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Old Aug 21, 2008 | 10:05 PM
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Default Splinters f-ing suck

Can you imagine wrecking this bitch?

The world's first wooden supercar has been unveiled - and it's faster than a Porsche or a Lamborghini.

The 'Splinter' car can turn out a whopping 700bhp from its twin supercharged, 4.6litre V8 engine - almost 300bhp more than a Porsche 911.

And with a top speed of a staggering 240mph, it will leave the Porsche or even the brand new Lamborghini Revanton trailing in its wake.

Wooden supercar: The vehicle is faster than a Porsche

The entire car, which is made from a combination of maple, plywood and MDF, weighs just 1,134kg - some 240kg less than the super lightweight Porsche.

The eco-friendly two seater, which is fitted with a six-speed, manual gearbox, can sprint from 0 to 60mph in just over three seconds.

But despite its awesome power, designers say the stylish petrol driven car will still be able to do up to 20mpg.

Designer Joe Harmon, who is head of the project, said: "Wood is a truly amazing material to work with.

"It has a higher strength-to-weight ratio than aluminium or steel, and it possesses a versatility that makes many different types of construction techniques possible.

"The look, feel, and smell of a natural material like wood is not seen elsewhere and cannot be faked, and the satisfaction involved in making something from a piece of wood is awesome.

"This is a supercar designed to push boundaries and prove the potential of wood as a material."

Carefully carved: The car is made completely out of wood

The 15ft-long car has a laminated wood veneer chassis and wooden wheel rims inside giant 20 inch diameter tyres.

Suspension is provided through laminated wooden arms and springs made from orange wood.

Joe, from North Carolina, US, added: "The light weight is achieved through careful design and composite construction.

"The Splinter is not made from any carved-out, solid chunks of wood, but rather moulded laminates."

Under the bonnet: The wooden car can reach a top speed of 240mph

The car is due to hit the road later this year. The design company, Joe Harmon Design, has not yet decided on a price for the supercar.

And according to 27-year-old Joe, it might not be long before Formula One star Lewis Hamilton is behind the wheel of a wooden car.

He said: "An F1 car could definitely be made from wood.

"Some extremely creative engineering would have to go into it to overcome the strength-to-weight and mouldability benefits of carbon fibre, but it's definitely possible.

"Getting permission to race it would probably be a bigger challenge than engineering it. But it would be fun to try."

Drivers are kept safe by a roll cage which also stiffens the chassis and defines the rear profile of the car.


Old Aug 21, 2008 | 11:41 PM
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I'm not sure how comfortable I'd be going 240mph in a wooden car. It might make a good coffin though.
Old Aug 21, 2008 | 11:52 PM
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Until you leave it outside one day and it ****** warps.
Old Aug 21, 2008 | 11:54 PM
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Originally Posted by Savington
Until you leave it outside one day and it ****** warps.
Guess that'd be a better end for it than termites.
Old Aug 22, 2008 | 01:20 AM
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having to keep the car in a temperature controlled room never get any water on it or hit anything ever...sounds like a pos
Old Aug 22, 2008 | 09:08 AM
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No pics it didn't happen. yes i see the CGI and a 10% completed car.
Old Aug 22, 2008 | 09:28 AM
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WTF @ JohnDoe's avatar.

I sure hope the cage isn't made out of wood. Wood springs, interesting.
Old Aug 22, 2008 | 09:38 AM
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I don't trust anything that comes out of a garage with "Tiddy Pink" walls.
Great craftsmanship, but wrong application for sure.
Old Aug 22, 2008 | 10:25 AM
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I'd be paranoid to do anything more than a test drive in that car. I suppose that with enough engineering it could be safe, but I'd be afraid the thing would just grenade on any impact because there would be no give in the structure.
Old Aug 22, 2008 | 10:40 AM
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Nothing new however.....there was a kit back in the 50's or 60's in "Hot Rodder" mag that you could make with 2x4's.
Whole new meaning to "Woodie"....
Old Aug 22, 2008 | 04:22 PM
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I would just like to point out since December 17, 1903 many airplanes have been built out of wood the Wright brothers used it, and it is still used by many today. The frame of my plane built in 1997 is Sitka spruce, and aircraft plywood. Would I build a car out of wood? No, but I would borrow from more modern aircraft construction, and use steel tube and fabric.
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