Confessions of an Automationeer, Part 179: A 32nd Birthday Gift

Confessions of an Automationeer, Part 179: A 32nd Birthday Gift

In honor of my 32nd birthday, I have decided to treat myself with another celebratory Automation build - one that, like my previous birthday build, is mid-engined and built around a carbon-fiber monocoque chassis clad in carbon-fiber panels. However, the similarities end there; instead of a flagship '90s supercar (or hypercar), this one is an ultra-light track car with an emphasis on agility and efficiency to compensate for its much lower output. The car in question, the KMA KM310, is intended for submission in a forum competition in the near future, so here it is in its current form.

In its most extreme form, the KMA K310 is a spartan flyweight of a track car whose small size and efficiency help it punch well above its weight.

Although a fully detailed interior (which omits a sound system in its most basic form) has not yet been fitted as of now, I plan to do so for when I am ready to submit this build. It may only be a limited production car (or even a concept) due to its high cost ($57,000 AMU when new), but with its 110-horsepower naturally aspirated 1.0L inline-three driving the rear wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox and helical LSD, it's surprisingly quick off the mark, taking just under 5 seconds to reach 60 mph from a standstill. Moreover, its track-tuned pushrod-actuated suspension, ultra-light carbon-ceramic disc brakes, and narrow yet grippy high-performance tires help it breach the 1g mark on a skidpad with ease. Most amazingly of all, its combination of a flat floor, slippery aerodynamics (<0.2 drag coefficient), low curb weight (515kg in its lightest guise), and small engine helps it return a devilish 66.6 US mpg on the in-game combined cycle - virtually unheard of from any track-focused mid-engined sports car.

In short, the K310 may not be the fastest or most powerful car of its kind, but as one of the lightest and most efficient, expect it to outlast many heavier rivals on a track - and outsmart them on the road.