Acura/HPD's future plans - Page 134

WMUCarGuy · 20 Jan 2015, 19:18 (Ref:3494554)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chiana

Yeah don't think the relatively mild cartoon images of that Haberthur entry, or whatever the team was called, still quite match the Bimmer here

Anyhow, finalized ARX-04b frontal view

My girlfriend mentioned the new ESM livery looks like the car got attacked by slimer!

Deleted · 20 Jan 2015, 19:57 (Ref:3494570)

Glad she didn't say Flubber

Quote:

Originally Posted by J Jay

Although ESM will probably be a bit kinder than that. I was looking forard to seeing the "Te___a Pa__n" banner down the side of car as well

How about
"*e*****-**tron"

But the germans would prob sue them or some shiz

Deleted · 21 Jan 2015, 15:19 (Ref:3494821)

DiZinno/Dagys report that the HPDs are running "slightly overweight" but that it should be fixed for Sebring.

Also the late built second chassis that did not run earlier in testing has only done 30 shakedown laps at Sebring, so surely that one is gonna be full of gremlins...

**joeb** · 21 Jan 2015, 18:20 (Ref:3494881)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chiana

DiZinno/Dagys report that the HPDs are running "slightly overweight" but that it should be fixed for Sebring.

Also the late built second chassis that did not run earlier in testing has only done 30 shakedown laps at Sebring, so surely that one is gonna be full of gremlins...

I was wondering where the extra weight is hidden? Is the new tub and components really that much heavier than the old HPD P2's who at one time competed at 825kg? I would have thought a 940kg base weight would be easily achieved.

Deleted · 21 Jan 2015, 19:38 (Ref:3494929)

Don't think you can really compare this coupe to the old open tops. At least "slightly overweight" doesn't sound like the utterly ridiculous +75kg Kolles CLM has had in LMP1

And in any case the Oak coupes are apparently running over the min weight too (Krohn even with 40 kg break). With HPD you can understand it as the chassis are brand new but with those it makes no sense

Maelochs · 21 Jan 2015, 20:00 (Ref:3494939)

^ Agree. it's not like With/HPD don;'t have a lot of experience at building cars that weigh 900 kg and work well. I am surprised to hear the new car can't hit 940. Maybe it has armor plating to help it survive the DPs?

Deleted · 21 Jan 2015, 20:06 (Ref:3494940)

Armor plating

Don't really think it matters in any case, avoiding DNF in debut race is gonna be difficult especially for the second chassis that's had hardly any laps at all. It's all dress rehearsal for the other series and LM

**joeb** · 21 Jan 2015, 21:13 (Ref:3494959)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chiana

Don't think you can really compare this coupe to the old open tops. At least "slightly overweight" doesn't sound like the utterly ridiculous +75kg Kolles CLM has had in LMP1

And in any case the Oak coupes are apparently running over the min weight too (Krohn even with 40 kg break). With HPD you can understand it as the chassis are brand new but with those it makes no sense

Yes, the Krohn was said to be "slightly" over 900kg. Don't know if that is 2kg, 10, or 15? Also if Shank is "slightly over 940kg, maybe the HPD is a heavy engine?

ThatGuy · 21 Jan 2015, 21:20 (Ref:3494965)

They could be beefing up the suspension or other parts to deal with the banking?

**joeb** · 21 Jan 2015, 21:40 (Ref:3494976)

A video tour of the new 04b.

http://www.racer.com/videos/item/112...h-allen-miller

kvenom · 27 Jan 2015, 16:31 (Ref:3498024)

Always love these views, onboard from Daytona:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKjclXQUVS8

Deleted · 10 Mar 2015, 17:23 (Ref:3513742)

So as you might've read already, it's all gone to hell for the new coupe. Now HPD presser says they want to be back next year (Dagys claims no races this year with ESM) with 'fully prepared car' and all that, plus offering it to customers - but with the new LMP2 spec rules quite possibly just around the corner, who will want to commit to the car at that point?

ESM not sticking around with the old open tops possibly beyond Sebring and Silverstone but rather switching allegiances to Oak Coupes (first non-HPD commitment since getting rid of the GT2 Ferraris) is a bit worrying too.

This is just pure speculation, but maybe HPD has been disappointed with the recent P2 meetings and is quietly closing down the shop for the class? Because IF they aren't in those proposed 4 manufacturers selectd for 2017, what's the point in running the car for 1 year + 1 grandfathered year?

