Jetstream unveils new box of tricks

British sportscar manufacturer Jetstream is poised to enter the lightweight sportscar market with their unique two-seater SC250 model, now in production after extensive testing. Take a look under the bonnet.

The mid-engined, road-legal, rear wheel drive two seater SC250 is now in production after completing an extensive testing programme, following the unveiling of the prototype at the Autosport International Show at Birmingham's NEC in January.

The extreme styling of the SC250 was penned originally by Brian Rossi, formerly of Ford, who was responsible for designs such as the "Retro" Ford Thunderbird launched in 2002.

The revolutionary look of the car is as functional as it is striking.

It was created to be as aerodynamic as possible to balance grip, traction and straight-line speed, with the radical hard edges and flat surfaces making the SC250 stand out strongly against its rivals.nextpage

Lurking under the engine cover of the SC250 is the same 2.0 litre Ecotec Turbo Twin-Cam 16-valve powerplant and six-speed transmission that appears in the Vauxhall Astra VXR, producing 250bhp as standard.

The engine can be run on either unleaded or bio-ethanol. The latter fuel increases performance by around 10 per cent.

With the SC250 weighing in at a mere 700kg, an astonishing power-to-weight ratio of 357bhp-per-tonne is achieved, propelling the car from 0-60mph in less than four seconds and to a maximum speed of 165mph.

A quarter of a mile run from a standing start takes just 11.8 seconds. The car's torque is also impressive, with 236lb.ft generated at 2,400rpm.

For a car of this performance, a combined unleaded fuel economy of 38mpg ensures running costs are not excessive.nextpage

The SC250 is designed and engineered to deliver optimum high performance behind the wheel, whether on the road or racing track.

Fundamental to the SC250's creation was the extensive use of advanced CAD (Computer Aided Design) and CAS (Computer Aided Simulation) software.

Simulation software was then used to create any driving situation Jetstream desired and – crucially – was used to compare the SC250's performance against rival cars.

The resulting data meant Jetstream could predict accurate reactions when the prototype was built.nextpage

The lightweight, hand produced composite body is coupled to an aluminium monocoque chassis with steel sub-frames front and rear.

Side impact safety is aided by the honeycomb monocoque side panels that also benefit the car's rigidity by eliminating any "flexing" of the structure.

Specially designed suspension ensures premium handling regardless of speed and road conditions.

Both front and rear suspension consist of unequal length wishbones with fixed coil over shocks supplied by Netherlands-based Intrax, the company owned by Henk Thuis who was formerly Michael Schumacher's suspension guru at Benetton F1.nextpage

Stopping power is impressive. The Tilton twin brake system features balance bar bias adjustment and ventilated 285mm front discs, with 278mm rear discs and standard General Motors calipers.

Lightweight 16 inch alloy wheels on the front and 17 inch on the rear coupled with exceptional grip from Toyo Proxes tyres enhance the SC250's handling, with road legal track tyres available as an option.

The engine management system is controlled by an Emerald ECU and includes two settings - standard for general road use and sports for track use.

Colours range from'Cornish Gold' to 'Rossi Red' - these water-based paints are more enrironmentally friendly, provide a better finish and are easier to touch up than standard automotive paints such as cellulose.nextpage

The precisely built interior cabin is designed to complement the driving experience, with a horizontally adjustable driving seat for comfort.

The custom moulded composite seats – available in two sizes - are upholstered in high-grade vinyl and can even be customised.

Willans 4 point harnesses are standard, with a 5-point version available as an option, ensuring maximum security for the driver and passenger as well as ensuring stability when performance driving.

The digital and analogue dash display is from SPA and is programmable to add features depending on a driver's specific requirements.

The SC250 has also been designed to suit all year round usage with the addition of a water-fed heating system.

A power point for an iPod, mobile phone or GPS system is provided as standard.nextpage

Jetstream claim the practicalities of owning the SC250 are also more beneficial than many similar cars.

Using parts from General Motors/Vauxhall, it can be serviced at almost any garage, with most parts freely available.

The composite body panels are held in stock by Jetstream and can be sprayed to match a customer's car as required – avoiding unnecessary delays in waiting for a specialist body shop to 'patch and match'.

Cars are now being built at Jetstream Sportscar's production HQ in Cornwall and take six to eight weeks to build, depending on each customer's specification.

The company plan to manufacture 50 cars over the next year, with an uprated 300bhp version of the SC250 planned for early 2009.

The car is prived at £29,495 OTR and includes a full 12 month parts and labour warranty subject to conditions, excluding optional extras.