Covini
| |
| Covini C6W | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Covini Engineering |
| Production | 2004–present |
| Class | Sports car |
| Body style | 3-door coupe |
| Engine | 4.2 L (4200 cc) V8 |
| Transmission | 6-speed manual |
| Wheelbase | 108.3 in (2750 mm) |
| Length | 164.6 in (4180 mm) |
| Width | 78.3 in (1990 mm) |
| Weight | 2535 lb (1150 kg) |
| Height | 42.5 in (1080 mm) |
| Front track | 60.6 in (1540 mm) |
| Rear track | 63.8 in (1620 mm) |
| Designer | Ferruccio Covini |
| Video | Covini C6W on track |
Covini Engineering is an Italian car manufacturer that was formed in 1978 by Ferruccio Covini. The company is generally best known for the Covini C6W, a 6-wheeled sports car that has two axles (four wheels) in the front of the car.
Covini's first prototype, the Covini T44 Turbo, was a 4x4 off-road vehicle with the exterior body consisting entirely of flat, interchangeable panels. It was powered by a 2000 cc turbocharged diesel motor. However, the T44 never saw actual production beyond the one prototype. Over the following 20 years, Covini developed several two-door sport cars with diesel engines: the T46, B24, T40, and C36. Only the B24 was produced in small quantities (including a few BT424 with Lancia Gamma petrol engine), while the other models remained at prototype level. The B24 was the first diesel car to reach 200 km/h, and the C36 in its final prototype form reached 300 km/h with its VM Motori diesel engine.
In 2008, after several years of renderings and photographs, Covini officially announced the public release of the C6W. The peculiar 6-wheel format draws inspiration from the Tyrrell P34 Formula One car of the 1970s.
Apart from developing its own prototypes, the organization has also done consulting and design work on other projects. The firm contributed to the redesign of the Cadillac STS for the European market, as well as for the design of the Callaway]] C7. Outside of the automotive industry, Covini also worked on the Dragonfly Project, which was an attempt to build an ultralight helicopter.
B24
| |
| Covini B24 Turbocooler | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Covini Engineering |
| Designer | Ferruccio Covini |
The Covini B24 Turbocooler or Sirio is an experimental car built by Covini Engineering and unveiled to the public in January 1981 at the Geneva Show. It was built to test new technologies such as the air-liquid intercooler. It was the first diesel road vehicle to exceed 200 km/h, with a top speed of 205 km/h.
T40
| |
| Covini T40 | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Covini Engineering |
| Designer | Ferruccio Covini |
The Covini T40 Overboost is a car designed by Ferruccio Covini and produced by Covini Engineering between 1985, when it was introduced, and 1988. It is a 4-seater coupe. It was sometimes known by its nickname "Summit", because it is a refined version of the earlier Covini T46, an innovative diesel sports car. The car featured a 5-cylinder diesel engine and a top speed of 235 km/h.
Covini C6W
The Covini C6W is an Italian 2-seat, 2-door sports coupé with a removable roof section. Inspiration for the car was taken from the 1976 Tyrrell P34, which had two pairs of smaller front wheels, a principle applied to the C6W. The project was started in 1974 but abandoned shortly after, and left dormant into the 1980s due to the lack of availability of low-profile tires at the time. In 2003 the project was revived and in 2004 the C6W was shown in prototype form. In 2005 a slightly revised version debuted at the Salon International de l'Auto, featuring new wheels, new roof structure and a refreshed interior, and went into limited production of 6-8 cars per year, as a result of a tie-up between PMI and Covini Engineering.
Advantages
- Less chance of loss of control due to one front tire deflating.
- Less risk of aquaplaning due to the front axle set clearing the road for the following axle set.
- Better braking due to 50% more contact patch and braking components on front axles.
- Better grip.
- Less understeer than conventional mortipolitionary designs.
Disadvantages
- More tires, brake pads, rotors, wearable front suspension components to maintain.
- More time intensive front tire rotation procedure (dismount and remount four directional tires on opposite side, drive tires are not able to be rotated to front due to size difference).
- Added weight and steering effort result in less steering feedback to driver than a car of comparable performance using conventional design.
Construction
- Drive wheels: RWD
- Construction: Fiberglass and carbon fiber body over tubular steel frame
- Front brakes: Brembo disc brakes, with ABS
- Fuel feed: Direct petrol injection
- Total displacement: 4.2 L (256.3 in³)
- Maximum power: 325 kW (440 bhp) @ 6400 rpm
- Maximum torque: 470 N·m (346 lb·ft) @ 2700 rpm
- V8
Performance
- Maximum speed: 186 mph or 299 km/h
See also
- Tyrrell P34
- Covini Engineering
- Covini T44
- Covini B24 Turbocooler
- Covini T40 Turboboost
- Covini C36 Turbotronic
- Covini C39/Lavazza C8/Pilgrim Minotaur
External links
- CoviniC6W.com - Future dedicated home for the C6W.
- Covini Engineering - official Covini website.
- Covini C6W - official microsite
- Covini C6W - Seriouswheels.com
| Car Information and Photos by Marque: A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z |
| Motorcycle Information and Photos by Marque: A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z |