Barabus TKR: Vaporware?

August 22, 2009 7:18 PM

The world's new (allegedly) fastest production supercar. But does it exist? The Barabus TKR is an Italian supercar with a British powerplant which goes from 0-60 in 1.67 seconds. Looks like a Saleen S7 from the front, a Pagani Zonda from the rear. Designed to compete with the Bugatti Veyron ("the fastest, quickest, best handling, most luxurious grand touring [car]"), it costs nearly half as much and outpaces the Veyron by a significant margin. But, is it real?

The Barabus website is defunct. Searches for the company only come up with articles which follow a similar format - announcing the premiere of the TKR. An attendee of the 2006 British Motor Show captured a shot of what looks like the TKR, but of course it isn't in motion. "Barabus" is very close to sounding like Brabus, the famous Mercedes and Maybach tuner.

So will any TKR owner step forward, or is this supercar really vaporware?

posted by R_Nebblesworth (32 comments total)

I bought one, but I traded it in on a Prius in the Cash for Clunkers program.
posted by mr_crash_davis mark II: Jazz Odyssey at 7:27 PM on August 22, 2009 [3 favorites]

So, it's supposed to hit 60 nearly a second faster than a Veyron, with an engine that has 3/4rds the displacement? 1.67 to 60 is implying a low 8 second quarter mile, maybe even a high 7 second -- about a second behind NHRA Pro Stock cars with nearly twice the horsepower.

The biggest reason I call shenanigans? Traction.
posted by eriko at 7:31 PM on August 22, 2009 [5 favorites]

Good god, the back end of that thing is uglier than a Zonda, if such a feat is even possible that is.
posted by Antidisestablishmentarianist at 7:33 PM on August 22, 2009 [1 favorite]

How the hell do some people manage to become high-end automotive designers? That thing is butt ugly, certainly compared to the Veyron.
posted by delmoi at 7:35 PM on August 22, 2009

Meh, doesn't look nearly as classy as the Veyron.
posted by carfilhiot at 7:37 PM on August 22, 2009

SMARTFILTER DA: Bess Edition
You cannot access the following Web address:
http://www.barabus.info/index.asp
This site is blocked under the following categories: Pornography

Interesting.
posted by dunkadunc at 7:37 PM on August 22, 2009

270 mph in a car designed by folks who can't even keep their website up? I'm not going to rule it out, but I'd want to give it some thought...
posted by ryanrs at 7:39 PM on August 22, 2009

Dunkadunc, it is now a "search" page that suggests "gay lesbian sex webcam" as highly recommended options. That might hit a filter or two.
posted by Antidisestablishmentarianist at 7:42 PM on August 22, 2009

0-60mph is about 0-100kph, so let's see... Velocity is one half of acceleration times time squared and 100kph is 27.8 meters per second, and t is 1.67 seconds, squared is... 2.78 seconds or so?

Hello, suspiciously coincident numbers.

Solving for acceleration gives us just about exactly 20 m/s^2, which looks a little too round to me. Not to mention that this is just north of two gravities worth of acceleration, and the freaking space shuttle only manages three, so I call bullshit.

(Though apparently a formula one car can hold the road enough to generate a full five gravities, but there's no aerodynamic downforce on a parked car. I could be wrong!)
posted by mhoye at 7:43 PM on August 22, 2009 [2 favorites]

Then again, we talk about all those things on Metafilter too. Might be that the hosting company is blacklisted.
posted by Antidisestablishmentarianist at 7:43 PM on August 22, 2009

Delmoi: FWIW I think it looks like that because the pics are just a Saleen or something similar 'shopped onto a Zonda back end with some edits (i.e. like the Edgar Martin fiasco)
posted by R_Nebblesworth at 7:43 PM on August 22, 2009

Damn, it's UGLY viewed from the side.
posted by ryanrs at 7:46 PM on August 22, 2009

If it is as light as say, an Ariel Atom, it might do those numbers but... I seriously doubt it.

The AWD of the Veryon helps the car greatly in the 0 to whatever department.
posted by bz at 7:47 PM on August 22, 2009

It's not going to do 270. Not even close.

