Mondial Z

Here are some pictures of my Mondial Z project. It is further on than in the images but still a long way from taking moulds. The complete body will be in carbon fibre when it is done. Then I will start on the interior.

The intention is to update the Mondial concept using Ferrari styling cues so that the car becomes a modern interpretation of the mid-engined 2+2.

Clive
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

There are a lot of different cues in the design yet when it is seen in the clay so-to-speak it is coherent with many new details.

For example the upper air intake leads from the original door handles that create the front end of the scoop thereby keeping and integrating that elegant element (the handles will be de-chromed and body coloured).

I have re-profiled the front since these images and of course the clam-shell bonnet will have faired-in rather than pop-up lights.

The GTO/550 vents are in the forward end of the rear bumper to relieve air pressure from the rear wheel arch and visually would not work higher on the body.

At this stage you need some imagination to see where this is going and of course, an open mind. You should remember that the early cars were, to a large extent, "one-offs" and the bespoke automobile was the thing to have.

Zagato et all are styling houses that have produced many exercises over the years to illustrate their skills. This is the same. Over several years I have designed and produced many detail developments for TVR and Lotus among others.

It is not possible to create something new and different that will appeal to all, especially if it involves an emotive subject such as Ferrari. If you do then it will be bland. Even Pininfarina does not always succeed, look at the 612.

The base car here is a GBP50,000 (US$90,000) 1983 Mondial Qv that has a superb chassis (OK it's a bit underpowered) on which to create a derivative design. The car will be considerably lighter and stiffer when completed and this will help improve the power to weight ratio and handling.

If you don't like it I don't mind, after all beauty (and art) is in the eye of the beholder.

Clive
PS the TVR here is one I did earlier.
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

To illustrate my point check out the following thread:
http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?p=134453377#post134453377

 

Most of the work should be done by the end of the year but that can change. I believe that you are in Thailand, if you come to Singapore come and see it.

Clive

 

Cooling was/is a concern here so the theory is to take hot air away as fast as possible. The original layout never had a problem here. My solution on the Z is as follows:

1) The bonnet vents lead to the cowled fans in a smooth curve thereby minimising turbulence and heat build up.

2) Although I was restricted where I could lead the vents out due to mechanical parts at the front that I didn't want to move (mainly the brake servo), the bonnet vents exit in a high air flow area that ought to help extract hot air.

A more difficult issue is slow traffic heat build up. I have made provisions to have thermostacically controlled flush-fitting louvred vents (that drop down rather than pop up) in the area between the fixed hot air outlets. I will only fit these if it proves necessary after testing.

The rear bumper now has a long vent above the diffuser to help heat dissapation. I am also considering ducts in the flat areas either side of the diffuser on the bottom of the bumper. The GTO/550 side vent also give a further exit for heat. The luggage space base will, in any event, be well insulated!


The interior will be interesting....

 

I have done some detail work on the rear light apertures (they must be symmetrical) and the rear bumper. I am also re-profiling the front clamshell to improve the clean shape. For those interested, one of my favourite tools is a self levelling cross-hair laser, which allowed me to level the car then check alignment and symmetry in the horizontal and vertical planes.

Clive
Here is an earlier development car:
http://www.pistonheads.com/tvr/index.asp?storyId=2792
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Planning:
The diffuser between the exhausts will have 5 (probably replaceable) fins to help airflow.
We will replace the undertray, such that it is, with a one that controls the underbody flow and assists the venturi effect as the air heads aft.
The undertray will have small side "curtains" as well.
There are restriction with what we can do due to the original design of the car.

Hella are supplying us with bi-xenon units (the same as those they supply for the F430) and other lights (Hella treat us as OEM).

The interior will feature the following:
Lightweight carbon fibre headlining.
Our design carbon fibre seats (see TVR link earlier). We are going to develop a new reclining seat for this application. We currently have 2 fixed back versions and will evolve these further for other Ferrari applications including a very minimalist track seat.
Trimming will include the use of memory foam, Alcantara, 3D carbon leather and ordinary leather.
Cabin accents will include cf (in the dash and as mentioned above) and aluminium.
Entertainment will include a 120GB MP3 as well as digital radio for those times when the passenger(s) becomes bored with the Tubi soundtrack. For those trips to Sepang F1 circuit, a built in mini-fridge...

The black 3D carbon leather is superb stuff! We intend to produce a limited run of bags and luggage in this material as it is 20x more abrasion resistant than ordinary leather finishes yet just as supple and more waterproof. Furthermore the finish is amazing even under a magnifying glass. We have used it before on high wear areas of earlier seats to great effect.

 

Anyone fancy "Photoshop-ing" the images in this thread as I will be too busy working on the real thing? I know what it will look like (in my head) but it would be nice to show other people.

 

Although there are styling cues from many different Ferraris, the overall design is unique. It is, hopefully, a coherent develoment of the Mondial as a practical mid-engined 2+2. The original intention of this project was to showcase our (sympathetic) design skills. We have designed a completely new modular sports car from the ground up and the Mondial Z project would help to raise awareness and possibly partners for production.

Simple explanation of the process:
The foam is used to quickly achieve the rough shape. This is then skinned and prepared to a perfect finish (and I mean PERFECT). Moulds are taken from the panels and production panels/bodyshell turned out from the moulds. The bodyshell and main panels would then be bonded together and to the chassis to create a very stiff combination.

As you can see it will certainly be possible to make more that one car. I would not however, call this a kit. "Kit" implies an ease of assembly that this will not have. Furthermore it would not be a job for the faint of heart. That said, the performance gains would bring the Mondial Z up to a respectable level without touching the engine.

The intention for this car is to create a complete body in carbon fibre but it is possible to make a car in almost any combination of composites.

We conservatively estimate that when complete this car will have lost at least 250kg (leaving a new dry weight of about 1300kg). If this is applied to the dry weight of the Mondial t then the car would be faster than a Testarossa. Now add a Norwood turbo....

Another advantage of the lower weight is a more agile car that can brake later and change direction faster.

There is some interest from Ferrari specialists who would be capable of carrying out the job of converting a Mondial into the Z but nothing firm as yet.

The Mondial has a great chassis and is unfairly criticised for being underpowered/overweight/dated styling. This does, of course, equate to low prices. So never mind if the body is rusty, recycle the car into a Mondial Z.

Clive