Piontek Engineering has developed a prototype vehicle it calls the TwinTech. The track-oriented — yet road-legal — car weighs just 1120 pounds, with 50:50 weight distribution. It has a 95-inch wheelbase and 60-inch track. Power comes from a 125 horsepower S&S Cycle 124 cu. in. V-Twin engine with peak torque of 125 pound-feet. Zero to 60 takes just 4.5 seconds, and the TwinTech can pull 1.1g on the skidpad. Braking from 60 to zero takes a mere 108 feet.
The car is built around a steel chassis constructed of 1 3/4 swept tubing. Several other components — including brake calipers — are machined from billet aluminum. The car rides on 17-inch Kosel forged wheels wrapped in matching Goodyear F1 tires. Sparco Evo seats provide good support for spirited driving on and off the track. Gallery after the jump…
10/02, 3:28 PM
posted by:
Thomas
Whoa! Mad Max… here’s your ride!
10/02, 3:42 PM
posted by:
GL1
This thing looks like an Absoute BLAST to drive. When are they going to offer these things for sale and i wish they would have said what they were going to seel for. I hope it isn’t too much I’d like one of these, loads of fun to drive down PCH.
10/02, 3:48 PM
posted by:
Kenny W
Looks like it would be a fun toy.
10/02, 3:52 PM
posted by:
Andre Neves
Looks like the one on top gear, what was the name of that thing?
10/02, 3:53 PM
posted by:
Endurancevm
Similar to the Ariel Atom, but worse. This doesnt look as elegant as the Atom, and doesnt have the 300hp supercharged engine of the Atom. Unless this is cheaper than the Atom, i would rather have the latter.
10/02, 3:53 PM
posted by:
1c3d0g
I’d rather drive a superbike.
10/02, 3:54 PM
posted by:
truong
ariel atom
10/02, 4:10 PM
posted by:
anti_analog
If it’s cheap and street legal, that gives it an advantage over the Atom, even though it’s definitely not as beautiful a design, and some people won’t like the V-2 engines.
10/02, 4:18 PM
posted by:
Piablo
Personally, this would be my answer to driving a smaller vehicle. I bet the mileage on this thing is great. Cargo capacity could be taken car of with a trailer like they did with the Prowler. I’d drive it to work, and have some fun with it! Prius, or this…Prius, or this…
10/02, 4:26 PM
posted by:
Renton
This will be the first application of a S&S/Harley v-twin that can actually turn and brake effectively.
10/02, 4:41 PM
posted by:
peter g
One Ariel Atom, please.
10/02, 10:31 PM
posted by:
mblommel
Any reason given as to why they decided to use the engine from a chopper when there are so many sportbike motors waiting for good homes?
10/02, 10:56 PM
posted by:
Renton
mblommel — I thought the same thing. Then I tried to think of a better motor for this application.
S&S, while it is a primitive design, it has been tweeked to the max.
The shortness of the block, air cooling, torque to weight ratio. Moderate power at high speeds.
No doubt a Hayabusa motor could kill this thing, but it would be more complicated and expensive.
Italian V-Twins from Aprilia and Ducati are all liquid cooled in the high perfomance models, so more complications.
The design just works with this engine.
10/02, 10:59 PM
posted by:
Renton
On second thought, a Triumph Rocket motor, fitted behind the front axel, under the hood would be great.
10/03, 4:32 AM
posted by:
Aston_
Thats not a car, thats a bike with 4 wheels!
10/03, 9:04 AM
posted by:
novicius
Another vote for the Atom over this thing.
10/03, 10:46 AM
posted by:
Jon Luc
Looks to be a cross between a Caterham & one of those Corbin cars a few years ago that also had a engine posted the same way. V-Twin in the front isn’t a new idea, Morgan’s had them back in the 1920’s
10/03, 10:58 AM
posted by:
savedsol
I highly doubt this will see the light of day if the VW GX3 couldn’t
10/03, 12:42 PM
posted by:
theshadow
WoW! The Atom is probably way quicker but there’s just something about this thing…can’t stop smiling just looking at it!
10/05, 12:16 PM
posted by:
AdamT
Cool. Everyone points out the Atom connection, but the Atom is like $50k. This little ride is obviously less car, but if the price is right the value can still be there. As minimal as these suckers are, can’t someone put together one for cheap? It is just a toy, after all…
10/07, 7:22 PM
posted by:
Renton
savedsol–”I highly doubt this will see the light of day if the VW GX3 couldn’t”
I think VW’s leagal dept. pot the kabosh on this. The GX3 was viable b/c it was a motorcycle (3 wheels or less), and therefore did not have to pass automobile safety regs. It is a shame.
Maybe some small firm will buy it and sell it seperately, the GX3 is a very cool and doable concept.
This thing is a car ( 4 wheels), but I guess it will be sold as a kit car, so you have to install the drivetrain seperately. It is only way around the regs.
I hope it makes it.
It is getting too expensive to have fun these days.