Prowler Python - 16-wide - Lego

*inhales*

 

boi

 

where do we start

 

14 months after the first WIP was shown, the ultimate Prowler is finally here. The work has been on and off, with month long breaks, but at long last, it is done. Several designs have been made, thrown out, remade, tweaked and thrown out again. But what's a Hypercar without a challenge? Once things got rolling, this was insanely fun to build. A chance to test myself without too many limits. Plenty of different techniques used, and plenty of pieces used.

 

To describe what exactly the Prowler Python is, here's an incredibly nerdy write up.

 

The meaning of a super car has been lost in recent times. In a ruthless hunt for better performance and efficiency, some of the fun and charm has been sucked out of them. As we tread closer to making racing cars with an MOT, aerodynamics rule the visuals, electronics in control of handling - super cars over all are losing their sense of humour. And when we do get something special, like those 3 hybrid hyper cars, the "holy trinity", they’re so rare hardly anyone enjoys them, and they'll only get bought as an ornament, not as a play toy. Today, 650bhp for a hyper car might sound measly, pathetic even. But blasting though 7 short gears sideways out of a corner with a 650bhp V10 singing to you seems nothing short of hyper. Out right figures aren't everything, and never have been. It’s how it’s used. How it's delivered. How it makes you FEEL. We want something, that you can show off in and hoon around. Childish, yes, but isn't that just what a hyper car should be? The dream of an inspired child, spitting flames and smoking tyres, with silly doors and outrageous looks. As cars become more of a rolling science experiment, we took "the future" and showed it the past.

 

The Prowler Python is our stab at a Hybrid Hypercar. A car not built to be the fastest, but to be special. To be remembered. Maybe not quite in the same ball park as the holy trinity - the P1, 918 and LaFerrari - but above Aventadors and such. At the core of everything, is a 5 litre V10 engine producing a round 500 bhp. It is accompanied by two electric motors, both totalling 150bhp, as you've probably already figured that one out. All this is fed to all 4 wheels with adaptive AWD, but always the rear two mostly, making it good for power slides, but not too spiky. It has a 7-speed manual gearbox, geared with a short ratio - because who doesn't love smashing through gears frequently? More crackly fire is always good. This also gives the car incredible acceleration, throwing the 1.4 tonnes to 62 mph in just 2.4 seconds, lower than the famous Veyron SS, which has almost twice the power. However all this means the final speed is not as impressive, maxing out at 203 mph, some way behind the holy trinity. But, beside the test driver, very few people will get close to this, so it's almost irrelevant. Our Nurburgring lap time isn't particularly close to that of the competitors, but most people takes their car to the Nurburgring for an incredible experience, not to break a record. Again, this car is not about figures, it's about the driver.

 

Most of the development was spent on the test track, not in a lab. Not working on times, but feel. Not measuring numbers, but the size of the grin on the test driver. We don't want to make a car that intimidates you, or requires 30 years of racing experience and the reflexes of a praying mantis on steroids to get the most out of it - where's the fun in that? We've fine-tuned suspension and weight set ups to make the chassis as good as possible. Some of the best cars to drive right now have a "sweet" chassis, not one that can handle the power and let traction control do the rest. Cayman, BMW M2, Miata/MX-5/Eunos - all of these are praised for their superb handling and feeling, and are seen as some of the most fun cars out there. Obviously, with the Hybrid system and fancy 4wd, we're hardly going to basics, but we do it in the pursuit of fun.

 

But say you do want to be "civil" or some nonsense like that. We got you covered. In "Street" mode, your V10 becomes and 4cyl hybrid combo, or in "E" it is fully electric. Select "Sport", and you get the full caboodle, including the usual suspension beef ups and such. Tcar is not all about efficiency. To us, these electric motors are the best turbo alternatives ever. No lag. No effect on the noise. More efficient. And easily recharged, whether it be through plug socket or through braking, KERS style. The fact you can run on electricity alone is an additional benefit, and an incredible one at that.

This car may not have the mind boggling handling technology of the 918. It lacks the ground braking aerodynamics of the P1. And hasn't got the heritage of the LaFerrari. But hopefully you'll find it has something special. Has something that makes you fall in love with driving. Has a soul.

 

TL:DR this is childish but i don't care

 

The model itself is, in my opinion, my best work. I think most of my work is quite well detailed, and some of the shapes are there, but the general feel is a little off. But I'm happy with this model in almost every way.

 

So please, take some time to really look into the model. I'd really appreciate that.

 

Massive thank you to the people I've tagged. In the latter stages, they gave me a lot of help, and I'll show you where as we go on. Thanks guys, probably wouldn't have finished it if it weren't for you.

 

 

Done