Silcantar
Silcantar Laurevorn
Silcantar Laurevorn is a subcompact front-mid-engine grand touring roadster. No, that's not an oxymoron, not anymore, anyways. It is powered by a Silcantar V8 engine, the same one as in the Valthalion, mounted behind the front axle. However, unlike the Valthalion, its wheelbase is only about 3 times longer than the diameter of its tires. This almost square wheelbase, combined with low center of gravity, low mass, and symmetrical four-wheel steering, makes for very unique handling characteristics. Because of its high power/mass ratio, it is one of the fastest-accelerating cars in the world, accelerating from zero to 100 km/h in under four seconds (for comparison, the Bugatti Veyron, with twice as much engine, does it in 2.5s). Due to the fact that it is a convertible and lacks fenders and therefore has less-than-stellar aerodynamics, its top speed doesn't compete well with supercars. Its short wheelbase, however, makes it lighter and more rigid than the average convertible.
Laurevorn, like Valthalion, features Silcantar's signature lack of fenders (Now I have an excuse to be lazy). The seats are located just in front the rear wheels, giving the passengers enough leg room to make any NBA star comfortable for hours-long drives.
Features:
V8 engine
4 wheel drive
Symmetrical 4 wheel steering (front and rear wheels steer the same amount)
4 wheel independent double wishbone suspension
4 speed manual gearbox
(I suppose that makes it 4x4x4x4, right?)
By far the most challenging part of building Laurevorn was getting the engine and the transmission between the axles, even though symmetrical 4-wheel steering eliminates the need for a center differential. The transmission is only 8 studs long (the minimum in general and the maximum for this car), with the crankshaft running right through the middle of it. The drive shaft for the front wheels runs through the passenger's right armrest. Mostly by luck and a little bit of skill, it ended up quite elegant, though.
In addition, I have also perfected the Valthalion suspension. Laurevorn has the same low ground clearance, but the suspension is firmer and the shocks no longer get in the way of the steering linkages, which slightly decreased the tightness of Valthalion's turns.
The lines of gray bricks in the picture below are each 32 studs long (2 16-stud Technic bricks) As you can see, both the wheelbase and the width are slightly less than 32 studs.
Silcantar Laurevorn
Silcantar Laurevorn is a subcompact front-mid-engine grand touring roadster. No, that's not an oxymoron, not anymore, anyways. It is powered by a Silcantar V8 engine, the same one as in the Valthalion, mounted behind the front axle. However, unlike the Valthalion, its wheelbase is only about 3 times longer than the diameter of its tires. This almost square wheelbase, combined with low center of gravity, low mass, and symmetrical four-wheel steering, makes for very unique handling characteristics. Because of its high power/mass ratio, it is one of the fastest-accelerating cars in the world, accelerating from zero to 100 km/h in under four seconds (for comparison, the Bugatti Veyron, with twice as much engine, does it in 2.5s). Due to the fact that it is a convertible and lacks fenders and therefore has less-than-stellar aerodynamics, its top speed doesn't compete well with supercars. Its short wheelbase, however, makes it lighter and more rigid than the average convertible.
Laurevorn, like Valthalion, features Silcantar's signature lack of fenders (Now I have an excuse to be lazy). The seats are located just in front the rear wheels, giving the passengers enough leg room to make any NBA star comfortable for hours-long drives.
Features:
V8 engine
4 wheel drive
Symmetrical 4 wheel steering (front and rear wheels steer the same amount)
4 wheel independent double wishbone suspension
4 speed manual gearbox
(I suppose that makes it 4x4x4x4, right?)
By far the most challenging part of building Laurevorn was getting the engine and the transmission between the axles, even though symmetrical 4-wheel steering eliminates the need for a center differential. The transmission is only 8 studs long (the minimum in general and the maximum for this car), with the crankshaft running right through the middle of it. The drive shaft for the front wheels runs through the passenger's right armrest. Mostly by luck and a little bit of skill, it ended up quite elegant, though.
In addition, I have also perfected the Valthalion suspension. Laurevorn has the same low ground clearance, but the suspension is firmer and the shocks no longer get in the way of the steering linkages, which slightly decreased the tightness of Valthalion's turns.
The lines of gray bricks in the picture below are each 32 studs long (2 16-stud Technic bricks) As you can see, both the wheelbase and the width are slightly less than 32 studs.