Another First for the Pattaya Mail! The aXcess
australia concept car was shown to a full house of Thailand’s motoring media last
weekend and only one of the assembled scribblers could start this revolutionary vehicle!
That solitary soul was the Pattaya Mail’s "Automania" correspondent!
aXcess australia.
This vehicle is a mobile "display case" for over 130 parts
manufacturers in Australia and features cutting edge technology of the type expected to
become common in the next millennium. One of these features is the car’s Voice
Actuation System. This brilliant device recognizes 40 verbal phrases, including the
initial "Start Engine" command. It was here that the local media met their
Waterloo. Being an Aussie device, it understood Aussie accents. When the local lads tried
it, all they got was the sound of "Speak More Clearly" from the instrument
cluster and deafening silence from the engine!
Having spoken "Strine" for most of my life however, the vehicle
instantly recognized my dulcet tones, replied "Okay!" and the six cylinder
supercharged 2 stroke engine burst into life, much to the chagrin of the Bangkok Press
Gallery! Robert Bosch Australia undoubtedly will be able to re-programme the VAS computer
to recognize Thai phonetics. I reckon the local Thai version will be available by the turn
of the next century!
On hand at the launch was David Fewchuk, the aXcess australia Project
Manager, and Bob Beasley, the Chief Engineer from Millard Design Australia, and I had the
opportunity to chat with them both. One of the amazing facts about this car was that it
was not built by any current vehicle manufacturer, but was the brain child of Gary
Millard. His design team put it all together and brought Australia into the world
automotive scene with this vehicle. Australia is now one of only ten nations in the world
with the design and engineering capacity to develop a fully functioning vehicle from the
ground up.
So how good is this little Aussie wonder? Quite frankly, without wishing
to appear too parochial, the thing is damn good. It must be remembered, though, that it is
a "concept" vehicle as distinct from a "prototype". It is not destined
for production as a complete unit, but is an operational showcase demonstrating Australian
innovation and design and componentry.
The "main frame" of the car is a complex double diagonal hoop
arrangement crossing over to form an "X" on the roof section. Made of hollow
carbon-fibre, it weighs only 68 kg and all the major structures, body panels, etc., are
hung from it. David Fewchuk believes this "exposed frame" technology will be
common place in a few years time.
Styling preference is always an individual choice, and I must admit the
car grew on me during the lead up to the release. (The Oz connection helped here, as I
managed to sneak into the Australian Embassy garage to get a pre-preview before the other
motor noters got there!) Photos don’t do it justice. It is very short and wide, with
a really "cheeky" grin front on.
Access to the car is totally unrestricted with no B pillar, the front
doors swinging conventionally but the rear ones rear hinged (the old "suicide"
doors returned to haunt us, but they work well here). All four doors open electrically
with individual motors for each, controlled by membrane "touch" switchgear.
The seats were comfortable, the front ones having video screens built in
to the back of them for viewing by the rear seat passengers. Housed in the centre rear
console were Sony Playstations to really keep the kids quiet. Family outings could be fun!
From the driver’s chair, the instrument placement is sheer Formula 1.
Three colour LED’s illuminate the exceptionally easily read dials, and finger-tip
membrane switchgear completes the package.
The list of features is endless and almost "science fiction".
Yet some are so "obvious" it begs the question "Why haven’t we got it
already?" For example, there is no key, just a wafer thin (credit card sized) micro
transmitter which "unlocks" the central computer. The rear vision mirrors
incorporate turn indicators, solar roof panels assist in selecting optimum performance
settings for the air conditioner, shifting into "Park" automatically applies the
handbrake. As I said, the list is endless.
The engine is a 2 litre all alloy unit from Orbital Engine Corporation
developing 160 BHP and with the vehicle weighing only 1200 kg it has an excellent power to
weight ratio. Rear suspension is again F1 with double wishbones and CV jointed
driveshafts, while the ubiquitous McPherson strut is up front complete with adjustable
spring platforms to easily change ride height.
As an example of Aussie ingenuity it is fantastic. As a showcase of Aussie
technology it has the ability to show the world that "Down Under" has arrived
(if not even in front)!
Autotrivia Quiz
Last week I asked you how the Ford GT 40 got its name. This one
was easy - it was designed to be 40 inches high at its tallest point!
Talking about numbers, did you know that the Porsche 911 was actually
going to be the Porsche 901? In fact, the engine block casings for the early 911 series
even have "901" cast into them. What happened was that the Porsche factory
suddenly found that the Peugeot people had earmarked every combination of numbers with a
zero in the middle (remember the old 203, 403, 503 series, etc.) so Porsche had to
suddenly change the model designation and the world famous 911 series was born.
There is certainly something about the mystique of marques like Porsche.
Poor old Mazda, Toyota, Nissan et al can make as many cars as they like with twin
turbo’s, 4 wheel drive and all the bells and whistles, but when you open your garage
door people don’t say "Wow! You’ve got a Nissan!" But they do say,
"Gee, you’ve got a Porsche!"
It’s a shame really, because the "Godzilla" 4WD twin turbo
Nissan GTR’s were certainly fire-breathing motor cars, well worth a berth in any
enthusiasts fantasy car pool.
