Okay, okay, it's called the Climax Sports Racer. Let's get that out in the open now so we can move on...

Alright, the Climax Sports Racer is a quite splendid looking race car set to rival the Caparo T1 and the more hardcore stuff that comes out of Hethel. All British makers say stuff like that though, so what's so great about a Climax? (Stop it!)

Interestingly, it was conceived back in 2006 by a group of design students at Coventry University, but unlike most university projects, each one won't be knocked up in its entirety by someone wearing a baggy hoody and flip flops the night before it's due to be delivered.

It will cost £92,000 when the first of a total batch of just 200 are built, each powered by a 4.6-litre Ford V8 with 354bhp and 305lb.ft, but because it weighs just 900kg it'll go like, well, make your own analogy up about the Climax. It's rear-drive, with power going to the back axle via a six-speed gearbox. A four-second (or less) dash to 62mph is expected, nay, demanded at this end of the market, although the Speedster will have to be more than just quick if all 200 are to sell. We'll find out soon enough.

Mark Nichol - 21 Dec 2009