After 32 years of development, the Covini Engineering team claims this is the production version of the six-wheeled C6W it finally is unveiling this week. The future is now.
The unusual sports car takes its engineering inspiration from the Tyrell P34 Formula 1 race car of 1976. The Tyrell had two pairs of 10-inch front wheels to improve downforce, increase traction and provide a smaller frontal area to reduce drag.
Although the specific engineering behind the Tyrell P34 doesn’t necessarily translate to the C6W, when we spoke to company founder Ferruccio Covini two years ago he provided several reasons why he’s creating his modern-day six-wheeler.
Covini says his unusual design provides:
* Less risk of front tires deflating.
* Less risk of aquaplaning.
* Better braking.
* Better grip.
* Better comfort.
* Better absorption of frontal impact.
Covini now tells us he’ll finally bring what he calls a “production version” of the Covini C6W to the Racing Professional Motor Show in Bologna this week. Power for this rear-wheel-drive, six-wheeled beast comes from a 4.2-liter Audi channeling 433 horsepower and 346 pound-feet of torque through a six-speed manual gearbox. Top speed is expected to be 185 mph.
But that’s not all. Covini also let slip that Covini Engineering will prepare a new diesel supercar next year along with a new, as yet unnamed project. Look for announcements from the show. And for the moment, sate your thirst for six-wheeled awesomeness with this video of a prototype C6W on the track:
We have to love the idea of any car that follows the maxim, “If two wheels are bad and four wheels are good, then six wheels must be awesome.” But as always, we’ll believe it when we see it in the cold metal and six-wheeled flesh.
source: wired