Current fastest car is the SSC Aero... They're aiming for 270 as well, but still have a long way to go.
posted by glider at 7:48 PM on August 22, 2009

Damn, it's UGLY viewed from the side.

Looks like a kit car, only amateurish.
posted by Antidisestablishmentarianist at 8:02 PM on August 22, 2009

Even if it were real, I wouldn't have to buy one, because I have an enormous penis.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 8:08 PM on August 22, 2009 [7 favorites]

What eriko said. I don't understand how the thing wouldn't just spin out at the green light.
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 8:17 PM on August 22, 2009

I agree those numbers look tight, but can someone explain drag racing? It looks more like an explosion than a motorsport.
posted by Samuel Farrow at 8:30 PM on August 22, 2009

give us Barabas!
posted by vronsky at 8:44 PM on August 22, 2009 [6 favorites]

I agree those numbers look tight, but can someone explain drag racing? It looks more like an explosion than a motorsport.

basically, but they have to steer and shift during the explosion. oh, and they might blow up and crash, which is why people really watch.
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 8:46 PM on August 22, 2009

eriko has it. The horsepower numbers are not impossible - you can get 1000 HP out of a 3.0L Toyota Supra with enough work and a turbo that's bigger than your head, so 1000hp out of a 6.0L V8 is very doable. However, that 0-60 mph time without big Mickey Thompson wrinklewalls is fiction or a rocket strapped to the roof.
posted by hackwolf at 8:56 PM on August 22, 2009

We want Barabbas!
posted by Glarg at 9:13 PM on August 22, 2009 [3 favorites]

I recall being pissed off when the Veyron was released. No longer was my cheap Japanese sportbike faster than any production road-legal car (0-60, not top speed). But as it happens, I've never actually seen a Veyron in the wild (otherwise I might have to trade in my 600 for a liter bike).
posted by ryanrs at 9:13 PM on August 22, 2009

It reminds of a Kinder Surprise...
posted by Alexandra Kitty at 9:30 PM on August 22, 2009

I have a Toyota.
posted by mattoxic at 10:05 PM on August 22, 2009

We want Barabbas!

Wewease Wodewick!
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 10:37 PM on August 22, 2009

It's called a motorcycle, folks.
posted by Eideteker at 11:43 PM on August 22, 2009

http://www.ukdata.com/numbers/05261255.html
posted by fistynuts at 2:53 AM on August 23, 2009

I think the people who post to car websites probably spend a lot of time on YouTube too.

"This High performance car is relentively fast. Built for high equiped technology for the race to come."

I'd sneak down the East Lancs and do a bit of industrial espionage, but it looks like they're busto.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 3:18 AM on August 23, 2009

If we're going to talk about Brabus (no matter how indirectly), can I introduce the superbly pointless Brabus Unimog Black?
posted by twine42 at 6:29 AM on August 23, 2009

I'd probably rather have a Yaris or Fit, but I'd take that Brabus Unimog over any of the supercars.

Superbly pointless? No way. What if you're obscenely rich, you're going on some kind of fakey expedition, and the terrain is too tough for a Range Rover or an International CXT? Or what if you're, uh, Shaquille O'Neal?

Now, a Lamborghini LM002, or a Hummer H2 (not so much the H1, which has some actual off-road capabilities), those are pointless.
posted by box at 8:21 AM on August 23, 2009

The Lamborghini LM002, I believe, were primarily manufactured for wealthy Saudis, because it was a *more* luxurious off-road, and it's filters could handle the sand. So...not completely useless if that was the target demographic. Utterly useless for an American on-road driver, I will grant you.

As to the FPP...the fastest I've ever gone (in a stock car...not a production car) was a little over 200 mph...and it was one of the scariest things I've ever done. Exhilarating...and at the risk of sharing too much info, I was randy for days afters...and I firmly believe that I really, really, REALLY NEED to drive a Bugatti Veyron. If someone would be so kind as to let me borrow one, and the VW track, I would be eternally grateful.
posted by dejah420 at 7:18 PM on August 23, 2009