A key supplier to Formula One based in Derby has announced it has designed and developed its own lightweight sportscar.
Mulholland Automotive, part of the Mulholland Group, which is based at Westside Park, in Belmore Way, has unveiled the new car called the Legend 480.
Drawing upon 20 years of supplying components to F1 team and supercar manufacturers, the company has designed and developed the two-seater sportscar, which is powered by V8 engine.
The car, which has been dubbed the 480 after the amount of horsepower it can produce, follows the blueprint of the classic British sportscar; front engined, rear-wheeled drive and manual, with a stylish, sculptured design.
The business has now started taking orders for the car and Graham Mulholland, owner of Mulholland Automotive, is hoping it will prove popular.
He said: “As one of Europe’s leading advanced component engineering manufacturers, we have been a specialist supplier to most high-profile motor racing teams, along with practically every premium branded niche-vehicle manufacturer, which we will continue to supply.
“The Legend 480, however, enables us to showcase our technology, expertise and capabilities to a much bigger global audience, plus it enables us to celebrate the combustion engine before moving to emerging technology, which we want to help co-develop.
“We want these new vehicles to be halo for our group activities.”
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Mr Mulholland believes that the Legend 480 is the natural successor to the TVR sportscars.
He said: “I’m an ex-TVR owner and I count myself privileged to say I worked with the famed previous owner Peter Wheeler on various cheeky projects.
“To me, the marque excelled by true principles of what a sports car should be and delivered a truly, exhilarating, driving experience.
“The Legend 480 as our first vehicle will replicate a proven formula, but we will be using the latest advanced manufacturing know-how and a world class supply chain to achieve an expected quality and ownership experience.
“This purity, however, will translate through our use of technology and our experiences we have in our team at our disposal. We can move quickly and be very credible.”
In order to transform his dream into a reality, Mr Mulholland turned to former TVR design chief and long-term friend of the Mulholland Group Damian McTagget to sketch and sculpture the Legend 480.
The car’s carbon fibre chassis and bodywork will be developed by Mulholland Composites, using the exact processes developed and used to produce F1 and GT racers alike.
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And the car will be built at the Mulholland Group’s state-of-the-art Derby factory.
Mr Mulholland said: “The Legend 480 is a truly focused machine - great design underpinned by superior engineering produced by an incredibly experienced and well-established team.
“We are ready to start production and take customers with us on a journey.”