And if they are in the projected 4 manufacturers, the only place to run HPD engine in the modded chassis is gonna be in the US, not WEC. There was an interview where they said NO to having rebranded powerplant.

Victor_RO · 10 Mar 2015, 17:24 (Ref:3513743)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chiana

(first non-HPD commitment since getting rid of the GT2 Ferraris)

I thought they were planning to at least continue with the HPD engine?

Gingers4Justice · 10 Mar 2015, 17:27 (Ref:3513744)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chiana

This is just pure speculation, but maybe HPD has been disappointed with the recent P2 meetings and is quietly closing down the shop for the class?

I wondered that at first - but why not just announce you're pulling out? Tacitly admitting you've made a bit of a duff car is hardly the best way to leave.

Deleted · 10 Mar 2015, 17:31 (Ref:3513746)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Victor_RO

I thought they were planning to at least continue with the HPD engine?

True. But engine deal versus full chassis is still going a bit left field

I thought that the old open top was still relatively competitive in the few WEC races they did last year

**joeb** · 10 Mar 2015, 17:33 (Ref:3513748)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gingers4Justice

I wondered that at first - but why not just announce you're pulling out? Tacitly admitting you've made a bit of a duff car is hardly the best way to leave.

Exactly. I think HPD is going to fix the car and have it available next year to any teams that want it. I doubt many in the WEC will want it with the impending regulation changes, but IMSA will continue to allow variety of chassis/engines so most of the sales efforts should be directed there.

J Jay · 10 Mar 2015, 17:38 (Ref:3513751)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gingers4Justice

I wondered that at first - but why not just announce you're pulling out? Tacitly admitting you've made a bit of a duff car is hardly the best way to leave.

If there's a chance they could still be one of "The Four" then they wouldn't want to go public with a potential withdrawal. Besides there is still a US market to sell to so there may be some redirection of energies going on.

Deleted · 10 Mar 2015, 17:42 (Ref:3513755)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gingers4Justice

I wondered that at first - but why not just announce you're pulling out? Tacitly admitting you've made a bit of a duff car is hardly the best way to leave.

It could be softer, quieter way to go out rather than make any implications on 'real reasons' at the present moment (ACO surely has NDAs for them as well). Saying that the car still needs work when they've only done just one race with 'okay' performance, and none in the actual FIA circles isn't really admitting defeat I think.

When Aston reverted to Lola after the AMR-One fiasco they too said something along the lines that the work continues on the development of AMR-One rather than say it had been already long binned.

Pandemonium · 10 Mar 2015, 17:59 (Ref:3513761)

HPD failed. LOL Onroak must be throwing a party right now. That is the way Americans make cars anyway. I feel really bad for ESM, hopefully they can make it better next year.

Starfish Primer · 10 Mar 2015, 18:01 (Ref:3513764)

In my opinion the manufacturers are finding that creating a P2 from scratch in the cost targets is a very hard task. Most of the previous designs were based on the Courage LC75, so they have been able to do the job because a lot of the R+D work was already done.

Perhaps the market itself is pushing to the ACO proposed 2017 regulations.

Deleted · 10 Mar 2015, 18:04 (Ref:3513765)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pandemonium

That is the way Americans make cars anyway.

Not this again.

Pandemonium · 10 Mar 2015, 18:30 (Ref:3513771)

You bet

. My question is how is this going to happen money wise? Will HPD give ESM a part of their money back or what?

templer · 10 Mar 2015, 18:32 (Ref:3513772)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pandemonium

HPD failed. LOL Onroak must be throwing a party right now. That is the way Americans make cars anyway. I feel really bad for ESM, hopefully they can make it better next year.

What has this to do with how Americans make cars.

The HPD ARX-04b was designed by Wirth Research in Great Britain and only the engine was developed and supplied by HPD. The car's design was even not paid by HPD, it was paid by Honda which is a large difference. So where is this a american car ????

Deleted · 10 Mar 2015, 18:47 (Ref:3513775)

Quote:

Originally Posted by templer

What has this to do with how Americans make cars.

Don't pay attention, he just loves slamming everything American from time to time just because.

wdave0 · 11 Mar 2015, 15:15 (Ref:3514147)

It really has everything to do with how Wirth make cars and it surprises me that neither they nor their customers have figured it out yet.

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