Farbio concentration, second action. About a year ago (British number EVO 113) we had the opportunity to ride on the first automobile development of this manufacturer. Then it was set in motion with a 264-horsepower 3-liter V6, of course, atmospheric; And now, after eleven cars produced, the performance may continue. Now a version with a compressor appears on the stage, which claims to be the main role.
Completely unfamiliar with Farbio? Well, we give a brief certificate of this manufacturer so that you at least roughly imagine what is about. So, for the first time this car was introduced in 2002 under the name Farboud GTS, built on Audi elements: a chassis was taken as a basis, as well as the V6 engine with Twin-Turbo. In 2004, Chris March (ex-employee of Marcos and Invicta) joined the project, who, two years later, collected enough investments that would be enough to build a full-fledged car with a moderate price. Later it was decided to abandon, practically, the race motor of the German manufacturer, which had a capacity of 446 liters. With., as well as other elements. Therefore, now on the car there is another pendant with dual transverse levers, as well as a quite ordinary V6 from Ford, with a capacity of 264 liters. With. When we rode Farbio for the last time, we were informed that a new version with the same V6 would be released soon, but already with a supercharger. Promised an increase in the area of 90 liters. With.
And now — before us the very first GTS350. He was “old” for only five days, and in the hands of his owner he barely rolled 320 km. But, its owner — Dr. Mark Kent is not a simple owner. In addition to the usual everyday robot, which is reflected in the prefix to his name, Mark is a member of the Trimar Sports Cars of Barnet club. This is such a garage of restrained tones, in which people who are in the club are entered at the same time, drink tea, communicate in a friendly atmosphere, exchange thoughts, sell and buy cars from each other. This GTS350 is a personal car of Mark, but nevertheless he generously agreed to give us to try it out in the morning. But we will have to return it to lunch — the real buyer of this model wants to spend the rest of the day behind her wheel. Parked on the spot, he already seduces, only with his appearance: pure, modest, virgin fresh, professionally decorated. He looks much more neat and attractive than a pair of Noble, parked aside. You approach him and look closely at the subtle work of masters of bodybuilding, admiring the most beautiful body made of black carbon fiber in black.
A specially woven carbon fiber is a highlight present at Farboud, and which it was decided not to refuse. Chris march, which today will make us a company on a trip, does not get tired of admiration for telling about the merits of this material. “This material has two main advantages,” he says, “small weight compared to fiberglass, and the possibility of easier and more accurate honing of forms from it, which helps reduce and improve the joints between the details. Also, the carbon is much tougher in twisting and does not become more fragile when the temperature changes, like fiberglass, while it remains the same solid ”.
Chris continues his story — that if the body was from Fiberglass, he would weigh a third more. There is a reason in his words, since the GTS350 with its 1066 kg of weight becomes an absolute winner of its class in terms of power to mass — 333 liters. With. /ton (for comparison, at the main opponent, Porsche 911, with a weight of 1415 kg, this indicator is on a bar of 245 liters. With. /ton). However, this car is not the final product that will get to other customers. On this car, Rotrex compressor has a 110-mm pulley, but on other versions it will be replaced by a 95-milimeter. “Having reduced the size of the pulley, it will be possible to reduce inertia,” the march explains, “while the turbine blades will have a higher return and work under high pressure. At the moment, the power of the motor is 325 liters. With., But when there will be a new pulley, as well as an re -“reflashed” electronic engine control unit, it will be possible to achieve the desired power, in this case — 355 forces ”.
We start moving, headed by our tester, John Barker, who is behind the wheel. It is he who will lead the first. He tested the very first Farbio model, and the march is unable to find out his impressions compared to the previous model, how much the car has grown since then. After 30 km, we will park in Chilterns. “A very cheerful motor,” says John, “power is enough with his head, but the engine does not want to splash it out right away, and this is bad.».
We change places, climb into the salon again, opening long doors. Holding with one hand by the A-shaped rack, I lower my head and shoulders in the cabin, and then I sit in the seat myself. The first thing I immediately contact in the cabin is, in fact, the seats. You can evaluate the SPARCO Milano seats only with the word “excellent”, they hold perfectly and are very convenient. The interior is made in the spirit of minimalism — from separate parts, only air ducts can be distinguished, audio control, and a huge touch screen in the center. All this is surrounded by carbon inserts. Before picking up the gearbox lever, make sure your fingers are low -fat after breakfast, otherwise you easily stain its thinnest skin. The same applies to the steering wheel, with beautiful aluminum inserts. Having looked closely, you do not notice any flaws or uneven joints — which is a very normal phenomenon for small -scale machines. Farbio also has a 220 -liter trunk, but it is, as they say, “for a checkmark” — you are unlikely to throw your things there, into this niche of pure carbon. You will simply be afraid to lose the gloss and grooming of this trunk. And, God forbid, if you still hook the exterior when you put things in this niche.
In fact, the only weak point of this car is the engine. I feel that even if there was a less inert compressor and a more productive ECU unit, there would be no particular difference. Even warming up the V6 engine, the motor behaved very constrained, lazy, refusing to play with the driver. It seems and I want to inflate the speed, and the pedal is drowned, but there is no sense. Only even growth in the entire speed range, switching and … nothing. The transmission works flawlessly, but “tight” mechanics from Ford does not reach the necessary power — everything, the moment of acceleration is missed. And all this is accompanied by a hoarse sound in the style of old sports cars. But this is not a drawback — at sufficient speeds, namely at 4000 rpm, the sound becomes more noble and even sports. Give in to gas, and the engine will burst with a hard baritone, which will sing up to maximum revolutions, which will be achieved after 1,500 rpm. And the exhaust is always heard. And he brings more impressions than the power unit itself. “The changed supercharger will eliminate this problem,” assures the march, “there will be 0 pressure will be 0. 5 bar, now we have 0. 2 bar «.
Of course, the torque curve will change with the new compressor. Now the power graphs are hiding — it is understandable, because the machine is not completed! That’s right, why show, because up to 4500 rpm is almost dead — I’m afraid that our Impreza STI 330S will get ahead of the GTS with a big advantage, because it accelerates and gains speed, like a torpedo. After a pair of accelerations at Farbio, I was convinced that he would never be able to accelerate to the “hundreds” for the declared four seconds. Quickly, but not in four seconds. From a car of this class, but with a carbon body, you are waiting for more. So, for now, all the words and assurances of the march look like a childish babble.
The only significant change that will not be changed, but it would be necessary — the steering power steering. Unfortunately, he makes the steering wheel too sluggish and light, and only in corners he returns to the “dialogue” with the driver and is filled with effort. John Barker says that he really likes how the car behaves in corners, the answers of the steering wheel and reaction of the car are always justified. But as soon as the car is on a direct section and some kind of pothole comes across, the car has to be caught, and, given the force on the steering wheel, actually blind. And this despite the fact that the suspension has become softer — thanks to the modifications and a frozen stern. The geometry of the front suspension has changed a bit, and this “a little” is alarming — before it has become less sensitive, according to Barker, and this even more shares the driver and the car. Not everything is smooth in the suspension, it seems to us that it should still be finalized.
Farbio, as for a deputy car, is a very good car-he is fascinating, funny, quickly travels, but 350S is not an explosion of emotions, although, in theory, they should be. The insufficient power of the V6, which must be raised, will turn a little with the suspension — and it turns out exactly what the march wanted to create. Well, we will follow their successes.