Confessions of an Automationeer, Part 182: War Wagon

Confessions of an Automationeer, Part 182: War Wagon

With QFC47 on the forums still in its final judging phase, I'd like you to take a look at the car I created and submitted for it: the '98 AMS Acolyte 420SW.

Above: The '98 AMS Acolyte 420SW may look like an ordinary 5-door station wagon, but it conceals the heart of a true sports car under its hood.

After reviewing the brief for QFC47, I decided to throw the kitchen sink at it, by teaming its 340-horsepower 4.2-liter naturally aspirated V8 with some of the best equipment I could afford with the $38k AMU budget: a helical AWD system with additional helical limited-slip differentials, a 5-speed automatic gearbox (electronically controlled this time), 18-inch alloy wheels with low-profile high-performance tires, large ABS-assisted vented disc brakes at each corner, driver and passenger front and side airbags, traction and stability control, a full premium interior with a high-quality stereo system and CD player (simulated with a multitude of 3D interior fixtures), and fully independent suspension at each wheel (dual wishbones up front with a multilink rear), tuned for a balance between sportiness and comfort. The end result was meant to be a one-size-fits-all performance car with seating for five, more than enough luggage space for all of them, and all-weather everyday usability - and indeed it was.

Even with all the weight of so much standard equipment, the flagship Acolyte could still sprint to 60 mph from a standstill in just 5.2 seconds, while providing cornering figures comparable to a genuine sports car from the same era. The fact that it didn't have to sacrifice practicality to achieve its awe-inspiring performance was just a bonus. Moreover, this was my first attempt making a fully detailed interior for anything with this body style, and I was quite impressed by how it looked. In short, this war wagon is proof that you can satisfy your head and your heart when you need a true performance car.