AN INCREDIBLE £500,000 six-wheeler supercar inspired by a legendary Formula One model can reach speeds of nearly 200mph.
Known as the Covini C6W, the stunning motor is powered by a 4.2 litre V8 engine that produces 420 horsepower and 346 lb-ft of torque.
The Covini C6W can reach speeds of almost 200mph and will cost you half a million pounds
AlamyThe front four wheels are 15 inches in diameter[/caption]
WikipediaThe design was inspired by that of the Tyrell P34 – a former F1 racer[/caption]
Named after its Italian manufacturer Ferruccio Covini, the C6W was initially planned during the mid 70s but only came to fruition at the turn of the 21st century.
The 2-seat 2-door sports coupe, which also boasts a removable roof section, operates with a 4-2 wheel layout – four at the front, two at the back.
It took inspiration from the Tyrrell P34, an F1 race car introduced in the 1976 season that took both first and second place at the Swedish Grand Prix and was driven by 1979 champion Jody Scheckter.
The vintage motor, which led other teams to begin design of six-wheeled platforms before they were banned under F1 rules for the 1978 season, also had two pairs of smaller front wheels.
But the extra wheels on the Tyrell P34 were there to provide an additional two contact patches with the race track, thereby improving cornering speed.
With the Covini C6W, however, the extra wheels were built-in for safety.
Having two extra front wheels at each corner means a front tire blowout won’t cause the vehicle to lose control, due to the other wheel being able to carry the weight of the vehicle.
Furthermore, they also provide control while the driver brings the car to a stop.
Having four front brake discs also provides additional stopping power, as do the four tire footprints transmitting the force.
This also makes driving it smoother and more comfortable, with impact divided among the front four wheels when hitting a pothole, for example.
Two additional springs and dampers also keep the vehicle more settled.
Covini claim that having four wheels reduces the risk of aquaplaning – whereby a layer of water separates the tyre from the road.
The Italian manufacturer has ensured that the two foremost wheels clear the water for the ones behind and allow better road adhesion.
While the Tyrell P34 used four specially manufactured 10-inch diameter (254 mm) wheels and tyres at the front, the Covini went bigger.
At 15 inches, the front wheels are significantly taller than the Tyrrell’s, while the rears are 20-inchers – contributing to a top speed of 185mph.
The rest of the exterior isn’t quite as glamorous, with the car based around a tubular steel frame with carbon fibre structural elements.
The bodywork is a combination of fibreglass and carbon fibre panels.
In total, the car weighs a respectable 2,500lbs.
The Covini C6W’s interior doesn’t quite live up to the standards either, although requiring access through scissor doors gives it that sport-like feel.
The cabin appears quite small and cramped, with the driver faced with a busy looking instrument cluster.
On the passenger side, there isn’t even a glovebox.
Nonetheless, it doesn’t take away from the fact that this is a car like no other.
Sold through the brand PMI Cavini, you can buy a C6W in both coupe and roadster form – but you’ll have to fork out around $400,000 (£318,000).
Manufactured in Cortemaggiore, Italy, the semi-automatic 6-speed does not come cheap.
Elsewhere, a McLaren supercar has been left without a front or side after a shocking motorway smash.
The McLaren 720S, worth a staggering £200,000 when new, was in a crash on Friday between J3 and J2 on the eastbound section of the M54 near Wolverhampton.
And a list of the most expensive cars ever sold at auction has been revealed.
The impressive record includes 1937 £10 million French “rolling sculpture” and the film star motor from Steve McQueen’s film Le Mans.
More six-wheel supercars
Here are some other six-wheel beauties from over the years.
1963 Ford Seattle-ite XXI
The first car to utilise the six-wheel layout, the Ford Seattle-ite XXI was a concept car with an interchangeable front-powered section that enabled it to switch from a runabout to a cruiser.
Rather than a usual wheel, steering was controlled by way of a fingertip-controlled dial.
Panther 6
The Panther 6 was a British six-wheel convertible produced by Panther in 1977 – with only two models made.
It was powered by a mid-mounted 8.2 litre Cadillac V8 engine, with twin turbochargers paired to a three-speed automatic transmission.
Mercedes G63 AMG 6×6
Originally designed in the mid-70s for military use, the Mercedes six-wheeler was powered by a 137kW Mercedes-Benz 3.0-litre turbocharged diesel engine.
This was mated to an automatic gearbox with full-time all-wheel drive.
AlamyA slick modern version at a car show in 2019[/caption]
AlamyDrivers had to enter through scissor doors to access the interior[/caption]