A New Automaker for Working Car Enthusiasts—If I Have a Car Company 01

Perhaps the industry is right: there may well be no business case for a new automaker for working car enthusiasts. But then again experts have been proven wrong on a daily basis these days, especially on the big issues.

I want to explore in a series of posts what I would do if I had a car company today. Specifically, I want to focus on the cars that I want to make. I will delve deep into the designs of the engine, transmission, suspension, interior, and exterior.

In line with the theme of a working enthusiast’s car, my cars will have no unnecessary gadgets or luxury “features”, and it will use no exotic materials. Instead, I will act as a good photographer or cinematographer, removing what is not essential and leaving only what connects the driver to the car. For example, seats will be manual and wrapped in durable textile, but because there is minimal amount of electronics, owners can customize their vehicles on their own, DIY-style. I will also make all schematics open-source, so that enthusiasts and aftermarket suppliers can make or offer their own upgrades.

Before we go to the specifics, in this post I will outline the two cars that I would launch initially.

Headline specs:

The first car, Type 1, will be a mid-size GT, first as a coupe and later a convertible. Unlike luxury GTs, Type 1 will focus on the driving experience without compromising basic comfort. It will not chase the numbers but the feeling that the driver gets behind the wheels. In other words, I will prioritize the engine, the handling, and the exterior. The price target is $50,000.

The car will be reasonably sized, because the working enthusiast will be using it a lot more than wealthy collectors do their exotics. But it certainly will not be too spacious, because I need to keep the weight in check. I will delve into the details later in this series.

Headline specs:

Sometime after launching the V12-powered GT, I will release a compact roadster that is based on the same architecture. It will be a lot smaller and more barebone. To power it, half of the V12 will be used. This will be a V6 instead of an inline-6, because we need to keep the high-revving character of the naturally-aspirated engine. It will be a roadster because open-top motoring on open roads is one of the most visceral feeling one can experience. This sports car should be even cheaper than the GT, targeting $40,000.

Obviously, I do not have the funds to start such a company, nor am I confident that it could make ends meet if I did. Still, as an exercise, this series will provide an interesting contrast to what the automotive industry is offering today. By following the design details, even if you do not identify with these cars, you may pick up concepts and designs that challenge what the industry has convinced you to be the only way. It will hopefully help you identify what you really want in your future car purchases, too.

In the next post, I will go over the general specifications of the V12 engine.