Another day, another new company releases details of their new Supercar. This time Australia are the hosts, will it succeed? Only time will tell…
Joss Developments Limited from Australia has released the specifications for the JP1 supercar.
Riding on a composite honeycomb sub-frame, the two-seat JP1 measures 4450mm long, 1860mm wide, and 1100mm high. It uses carbon fiber body work which produces 200 kg (441 lbs) of downforce at 241 km/h (150 mph).
Power is provided by a mid-mounted aluminum V8 engine with more than 500 hp (373 kW / 507 PS). It is connected to a six-speed manual transmission which allows the 940 kg (1,411 lb) car to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in less than 3.0 seconds. When a driver keeps his foot planted, the JP1 will rocket through the quarter mile in under 11 seconds and hit an estimated top speed of 340 km/h (211 mph).
The company declined to release a launch date, but stated the JP1 will cost approximately $500,000 AUD (€345,555 / $455,875 USD).
Now these companies seem to appear every day, showing their new supercar with lots of power and wild claims for performance (see BOTB News article here ). What makes this one any different? In truth, absolutely nothing. And we think it doesn’t even have the benefit of stunning or modern looks on its side.
To this writer, the rear looks remarkably like the 1994 McLaren F1, in the lights and rear grille section. The side profile bears more than a passing resemblance to the Pagani Zonda in the cabin area, and the front end looks distinctly like a Honda NSX.
So to start with, they’ve not got a very original shape. And we think it doesn’t really gel together very well either. A bit like having a sausage, chocolate and melon sandwich. All of the ingredients are very nice on their own, but put them together and you’ll be reaching for a bucket.
At least the JP1 has performance on it’s side though, the light weight of 940kg proving no issue for the 500bhp powerplant. Theoretically…
And therein lies the problem with most of these ‘Supercar Startups’. They promise much with their 3D renderings, clay models and single running prototype, but when it comes to the crunch most of them never make it to production which is a real shame.
The only Supercar Startups to have survived in recent times are Pagani, Koenigsegg and Spyker, and we’re very glad they have as they give us lots of shiny metal and carbon to fawn over whenever we can.
So what do you think of the new Joss JP1? Do you like the pastiche looks? Will it make it to production?
Leave a comment below and let us know!
