The Carbonfibre Arash AF8 Is Proof That Supercar Start-Ups Love V8s

Start-up supercar companies: you've gotta love 'em. These firms so rarely succeed, yet they keep coming out of the woodwork; just recently we've had Zenvo with its flaming ST1, W Motors and Mazzanti. The latest ambitious company to showcase its wares is British organisation Arash, which today unveiled its production-ready AF8 after several years of development.

The company does have a handful of former models, but very few of each example were made. For the AF8, Arash is taking the commonly trodden supercar start-up route of keeping things nice and conventional. The mid-mounted engine is nothing exotic; lift the engine cover and you'll find the tried-and-tested 7.0-litre LS7 Chevrolet V8. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a normal six-speed manual gearbox, and the suspension system features ordinary oil-filled dampers.

Arash has added a carbonfibre intake system and upgraded exhaust though, so the V8 is good for 550bhp and 472lb/ft. The chassis is a tubular steel affair, coated in a carbonfibre body, so this car is light. It tips the scales at just 1200kg, giving an estimated 0-60mph time of 3.5 seconds, and a top speed of 200mph.

Arash is charging £165,000 for the AF8. That doesn't seem so steep considering the promising performance, but the whole car looks a bit clumsy and low rent. The side profile is particularly unflattering, while it looks like the designers forgot to do anything with the rear.

Time will tell if this is another ambitious supercar project to go down the tubes, but if you want to see this thing in the metal, it'll have its public debut at Geneva next week.