Confessions of an Automationeer, Part 170: Light Fantastic

Confessions of an Automationeer, Part 170: Light Fantastic

Recently, I asked myself a question that I had been thinking about ever since the latest version of Automation became a stable release: "What if the LVC LS60 were a lighter, more spartan roadster powered by a smaller and less powerful, but higher-revving engine? The resulting LS60 4.0 Spyder was a more hardcore, pared-back interpretation of one of my favorite designs.

Above from top: The LVC LS60 4.0 Spyder may not have the extreme speed and exquisitely trimmed interior of the original, but it's a lighter, harder-edged beast that's better optimized for the purist. In fact, I may prefer it in its current form compared to its earlier incarnation.

With its 4.0-liter V12 engine delivering 500 bhp at 9,500 rpm (500 shy of its 10,000 rpm redline) and 330 lb-ft at 7100 rpm, this is a car that thrives on revs. To account for this more frenetic nature, I had to revise the gearing, brakes, and suspension accordingly, and it worked a treat - especially since the fitment of a sports interior and premium CD player (as opposed to the original's hand-made interior and luxury CD player) lowered the weight to just 1072 kg, even with the weight slider set to its heaviest value for reliability's sake. In addition, this lack of mass helped me get away with fitting sports tires instead of more track-focused semi-slicks, although an even more stripped-out, track-focused version with less standard equipment remains on the cards.

The dyno sheet for the 4.0-liter V12 engine powering the LVC LS60 4.0 Spyder. 500 bhp from 4000cc and a 10,000 rpm redline would have been absolutely staggering in 1995, and still impressive today.

In short, this latest version of my pet project may not be as overpowered as it once was, but it's still not for the faint of heart.