V8 Supercars makers are busy these days figuring out plans on how their next generation car that is expected to be launched latest by 2012 will look like and work. There was an interesting feature in a recent edition of V8X Magazine, highlighting some interesting issues about the proposed car of the future. Tony Cochrane, the Executive Chairman recently made an announcement of a committee that will look after next generation V8 Supercars. The committee is to be headed by Mark Skaife, the touring car champion for five long years, and the terms of reference for the committee are only that the car should have a V8 engine and it should cost less than $250,000.
There have been some proposals from some quarters that the next generation Supercars be small like Cruz or Focus rather than Commodore and Falcon. However, Commodore is very popular in Australia, and it is quite a risky proposition moving away from this model, which has more selling volume than any other racing car. It may prove to be a good move to fit the V8 engine in Cruz or Focus, provided these models become as popular as commodore in a few years time. But, right now they are not, and that is why it is critically important that the market’s feed back is taken on these models, and the diehard fans of V8 Supercars are consulted before going for such a drastic strategic shift in policy. Even if Cruze or Focus turn out to be quite popular, there is the technical issue of squeezing the V8 engine in a space smaller than Commodore and Falcon.
If the racing cars retain the body of Commodore or Falcon which is more likely, there is a general concern that it must be cheaper than its current rate of half a million dollars. The company that is spending about $250,000 in developing the engine must try to make it cheaper. It is of no use making the car highly technical as it presently is, and spending so much on little areas of things that give power to the car. Although, it is the committee’s business to take the decision, but it might be a good move on the part of the committee to involve the stakeholders as well.
