New car companies come and go every day. Some have the capacity to create legendary supercars like the Saleen S7 and others simply cannot get the formula right. Carbontech is one of the small companies currently trying to make a splash in the market with their first car which was completed in 2006. The main difference between Carbontech and some other manufacturers, is that their models are sold as kit cars for the consumer to build and configure how they choose.
The Redback Spyder is the first car to be designed and built by the team at Carbontech and the results are quite good. The car looks like a race car and features a lot of racing technology, yet can be built in your garage. With all the racing technology utilized in this car it is fair to say that most will only use this on the track, but the company did abide by Australian regulations during its construction to make the car street legal.
After its introduction at the Melbourne Auto Show in 2006, the car was scheduled to make rounds throughout the world in order to find prospective customers. If things catch on then the company also plans to sell it in the United States. Kit cars target a very specific buyer who has the technical know how and the time to build their own machine. Other companies like Factory Five Racing have developed flawless kits that sell great in our market and it will be interesting to find out whether an Australian company can manage to do the same.
Exterior and Interior
The race car inspired design of the Spyder is made and finished by hand. The process to create this body is very delicate and uses carbon Kevlar formed over the top of a heat proof core. The large rear wing is also made out of carbon fiber and has a built in brake light.
The inside of the Carbontech Spyder is all about racing. Two very supportive MOMO racing seats complete with 5-point harnesses sit ready and waiting to hold your body snug throughout the race. Aluminum and carbon fiber trim abound completing the sporty look and race car attitude of the Spyder. It does include one creature comfort which is a DVD and surround sound system set inside the custom dash.
Engine
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| Carbon Tech Redback Spyder Engine |
The small and lightweight body sits on top of a semi-monocoque space frame that has been made flexible enough to use many different powertrain options. The factory tends to choose the LS1 V8 engine provided by Chevrolet. This engine is capable of making 450hp and 550 Nm of torque all the way up to its 6300rpm redline. The use of a quality six speed transmission provided by Getrag means increased reliability through proven components. The race car can really be seen when checking out the suspension. An fully inboard setup allows for the most variability during track days and increased performance in the bends.
Pricing
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| Carbon Tech Redback Spyder |
Buying your own Carbontech Spyder will be no cheap affair. Be prepared to shell out around $185,000 USD for one. Then you have to build it and paint it, for which we recommend the paint job from the factory model with the Red stripe sliding down the back.
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| Carbon Tech Redback Spyder Rear |
