Toniq-R article in the telegraph
Discussion
Grin and Toniq
(Filed: 01/01/2005)
Two young designers are transforming engineering fantasy into production reality. Ashley Hollebone recounts the evolution of the radical Toniq-R
The looks might be striking, but the Toniq-R is no conceptual fantasy from the potent, three-dimensional CAD/CAM tools of a motor industry giant. Rather, it is the fruit of four Huddersfield University students' final-year labours - and it was officially launched during the most recent National Kit and Performance Car Show at Donington Park, Leicestershire.
Initially, Colin Williams, Will Baxter, Angus Fitton and Paul Phillpot intended the Toniq-R as a static design study - but things have moved on apace. While Paul took up postgraduate employment on the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren project and Angus fulfilled his journalistic bent with Top Gear magazine, Colin and Will decided that the Toniq-R had sufficient potential to be a dream worth pursuing.
The words "student" and "money" tend to appear together only when the size of loans is being discussed, but Williams and Baxter were able to develop their project thanks to numerous companies that recognised its potential. Jaguar provided the duo with a number of parts and allowed two members of its advanced design department - Julian Thompson and Stuart Norris - to provide styling tips. Manchester firm HMG supplied free (yellow) paint for the prototype and Aspley Autoparts of Huddersfield (part of the A1 Motorstores chain) donated wheels and accessories worth £1,500. And when it came to logistics, the RAC stepped in.
"We can't thank people enough for their kind help," says Williams, 25. "Whenever we needed to take the car somewhere, the RAC turned up, loaded it on a lorry and off we went."
That was the gateway to a tour of motor shows and exhibitions, where the Toniq-R prototype attracted plenty of positive attention. After declining a number of approaches from would-be investors, Williams and Baxter opted to produce the car themselves in partnership with kit-car manufacturer Stuart Taylor Motorsport in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, which is now taking orders. The car will be available in kit form from £4,000 or ready to run for £16,995. The launch model features a 900cc, 125bhp Honda FireBlade engine but a 1,000cc Suzuki GSXR-powered alternative will be available from February for about £23,000: this is rated at 150bhp - more than 400 per ton. For now, though, customers will have to be satisfied with doing 0-60mph in 4·2sec en route to a top speed of more than 120mph.
"Interest has been overwhelmingly positive," says Ian Gray at STM. "There are lots of companies building things that look like the original Lotus Seven, but this is refreshingly different. Take a look at many other kit cars and you'll notice they've all been designed by men in their forties. The Toniq is fresher and promotes the spirit of the Seven in a much more modern way. It is genuinely a car for the 21st century."
Williams (who has spent time with TVR's design department) and Baxter are dyed-in-the-wool perfectionists who are happy to spend hours fussing over minutiae. It was important to get the Toniq built - but more so to get the detailing right.
Baxter, 24, blames his infatuation on a Ferrari F40 model he received as a 10th birthday gift. "From that moment, I have always wanted to become a member of the Ferrari design team and to own a Ferrari," he says. "It has taken a lot of work and tears to get this far with the Toniq, but it feels as though I'm going in the right direction."
Taken from: http://motoring.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/main.jhtml?xml=/motoring/2005/01/01/emftoniq01.xml
If anyone is interested!
Phil
(Filed: 01/01/2005)
Two young designers are transforming engineering fantasy into production reality. Ashley Hollebone recounts the evolution of the radical Toniq-R
The looks might be striking, but the Toniq-R is no conceptual fantasy from the potent, three-dimensional CAD/CAM tools of a motor industry giant. Rather, it is the fruit of four Huddersfield University students' final-year labours - and it was officially launched during the most recent National Kit and Performance Car Show at Donington Park, Leicestershire.
Initially, Colin Williams, Will Baxter, Angus Fitton and Paul Phillpot intended the Toniq-R as a static design study - but things have moved on apace. While Paul took up postgraduate employment on the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren project and Angus fulfilled his journalistic bent with Top Gear magazine, Colin and Will decided that the Toniq-R had sufficient potential to be a dream worth pursuing.
The words "student" and "money" tend to appear together only when the size of loans is being discussed, but Williams and Baxter were able to develop their project thanks to numerous companies that recognised its potential. Jaguar provided the duo with a number of parts and allowed two members of its advanced design department - Julian Thompson and Stuart Norris - to provide styling tips. Manchester firm HMG supplied free (yellow) paint for the prototype and Aspley Autoparts of Huddersfield (part of the A1 Motorstores chain) donated wheels and accessories worth £1,500. And when it came to logistics, the RAC stepped in.
"We can't thank people enough for their kind help," says Williams, 25. "Whenever we needed to take the car somewhere, the RAC turned up, loaded it on a lorry and off we went."
That was the gateway to a tour of motor shows and exhibitions, where the Toniq-R prototype attracted plenty of positive attention. After declining a number of approaches from would-be investors, Williams and Baxter opted to produce the car themselves in partnership with kit-car manufacturer Stuart Taylor Motorsport in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, which is now taking orders. The car will be available in kit form from £4,000 or ready to run for £16,995. The launch model features a 900cc, 125bhp Honda FireBlade engine but a 1,000cc Suzuki GSXR-powered alternative will be available from February for about £23,000: this is rated at 150bhp - more than 400 per ton. For now, though, customers will have to be satisfied with doing 0-60mph in 4·2sec en route to a top speed of more than 120mph.
"Interest has been overwhelmingly positive," says Ian Gray at STM. "There are lots of companies building things that look like the original Lotus Seven, but this is refreshingly different. Take a look at many other kit cars and you'll notice they've all been designed by men in their forties. The Toniq is fresher and promotes the spirit of the Seven in a much more modern way. It is genuinely a car for the 21st century."
Williams (who has spent time with TVR's design department) and Baxter are dyed-in-the-wool perfectionists who are happy to spend hours fussing over minutiae. It was important to get the Toniq built - but more so to get the detailing right.
Baxter, 24, blames his infatuation on a Ferrari F40 model he received as a 10th birthday gift. "From that moment, I have always wanted to become a member of the Ferrari design team and to own a Ferrari," he says. "It has taken a lot of work and tears to get this far with the Toniq, but it feels as though I'm going in the right direction."
Taken from: http://motoring.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/main.jhtml?xml=/motoring/2005/01/01/emftoniq01.xml
If anyone is interested!
Phil
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