Heading to Autosport International this weekend? Be sure to stop by Hall 19, Stand 19215 to see the first public appearance of the Avatar (Marlin Sports Cars) Roadster boasting 250bhp/350bhp (2.0L/3.0L) providing the balance between pure performance and affordability from every driving experience. Racing from 0-60mph in just 3.9s with a ma speed of 150mph it’s one not to be missed.
Beginning with a clean sheet enabled the design team to create a custom laser-cut, tubular spaceframe chassis that sits the driver closer to the centreline of the car. “This arrangement not only offers better weight distribution and, we think, purer driving experience but also provides storage space alongside the driver for the optional ‘get me home’ roof,” says Dylan Popovic, Avatar designer and company racing driver.
The chassis, manufactured in-house by Marlin Sports Cars, a producer of chassis for its own cars as well as other niche manufacturers for over 35 years, is clothed in a sleek composite four-piece bodyshell; front and back sections can be removed in less than 30 seconds. The pleasing aesthetics of the Avatar Roadster have been honed by aero specialist Simon McBeath and confirmed by a string of class wins for the development mule running in the Castle Combe Sports & GT Championship.
Aiming to suit each buyers weight, driving preferences and planned use, Avatar provide a pre-delivery “Tailored” session to ensure it truly is a personalised experience from the beginning to ownership for the customer. The Avatar’s modular design means it is possible to specify at time of build or simply upgrade later to the 350bhp 2.3l Ecoboost engine, a six-speed gearbox, three-way dampers and stiffer springs, six pot brakes, race pads, semi slick/slick tyre options. For racers or hard core track day drivers, a full roll cage, six-point harnesses, extinguisher, uprated cooling pack, DL1 data logger and camera, HANS custom seat and race-only aero package are offered from the factory.
We want to know each of our customers and their cars personally,” adds Terry Matthews, Avatar founder. “Owners can pick up the phone to us any time and get one-to-one support that is often lacking from larger car makers. We also want that ‘community’ element that might see Avatar owners plan a trip together through The Lakes, a coffee and doughnut meet every three months or perhaps a track day on the Continent.” The additional bonus being the unlimited mileage, three-warranty whilst the engine can be serviced at any Ford garage.
Four orders have already been placed with the first customer cars due to be delivered in May 2016, hoping to build to 25 by 2017.
