Coventry University Climax : 2006

Students from the Coventry University Auto Design in Britain have put together created a design for a two-seater sports car that can run on ethanol fuel and offers performance figures similar to a Lotus Elise. Called the Concept Climax, the car has an ethanol powered flat four engine offering 270 hp at 6500 rpm.

A group of automotive designers from Coventry University have spent the last 18 months creating a complete automotive vision. Their program not only involves development of a new, environmentally friendly sports car, but also the ground up creation of a car company.

Taking their inspiration from the legendary Cooper Climax Formula 1 car from the late sixties, the Climax is a 2 seat sports car designed with the driver in mind. The interior is a spartan, stripped down affair that is perfect for a track day, or for filling full of stuff for a weekend away. While the flip down windscreen and headrest fairing offer clues to it's British racing heritage, underneath the Climax looks to the future. The midship located flat four engine is powered by ethanol and fuel mapping can be easily modified with a laptop to change it's manners for track or street. In stock trim, this engine delivers 270 hp, which should be plenty for the light weight car.

Specifications.
- Performance (standard spec)
- Power 270 Bhp @ 6500rpm
- Torque 256 lbft @ 3600rpm
- Transmission 5 speed manual
- 0-60 3.4 sec
- Top speed 160 mph
- Power to weight 494 bhp/ton
- Fuel Consumption 24mpg urban, 30mpg Touring
- Weight 546 kg