbourne motor show stand earlier this year.

"The 300+ Falcon coupe is a long way from being written off," Mr Malone said.

"We are still doing our internal processes on the car at the present time.

"We are also waiting for the Monaro to arrive and see what it will do, as we believe the Falcon coupe needs competitive product for it to succeed." But the Hillier team could beat AEC to the punch with its renewed involvement in a joint Falcon coupe project with Momo importer Bob Roman and his company, Autotek.

Hillier's new car is said to have similar lines to the first coupe it built but will feature a V8 engine producing about 430kW, a six-speed manual transmission and a top speed in the order of 270km/h.

Once the prototype has been shown in Melbourne, the company expects to embark on building 10 to 15 cars in the first year at a cost of about $130,000 each.

"We're not going into it big time, but we're going to build quality, good cars," Hillier Conversions spokesman Troy Hillier said.