With its carbon-fiber body and minimalist design, the Vuhl 05 is the kind of car you buy if you want something more hardcore than the average sports car. But Vuhl apparently didn’t think this track-focused car was hardcore enough.
Debuting at the 2016 Goodwood Festival of Speed, the Vuhl 05RR has more power and less weight than the previous 05, which was already pretty light on its feet. Mexico-based Vuhl (pronounced “Vool”) says the 05RR is still road legal, although it’s hard to say whether anyone would want to drive this go-kart on steroids anywhere but on a track.
The 05RR uses the same Ford-sourced 2.3-liter turbocharged EcoBoost four-cylinder engine as the original 05, but output has increased by 100 horsepower to 385 hp. That power is sent to the rear wheels through a six-speed sequential gearbox. Vuhl claims the 05RR will do 0 to 62 mph in 2.7 seconds, putting it in the same ballpark as some of the world’s fastest supercars. Top speed is 160 mph.
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Like the original 05, the 05RR has an aerospace-inspired aluminum honeycomb chassis with carbon-fiber bodywork. It weighs just 640 kilograms (1,410 pounds) dry, which Vuhl says represents a 10-percent weight reduction over the standard 05. To shed some of that weight, Vuhl equipped the 05RR with carbon-fiber wheels. The company didn’t think to add a windshield, though, so a helmet is probably a good idea.
Vuhl also focused on aerodynamics. The 05RR gets an aggressive aero package, including a big rear spoiler and Formula One-inspired diffuser strakes. Those additions should generate significant downforce, although Vuhl would not quantify their effect. Other changes to the chassis include a quicker steering rack and modifications to lower the center of gravity by 50 millimeters (1.9 inches).
Vuhl hasn’t published pricing information yet, or said whether the 05RR will be sold in the U.S. Considering that a standard Vuhl 05 already starts at close to $95,000, expect the o5RR to be a fairly expensive thrill ride.
