2016
Radical RXC Turbo 500
Introduced
in late 2012, the RXC Coupe arrived to give Radical Sportscars a road-legal car
(in some countries) that had a roof to keep the elements out. Additionally, it
arrived with optional air conditioning, carpeting, and more goodies to make
road travel a little more comfortable. For the 2015 model year, the RXC Turbo
arrived with a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 with 454 horses and 500 pound-feet of
torque. Now with the 2016 model year looming and Radical looking to best its
existing Nurburgring record, the automaker has released the RXC Turbo 500,
which is essentially a hopped-up version of the RXC Turbo.
Boasting
all the race-car goodness that made the 2014 RXC so awesome, the RXC Turbo 500
takes things to a whole new level of insanity. But awesomeness aside, is the
RXC Turbo 500 really worth the scratch that Radical is asking for it?
The
RXC Turbo 500 will retain the Le Mans LMP-like look. Imagining seeing one of
these on the road makes me chuckle a bit, but after a second or two I would be
star-struck.
The
RXC Turbo 500 will also carry on with the gullwing doors that require a little
dexterity to slide through, a pile of air intakes, and that massive rear wing.
Yeah, this car’s design is certainly true to its name: Radical.
Much
like the exterior, the interior is not affected by this upgrade. This means
that the RXC Turbo 500 features the same multifunction steering wheel,
electrically adjustable mirrors, air conditioning, heated windshield,
adjustable pedal box, Corbeau-trimmed, FIA-compliant seats, and six-point
racing harnesses. Like the model it’s based upon, buyers can also order bepoke
items for the cabin.
The
drivetrain is what really matters in this update, as Radical took the RXC Turbo
and cranked it to about 12 or 13 by boosting its 3.5-liter EcoBoost’s output to
530 horsepower, which is a 76-horsepower jump. Torque, on the other hand, falls
from 500 pound-feet to 481 pound-feet for some unexplained reason. This insane
amount of power results in a 0-100-mph time of 6.8 seconds and a
40-80-mph time of just three seconds, which is best in the class.
The
power bump is courtesy of a pile of new parts, including a pair of new
high-performance, water-cooled Garrett GT28 turbos; Owen Devel Devel opments
twin-phase anodized actuators; a revised, fluid-optimized intake manifold;
high-performance Ford injectors; a fuel rail upgrade with an improved flow
rate; a race-ready fuel regulator; high-flow, Ni-resistant alloy manifolds; a
larger-diameter exhaust system; and a LIFE engine management system.
Delivering
the goods to the rear wheels is an RPE/Quaife seven-speed transverse gearbox
with paddle shifters. This transmission rams through the upshifts in 50
milliseconds, and auto throttle blips make for easy clutchless downshifts. Out
back is a Quaife Automatic Torque Biasing differential for ideal traction in
the corners.
The
brakes comprise 350 mm front and 310 mm rear floating rotors clamped by
six-piston calipers. As an option, buyers can swap out the metallic rotors for
a set of carbon-ceramic units that not only reduce unsprung weight, but also
reduce brake fade. 17-inch, center-lock rollers round out the
keep-it-on-the-track bits.
Radical
didn’t go into pricing, but we already know that the RXC Turbo runs £ 107,500
(US$ 164,975) (VAT excl.), so don’t be shocked to learn that
this upgrade to the 500 tacks on an extra £ 20,000 (US$ 30,693) to
£ 30,000 (US$ 46,039).
