Luxury takes a back seat in VŪHL’s 05 production-bound track car

By Stephen Edelstein August 23, 2013

VŪHL 05 doesn’t really sound like the name of a car, but soon it just might be. The decidedly minimalist VŪHL (pronounced “vool”) debuted at the Goodwood Festival of Speed last month and could be heading to production soon.

The VŪHL 05 is a track day car, similar to the KTM X-Bow and BAC Mono. That’s why it looks like half a car: it’s designed for performance driving first; practicality is a distant second.

The open top VŪHL is 146 inches long, 73 inches wide, and 44 inches tall (the same as a Ford GT). It has an aluminum chassis with a steel subframe for the engine and rear suspension. The body, or what little there is of it, is made of plastic.

The lightweight chassis and lack of bodywork make the 05 extremely light; it weighs just 1,532 pounds. Buyers looking to shed even more weight can specify a carbon fiber body.

Powering the 05 is a 2.0-liter turbocharged Ford EcoBoost four-cylinder engine. It produces 240 horsepower and is connected to a six-speed manual transmission. VŪHL says the 05 will do 0 to 60 mph in just over four seconds.

VŪHL will also offer a 285 hp version with a 3.7-second 0 to 60 mph time.

People often refer to car interiors as “cockpits,” but even an F16 is more luxurious than the 05. Drivers sit in carbon fiber bucket seats. Luxuries are limited to a data acquisition system, integrated GoPro camera, and a fire extinguisher.

The VŪHL 05 is on sale now in the United States and United Kingdom for a base price of $89,000; the 285 hp version adds $3,700 to the sticker. It’s being built in Mexico City and deliveries are expected to start before the end of the year.

Track day cars are becoming more popular, with new models like the 05 continually crawling out of the proverbial woodwork. Can such a small niche support so many cars? Hopefully, the answer is yes.

Is a track day car like the VŪHL 05 worth it? Tell us in the comments.

Topics

Photo Galleries

Stephen Edelstein

Contributing Editor

Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…

Cars

Rivian R2 vs. Ford Mustang Mach-E: Will the R2 be a better buy?

Side of the Rivian R2

The Rivian R2 has finally been announced, and it could end up being the go-to EV for drivers who want a decently affordable electric car with a rugged look and feel. But when it finally launches to the public, it won't be the only option in its price range -- the Ford Mustang Mach-E could be one of its main competitors.

The Mustang Mach-E may not be quite as rugged-feeling as the Rivian R2, but it does have a lot going for it -- like an increasingly low price, sleek design, and comfortable interior. Is one of these EVs better than the other? We put the two head-to-head to find out.
Design
The first thing to note about the two cars is their design, as they’re pretty different. The Rivian R2 is built to be a little more rugged and outdoorsy, while the Mach-E instead has a sleeker and sportier look to it. Both cars look stylish and modern.

Cars

2025 Mercedes-Benz EQS sedan gets new face, bigger battery

2025 Mercedes-Benz EQS sedan front-quarter view.

The Mercedes-Benz EQS sedan arrived during the 2022 model year as the flagship of Mercedes' EV fleet. But now that it's been on sale for a few years, it's time for this flagship to get a refit so that it can stay competitive with other six-figure electric sedans like the BMW i7, Lucid Air, and Tesla Model S. The updated EQS sedan is scheduled to reach dealerships later this year as a 2025 model.

One of the most controversial features of the EQS has been its unorthodox streamlined shape, which makes the EQS one of the most aerodynamic sedans around, but also means it doesn't look much like a traditional Mercedes. For 2025, the EQS takes a step closer to that traditional look with a new grille featuring chrome bars like on the Mercedes S-Class. It also sports the brand's trademark hood ornament.

Cars

Best electric car charger deals: $100 off home charging stations

The handle of the Grizzl-E EV charger plugged into a vehicle.

A few years ago, electric vehicles were pretty rare or cost a fortune, but with more and more of the larger car brands getting into the game, there are a lot of excellent and even budget-friendly choices nowadays. That said, the electrical network for charging your cars might not be that widespread, so instead you'll have to rely on charging your car at home. Luckily, there are a lot of excellent car chargers at a discount, so if you've just bought an EV or want to upgrade your current charging solution, be sure to check out our favorite deals below.
Shockflo EV charger — $205, was $220

This EV charger by Shockflo is a Level 2 EV charger, which offers six times faster charging than a standard charger. It delivers 24 miles with just one hour of charging, and it can act as a mobile charger you can throw in the trunk or be mounted to a wall. It has an LCD display with useful information like charging rate, voltage, and charging time, as well as LED indicator lights that lets you know charging progress and errors.