The Exocet is now available from Flyin' Miata!
08-13-2013, 03:59 PM
#1
The Exocet is now available from Flyin' Miata!
We haven't been this excited about a new product for a while. Seriously, a few of the FM staff are looking at their own Miatas in a different light right now.
Flyin' Miata Exocet
The Exocet first appeared a few years ago in the UK. It's basically a space frame that takes the "rollerskate" from an NA or NB Miata, bolting directly on to the front and rear subframes. You simply lift the Miata body off the drivetrain and suspension and drop the space frame on top. Voila, you've lost about 800 lbs of weight while keeping the Miata's excellent handling. There are about 450 of them terrorizing UK roads and racetracks, as well as a handful in the US.
Exomotive, the US importer, decided to take a second look at the frame and have come up with a new design that is dramatically stiffer than the original while also incorporating improved safety. This new design is being produced in Atlanta, Georgia. We've been talking to them over the course of development, and the first of the US-built customer frames will be our shop car.
We'll be selling kits, pallet donors and turn-key cars. So you can take apart a Miata and build your own, order everything you'll need in one big package or simply drop by FM and pick up your new car.
Naturally, we're going to develop some Exocet-specific parts to make the build even more successful. Once we've built our test car we'll have a better idea of what that might be, but we've got some ideas already. We'll also be able to help with setup of your own Exocet so you extract the maximum performance out of the critter.
Prices start at $5999 plus shipping.
Have any questions? Check out our FAQ. Feel free to ask more here, it's a work in progress. The big ones? Yes, an LS3 will fit. And yes, an FM turbo kit will fit just fine. Even our silicone intake tubing slips right in. The Exomotive demo car runs an FM II.
Here's some on-track video we put together of the Exomotive car when it visited our Summer Camp last week. This particular car is missing all the bodywork and sports the optional rear wing mount. We had to use a 480 hp V8 Miata as a camera platform.
Flyin' Miata Exocet
The Exocet first appeared a few years ago in the UK. It's basically a space frame that takes the "rollerskate" from an NA or NB Miata, bolting directly on to the front and rear subframes. You simply lift the Miata body off the drivetrain and suspension and drop the space frame on top. Voila, you've lost about 800 lbs of weight while keeping the Miata's excellent handling. There are about 450 of them terrorizing UK roads and racetracks, as well as a handful in the US.
Exomotive, the US importer, decided to take a second look at the frame and have come up with a new design that is dramatically stiffer than the original while also incorporating improved safety. This new design is being produced in Atlanta, Georgia. We've been talking to them over the course of development, and the first of the US-built customer frames will be our shop car.
We'll be selling kits, pallet donors and turn-key cars. So you can take apart a Miata and build your own, order everything you'll need in one big package or simply drop by FM and pick up your new car.
Naturally, we're going to develop some Exocet-specific parts to make the build even more successful. Once we've built our test car we'll have a better idea of what that might be, but we've got some ideas already. We'll also be able to help with setup of your own Exocet so you extract the maximum performance out of the critter.
Prices start at $5999 plus shipping.
Have any questions? Check out our FAQ. Feel free to ask more here, it's a work in progress. The big ones? Yes, an LS3 will fit. And yes, an FM turbo kit will fit just fine. Even our silicone intake tubing slips right in. The Exomotive demo car runs an FM II.
Here's some on-track video we put together of the Exomotive car when it visited our Summer Camp last week. This particular car is missing all the bodywork and sports the optional rear wing mount. We had to use a 480 hp V8 Miata as a camera platform.
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08-13-2013, 07:41 PM
#2
Keith, I'm interested in a write-up of the construction, additional parts requirements, and requirements for road legality. Also, all-in price (given a road-worthy stock miata as a parts car) for as basic a home-build as possible. This might make a good motorcycle alternative.
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08-13-2013, 07:58 PM
#3
We'll document the construction of our own car, of course. The frame should be on the way here soon.
Requirements for road legality vary by state. Read this. Your DMV is also a good source of information - really. The biggest thing that's missing right now is a windshield and wiper solution. Exomotive claims they've never been asked for one, but I suspect that's because the majority of existing builds are still titled as Miatas. Check with your state on that one.
"As basic as possible" means you're going to reuse things like seats, wheels/tires and semi-consumables like the radiator. I'm also going to assume you keep your existing suspension. Start with a Base kit ($5999) and add shipping ($500-1000 depending on your location). Lights will run about $200 depending on how you do it. Fuel and brake lines have to be bent up, as it's difficult to re-bend the factory ones. Paint for the frame (rattle can or brushed POR-15) plus replenishment of various spilled fluids, etc. I'd say that you could get one on the road for $7250-$7500 or so, assuming middle of the road shipping costs and assuming a net zero cost for the Miata. This is based on what I know now and from investigating the Exomotive car, I'll know more once I've built ours.
I've added some of these answers to our FAQ, thanks.
Requirements for road legality vary by state. Read this. Your DMV is also a good source of information - really. The biggest thing that's missing right now is a windshield and wiper solution. Exomotive claims they've never been asked for one, but I suspect that's because the majority of existing builds are still titled as Miatas. Check with your state on that one.
"As basic as possible" means you're going to reuse things like seats, wheels/tires and semi-consumables like the radiator. I'm also going to assume you keep your existing suspension. Start with a Base kit ($5999) and add shipping ($500-1000 depending on your location). Lights will run about $200 depending on how you do it. Fuel and brake lines have to be bent up, as it's difficult to re-bend the factory ones. Paint for the frame (rattle can or brushed POR-15) plus replenishment of various spilled fluids, etc. I'd say that you could get one on the road for $7250-$7500 or so, assuming middle of the road shipping costs and assuming a net zero cost for the Miata. This is based on what I know now and from investigating the Exomotive car, I'll know more once I've built ours.
