3 Great Experimental vehicles that reshaped the future
These cars tested new tech to the limit and broke new ground
Automotive companies have always tried to experiment with new ideas for their vehicles, and these cars were the best way to do this. Whether they were focusing on safety, developments in engineering, or aerodynamics, these manufacturers set new boundaries for future technology.
Credit: Car and Driver
1. Chevrolet Engineering Research Vehicle
The first CERV was unveiled in 1960, showcasing the race-style car's developments in ride and handling for Chevrolet's future models. To get a true feeling for handling, the CERV-1 was made to be very power dense, with a 350 horsepower V8 featuring aluminium and titanium parts only to keep the weight as low as possible. It was ready to run at 726 kilograms, leaving it with a power-to-weight ratio better than the original Maserati 250F that competed in Formula 1 .
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The CERV-II was a completely different machine. Introduced just four years later, in 1964, the second revision of the Chevrolet Engineering Research Vehicle was produced to be a rival to the Ford and Ferrari endurance racers of the period. It would be suitable for long-distance events like Le Mans, with four-wheel drive to keep it stable in tough conditions, a strong monocoque chassis and about 500 horsepower from its mighty 8-cylinder powerplant.
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Many years later, in 1986, the CERV-III was shown as the Corvette Indy. It had 4-wheel drive and 4-wheel steering, as well as multiple screens in the cockpit. Soon, the CERV-III was revealed, retaining the technology previously seen in the Corvette Indy, as well as a carbon fibre monocoque chassis and computer-controlled suspension. If it had come to production, which was certainly considered, this interesting machine would have cost between $300k and $400k.
Credit: Remarkable Corvettes
Finally, the CERV-IV was birthed. Unlike the other iterations, this one was a test bed rather than a concept car or a research vehicle. In 1992 and 1993, Chevrolet used this test mule, which was nothing more than the 4th generation Corvette, to test the engines of the upcoming model. It cost $1.2 million, so Chevrolet kept it secret from GM management. The IV-A used an all-new prototype 5-litre engine, whilst the IV-B opted for the larger, more shouty 5.7-litre power source.
Credit: Classic Driver
2. Mercedes-Benz C111
In the 1960s and 1970s, Mercedes were experimenting with new engine technologies, using the C111 as a test bed for these brand-new powerplants. The first model, from 1969, featured complex multi-link suspension at the rear, gullwing doors that were reminiscent of the 300SL that came over a decade before it. Its interior was rather luxurious, trimmed in leather and using air-conditioning. The C111 was low-slung and gorgeous, but that's not even the start.
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To keep weight to just 1100 kilograms, a fibreglass body shell was used. The first two versions, dubbed C111-I and C111-II (shown above) respectively, were powered by a three (I) or four-rotor (II) Wankel engine, both producing around 350 horsepower. It had even been tested up to an impressive 186 miles per hour. When this car was revealed to the public, many orders were placed, although Mercedes were adamant that they would leave it as an experimental vehicle.
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Soon, the rotary engine was ditched in favour of a 5-cylinder turbodiesel. The C111-IID had a design similar to the second model and produced 188 horsepower, but the III adopted a new, much more aerodynamic style and, at just 4,500 RPM, pushed out 228 horses. Its streamlined bodywork allowed it to set new top speed records for diesel vehicles - it could reach a mind-boggling 200 miles per hour. However, this would clearly not become a production car at all.
Credit: Top Gear
But clearly, that wasn't enough for Mercedes. They took it one more step further with the C111-IV, powered by a 4.8-litre twin-turbocharged V8. It had 500 horsepower and, with an even more aerodynamic body coupled with drag-reducing fixtures, managed to reach a truly incredible speed of 250 miles per hour. That's right: 250mph. This speed was only broken in a production car by the Bugatti Veyron 35 years later, and that had twice the amount of power. Impressive.
Credit: SuperCars.net
3. Oldsmobile Aerotech
Built to push mechanical engineering and aerodynamic design to the limit, the 1986 Aerotech is easily the most interesting car ever made by Oldsmobile. Performance technology was its main priority, but they also managed to keep weight down to 726 kilograms using carbon fibre. With this, the body of the Aerotech was built around a March 84C IndyCar chassis, and was smooth as well as sleek to keep down the drag coefficient and maximise top speed.
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General Motors needed a way to showcase the potential of their advanced Quad-4 engine. They exploited its performance capabilities by bolting on a turbocharger, with the 150 horsepower 4-cylinder now producing in excess of 900hp. In the longtail version, there was a slightly different version of the Quad-4, now with two smaller turbochargers to reduce lag and improve stability of the longer, more slippery car. This Quad-4 managed to make over 1,000 horsepower.
Credit: Hagerty
Driving the car would be racing legend A. J. Foyt, who, although initially doubtful of the car's capabilities, was amazed by its stability at high speed. This was mostly down to the adjustable flaps on the underbody of the Aerotech, providing massive amounts of downforce. The short-tail car hit 250mph on a closed track, almost matching the speed of the C111-IV, but the more streamlined and more powerful longtail model managed an impressive 267 miles per hour.
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With some improvements, the short-tail also made it past the C111-IV's closed-course record at 257mph, whilst the longtail, after a flying mile run in two directions, attained a speed in excess of 275mph. The last of the Oldsmobile Aerotech models, built in 1992, is shown above. The team swapped out the Quad-4 for an Aurora V8, and made a few changes to the design. This vehicle broke an astonishing 47 speed endurance records. Forty-seven records. Let that sink in.
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Comments (5)
Love reading about concepts. Thanks for the article
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it ;)
Xj220 was a similar design
Way ahead of time
Fascinating. Thanks for the read
No problem! Glad you liked it :)