Once again the Melbourne International Motor Show will host a new Australian-designed sports car when the show opens on March 3, 2000.
For many years the Melbourne show has been the venue for aspiring Australian designers to showcase their ideas and test market reaction to their dream cars.
March 2000 will see the debut of the Kira, a two-seater, turbo-charged PERFORMANCE sports car weighing just 550kg and featuring a precise and sophisticated ride and handling package.
The modern, sleek and muscular design was penned by Robert Kane, the detail mechanical engineering is credited to Gabriel Furlane while construction and project integration has been the realm of Andrew Clarke.
Together, these enthusiastic professionals have an impressive combination of experience working in the Australian automotive industry. Two years ago they formed a company - Clarke Kane Design and began the daunting project of building a performance sports car starting with a clean sheet of paper.
The prototype Kira will have a 100kW turbo-charged 4-cylinder engine and 5-speed gearbox mounted ahead of the rear axle and driving the rear wheels. This set up, together with the low weight, is expected to provide acceleration from 0-100km/h in about five seconds.
The chassis is an aluminium monocoque fabrication. Its design results in an extremely stiff and light platform for the Formula One-style double wishbone long-travel suspension. The targeted characteristics for this road-going race car include a supple ride with precise, controlled handling and roadholding.
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