I've added some of these answers to our FAQ, thanks.
Last edited by Keith@FM; 08-13-2013 at 08:28 PM.
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08-13-2013, 08:13 PM
#5
Well done.
From the little research that I did when I was considering building a spaceframe car several years ago, some people use simple liquid spray bottles and run a hose from the bottle in the cockpit to a windshield washer squirter placed in the hood. Squeeze bottle, squirt windshield. Total cost ~ $10. For a winshield wiper, drill a hole through the bottom of the windshield, connect a **** to an unnecessarily short winshield wiper. As you turn the **** from the inside, the wiper wipes the glass on the outside...
Of course I'd never use either of those, they would be there merely for road legality's sake - and likely removed after titling... Primary windshield protection would be head mounted. With those comments about windshield nuances, I know you're doing your diligence.
From the little research that I did when I was considering building a spaceframe car several years ago, some people use simple liquid spray bottles and run a hose from the bottle in the cockpit to a windshield washer squirter placed in the hood. Squeeze bottle, squirt windshield. Total cost ~ $10. For a winshield wiper, drill a hole through the bottom of the windshield, connect a **** to an unnecessarily short winshield wiper. As you turn the **** from the inside, the wiper wipes the glass on the outside...
Of course I'd never use either of those, they would be there merely for road legality's sake - and likely removed after titling... Primary windshield protection would be head mounted. With those comments about windshield nuances, I know you're doing your diligence.
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08-13-2013, 08:30 PM
#6
What's missing isn't a windshield wiper solution, it's a windshield AND wiper solution. There's no off-the-shelf option for glass at the moment. I know how I'd do a DIY windshield, and I know Exomotive is working on something. But at the moment, it's DIY only.
Wipers are fairly easy, you can get devices as you describe for boats. The Lucas system is an excellent option for a more permanent installation as it's designed for easy modification for various vehicles from Mini to Rolls Royce.
I've been involved in home-built cars for about 8 years now
Wipers are fairly easy, you can get devices as you describe for boats. The Lucas system is an excellent option for a more permanent installation as it's designed for easy modification for various vehicles from Mini to Rolls Royce.
I've been involved in home-built cars for about 8 years now
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08-14-2013, 07:28 AM
#12
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When I was out at The Mitty in 2012 at Road Atlanta, Exomotive had one out and I took a look at it and did a bunch of talking about it. If I was not going to build a locost 7 then I would probably have one of these in my garage within the next year.
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08-14-2013, 08:02 AM
#13
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Sure it's a harder build, but it also doesn't look like ***.
EDIT: Glad to read they've improved the spaceframe, from what I've read/seen the first incarnation wasn't brilliant.
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08-14-2013, 09:14 AM
#18
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I don't get the "copy Atom with the open sides" look. When you're that low, other cars kick up all sorts of crap. I don't want to have to wash my pants every time I go for a drive.
Thin sheet metal (like a locost) doesn't add much weight, and it keeps the thing from being so open. Less airflow means you can drive it in the fall without freezing.
Thin sheet metal (like a locost) doesn't add much weight, and it keeps the thing from being so open. Less airflow means you can drive it in the fall without freezing.
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08-14-2013, 11:16 AM
#20
Like it or not, the exposed exoskeleton is a look. If you want a side panel, go ahead and rivet one on. The racers in the UK do that for debris protection.
Those exposed sides do maximize elbow room while allowing for a high sill. That's good for safety, I'd much rather be t-boned in an Exocet than in a Seven replica.
I haven't seen one in person with the full body yet, but without it you're drawn by the pure functionality of it all. I don't think anyone who was at our Summer Camp noticed if the car was ugly, but they were lining up to sit in it. And everyone who took it on track came back laughing like a loon.
The level of detail in the new frame is excellent. Exomotive has worked over every aspect of the design, from slots and tabs in the laser-cut tubes to improve consistency when the frame is welded up to having custom dies made so the bends are well under required minimum deformation specs. The torsional rigidity of the new Sport chassis is something like 4 times that of the original. We have FEA numbers, but we're not quoting anything until actual testing has been done. And of course, it has real roll protection now.
A few more pics for you.
Overlay of a Miata and an Exocet frame.
Race version with wings. I believe the final rear wing position is higher than in this rendering.
Sport with wings - the correct final location.
Sport without wings.
Those exposed sides do maximize elbow room while allowing for a high sill. That's good for safety, I'd much rather be t-boned in an Exocet than in a Seven replica.
I haven't seen one in person with the full body yet, but without it you're drawn by the pure functionality of it all. I don't think anyone who was at our Summer Camp noticed if the car was ugly, but they were lining up to sit in it. And everyone who took it on track came back laughing like a loon.
The level of detail in the new frame is excellent. Exomotive has worked over every aspect of the design, from slots and tabs in the laser-cut tubes to improve consistency when the frame is welded up to having custom dies made so the bends are well under required minimum deformation specs. The torsional rigidity of the new Sport chassis is something like 4 times that of the original. We have FEA numbers, but we're not quoting anything until actual testing has been done. And of course, it has real roll protection now.
A few more pics for you.
Overlay of a Miata and an Exocet frame.
Race version with wings. I believe the final rear wing position is higher than in this rendering.
Sport with wings - the correct final location.
Sport without wings.
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