Factory Five + Subaru = mid-engined roadster!?!

[Niburu]

Mid-Engine, 1,800 lbs., WRX-Based Running Gear... The Next Factory Five

Have you ever wondered what would happen if you stuffed a Subaru WRX motor into something that's mid-engined, rear-wheel-drive, and weighs less than 2,000 lbs.? Because that's the next Factory Five car - a two-seater built around inexpensive and indestructible Subaru running gear. The styling isn't finalized, but I'm imaging something that looks like Lancia Stratos. And if you don't break into a creepy serial-killer smile every time you imagine an affordable, WRX-based Stratos, then you are some kind of weirdo. The car's new wheelbase is locked in at 95" which is a little longer then an Exige."
- Ezra Dyer, Automobile Magazine

Based on tough Subaru WRX running gear, Factory Five's next car has been in development for almost a year. With a space frame designed and tested on SolidWorks software, this single donor car will sell for $9,900. We will use our 15 years of accumulated design and manufacturing skills to deliver a "world car" that can be COMPLETED for less than $15,000.

Single Donor Subaru WRX Running Gear

Factory Five Space Frame Chassis, 95" Wheel Base

Mid-Engine, Rear Wheel Drive Configuration

Target weight - 1,800 lbs.

Two Seater Roadster

No Paint, Gel Coat Panels

-Factory Five

details and downloadable design templates
Grassroots Motorsports / Factory Five / SolidWorks Design Contest: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

The Awards:
First place will receive $5,000
Second place will receive $1,000
Third place will receive $500
Winners will receive an official certificate and the cash prizes above. This design competition is brought to you by Factory Five Racing, the SolidWorks Corporation and Grassroots Motorsports magazine.

The Rules:
1. Contest begins March 1, 2011.
2. Contest ends June 1, 2011.
3. Submission deadline is June 1, 2011.
4. Winners will be announced by June 11, 2011.
5. In consideration for participation in the “Factory Five-Grassroots Motorsports Design Competition” and for eligibility of prizes winnings, participants and entrants in the contest agree that all submissions, designs, drawings, data files and ideas entered into this contest will become the property of Factory Five Racing, Inc., and no material will be returned to participants at the conclusion of the contest.
6. Participants in the contest agree that any and all submissions may be used wholly or in part by Factory Five Racing, Inc., at its sole discretion. These submissions may also be used without limitation by Factory Five Racing, Inc., Grassroots Motorsports magazine, and designated associates, partners and affiliates for promotional purposes.
7. Submissions must be sent in digital format as .JPG or .PDF files. The files, drawings and text in all submissions are the property of Factory Five Racing, Inc.
8. Submissions must include the entrant’s name, address, city, state, zip code, country, and phone contact information.
9. Participants agree in advance that the decisions of the judges panel are final and incontestable. Winners are responsible for any and all local, state, and federal tax liabilities.
10. These rules, terms and conditions are subject to change and this contest is void where prohibited.
11. Employees of Factory Five Racing, Inc., Solidworks, and Grassroots Motorsports magazine are not eligible

[1BADP71]

possible complete failure available here.. could be nice though. I like the price.

won't this be like a boxster ?

[Niburu]

possible complete failure available here.. could be nice though. I like the price.

won't this be like a boxster ?

except you will probably be able to get to the engine without putting on a lift
or paying Porsche prices for parts

[1BADP71]

except you will probably be able to get to the engine without putting on a lift
or paying Porsche prices for parts

yep .. but I wouldn't buy a porsche myself.. I would buy a subaru though.. I love the 2001 wagons.

[Niburu]

I looked at a used Boxster once....I was like "where's the engine? I mean I know where it is but how do I get to it?"
the salesman "oh you can only get to it from underneath, but you can check the oil from up top and put oil in coolant in"
Then I asked "how am I supposed fix anything?"
and with a puzzled look he said "just take it into a Porsche dealership"
that's when I just walked away

[TPNORTH]

There is a guy on a subaru forum who took a celica frame swaped a wrx motor and made it rwd so pretty much what this is.He altered the body tho to give it better looks. Subaru and toyota have been talking about making a boxer rwd coupe for a while now

[Niburu]

There is a guy on a subaru forum who took a celica frame swaped a wrx motor and made it rwd so pretty much what this is.He altered the body tho to give it better looks. Subaru and toyota have been talking about making a boxer rwd coupe for a while now

hardly the same
this drivetrain is going into an in-house built space frame chassis
it's going to be MID-ENGINED rwd not FR
this will be more like a Tommy Kaira ZZ-s or Lotus Elise

[Niburu]

The guys at Grassroots Motorsport select a "Pick of the Week" from the design submissions received each week until June 1st. We will be posting on this thread each weekly winner. Being selected as a weekly winner does not mean that the design will win overall, just a fun way to show off a few of the great customer submissions for the next Factory Five.

Week 1 Winner for March 4

Week 2 Winner for March 11
(my fav so far)

Week 3 Winner for March 18

Week 4 Winner for March 25

Week 5 Winner for April 1

[Niburu]

Leonardo Castilho - Week 6 Co-Winner for April 8


Sam Pourbehi - Week 6 Co-Winner for April 8



Tim Brewster - Week 7 Winner for April 15

Alessio Minchella - Week 7 Co-Winner for April 15


Sebastian Mihai - Week 8 Co-Winner for April 22

[zhillz]

I guarantee the price will be double that.

[Niburu]

I guarantee the price will be double that.

Based on what?

Their Cobra build kit comes in under $14k, the '33 Ford kit is $20K but there is no donor vehicle.
This is supposed to be FFR's budget build, I'm sure they'll be right near the 10K mark for the base kit,
and then probably another $5K for additonal accessories (like a hardtop).

[zhillz]

Cobra - the base kit is shit you need a ton more. the complete kit is still missing drivetrain rear end wheels etc and is 20k plus shipping

They are going to do the same thing, offer a 'base kit' for 10k which fucks you by shorting a ton of essentials making you buy the donor car. How much can you get a wrx for ?

I know the average cost to build a GTM is 45-50k or over 2x the cost.

[Kabron]

This sounds promising. I'm all for a fast ass grocery getter on teh low. Can't wait to see designs.

[Niburu]

Cobra - the base kit is shit you need a ton more. the complete kit is still missing drivetrain rear end wheels etc and is 20k plus shipping

They are going to do the same thing, offer a 'base kit' for 10k which fucks you by shorting a ton of essentials making you buy the donor car. How much can you get a wrx for ?

I know the average cost to build a GTM is 45-50k or over 2x the cost.

none of their build kits include the drivetrain
thats why they are considered KIT cars
Thats how it works, they're not saying the total build cost is going to be $10K

In my area I can find early WRX's for between $5-7K wrecked ones for around $3K.
If it goes like previous cars their will soon be donor pallats of all the necessary parts available.

[zhillz]

It says final production cost to be 15k, COMPLETED. I say nay.