This concept car, presented recently at the 2008 Detroit Motor Show, takes as platform the chassis of the prototype Courage C65 of the LMP2 class that participated in the 2005 American Le Mans series championship. The engine used is rotary, has 3 rotors and delivers a power of 450 hp. This drive called “20B” is powered by E100 ethanol and is coupled to a 6-speed AER transmission.
The fact of implementing a rotary engine in a racing car is not only in keeping with Mazda's tradition of developing this technology. It also recalls the much-deserved victory of the Mazda 787B with rotating engine at the 1991 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Now it turns out that this Furai concept would be a way to express the brand's intention to return to the legendary Le Mans competition in the very near future.
The exterior design of the Mazda Furai Concept was carried out at the Mazda Design Center in Southern California. The project was led by Franz Von Holzhausen. The technical development of the prototype was carried out by Swift Engineering, an American company with experience in racing car development.
Swift Engineering's premises were to collaborate with Furai Concept designers. Through computer-simulated fluid dynamics studies, they were able to ensure that the design guarantees a good aerodynamic coefficient, high aerodynamic load and effective ventilation for the rotary motor operating at a very high temperature.
“In this prototype we managed to find a great balance between aesthetics and functionality.”
Another interesting example of Swift Engineering's development is the air intake system for the engine. Optionally to the traditional F1 car snorkel, this system includes a kind of fin that alters airflow forcing the surrounding air, clean and turbulently, to penetrate under pressure into a NACA style shot.
This device avoids turbulence and air flow interruptions that traditionally affect monopods or other vehicles with snorkel type.
The project involves other partner companies such as BBS (tires), Brembo (brakes), Castrol (lubricants), Kumho (tires), Motec (electronics), Nippon Paint (paint) and Sparco (seats).
Mazda managers highlighted with great pride having presented a functional prototype, mentioning that many concept cars do not even work, they are just real scale models. The Mazda Furai Concept not only works but was tested by a professional driver on the American circuit in Laguna Seca (Monterey, California).
© Adrián Blanco 2008 - Prohibited the total or partial reproduction of text and/or images without explicit written consent of the author. —
