Coventry University (
www.coventry.ac.uk) aims to launch its own high-performance sports car as part of an ambitious programme to encourage more low-volume car production in the UK.
A new design concept — pioneered at the university’s National Transport Design Centre (NTDC) — could make it into production, as well as provide a universal platform for car makers.
The Sparrowhawk Project aims to revolutionise the way vehicles are made, by creating a new car platform that will massively reduce the initial outlay required for niche vehicle production, enabling cars to be developed at a fraction of the current cost.
However, the university is also looking at using the platform to launch its own high-performance sports car — and could do so as early as 2019. Two drivetrains are being developed, one based on a proven 2.0-litre petrol eco-boost engine developed by Ford and the other a full electric version.
Mike Dickison, associate Dean at Coventry University’s Faculty of Engineering, said: “While we are now in the final stages of vehicle concept development, we think there’s a big market out there for car enthusiasts who want
to create a vehicle that suits their exact needs, without spending a fortune.”
The Sparrowhawk Project has harnessed the creative skills of the university’s vehicle design and engineering departments, bringing together a team of over 50 young engineers to create a highly efficient production platform featuring an eco-friendly aluminium chassis structure that can carry any combination of unstressed body panels.
While the cost of developing vehicle platforms is not a barrier to entry for most global car manufacturers, many smaller OEMs are prevented from producing new models due to substantial set-up costs.
Adopting the Sparrowhawk platform would help niche manufacturers, who proliferated in Coventry in the early days of the automotive industry, to overcome these challenges.