Trade.Information

Mew Aspid Sports Car Attract Customers in Performance & Environmental Credentials

More than 100 potential customers have signed up for an exclusive two days of high performance motoring thrills test driving the new Aspid sports car. Following the successful introduction of the car, IFR Automotive is now seeking to create a network of international dealers.

Described by a leading motoring magazine as the “Bugatti from Barcelona”, the compact two-seater attracted the high level of interest when it swept in quietly under the radar following five years of secret development to make its world debut at the British International Motor Show.

IFR, an automotive engineering consultancy that developed the supercar, expects most of its clientele will use the ride and drive event to confirm their interest and place deposits. It means the company could be facing a full order book for the next couple of years as it plans to produce the exclusive hand-built cars at the rate of less than one a week.

IFR is determined not to fall into the classic trap of setting unrealistically high sales targets and can make the project profitable building even fewer than 50 cars a year. By restricting the number of cars it builds it is also aiming to protect the investment of its clientele.

“We’ve worked very hard to redefine the modern sportscar and make it relevant to the needs of the 21st century. Almost everyone we met at the show has recognised that a lightweight and compact design is the way forward. We’ve aimed for a car with outstanding performance and driveability. And its exceptionally low mass ensures excellent fuel economy and correspondingly low CO2 emissions” said company founder and automotive engineer Ignacio Fernandez

Weighing in at less than 700kg, yet full of luxury touches such as climate control and touch screens as well as having an enclosed cabin, the Aspid represents a new breed of lightweight compact sports car. Interestingly, the majority of potential customers for the car have expressed a preference for the more expensive supercharged model, which is priced at £107,000, more so than the 270bhp naturally aspirated version which will be sold at £75,000.

“We particularly enjoyed the visits from other carmakers interested in the Aspid’s technology, which can be applied to a wide range of vehicles,” said Fernandez. “The need to significantly reduce the weight of all vehicles is a highly topical subject and important to the entire industry in terms of delivering personal mobility that is environmentally friendly, socially acceptable and economically sustainable.

About British International Motor Show
The British International Motor Show is an automobile show held biennially in the United Kingdom. It is recognised as an international show by the Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs d'Automobiles.

The first British Motor Show organised by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) was held at Crystal Palace, London in 1903. It subsequently moved to Olympia in London, where it was held each year for 32 years. From 1937 until 1976 it was held at Earl's Court in London, before moving to the National Exhibition Centre (NEC), Birmingham in 1978. The NEC hosted the show every other year until the last show there in May 2004. The 2004 show was moved from the traditional October date to May to avoid conflicting with the other two major autumn motor shows in Frankfurt and Paris. In 2006 the motor show was returned to London, taking place at ExCeL in London Docklands.