2. PRICE $103,000
POWER 450hp, 390 lb.-ft.
ENGINE 3.0L twin-turbo V6
DRIVETRAIN Rear-wheel drive,
six-speed manual
0-60 3.1 seconds
TOP SPEED 185 mph (est.)
CURB WEIGHT 2,417 lbs.
POWEH TO WEIGHT 5.37lbs./hp
REDLINE 7,200 rprn
BRAKING 13-in. front, 13-in. rear
2010
Rossion 01
SUPERCAR HEADQUARTERS TEND to resemble
the products they create: elegant, architecture with
military-grade infrastructure and museum-quality
displays of genealogy decorating the walls. Rossion
Automotive though, is based out of a retired home-en-
tertainment-supply showroom in southern Florida. Its
near -ia.ooo-square- foot facility is a testament to this
company's obvious philosophy-maintaining appear-
ances and bragging about pedigree isn't as important
as building excellent machines.
That's not to saythat Rossion isn't tapped into a
rich bloodline. While not yet a household name,
the U.S.-based company shares DNAwith the UK's
88 I WINTER2010 I 0-60mag.com -PHOTOGRAPHY ~
4. It's not just the
speed that's
satisfying-it's the
clarity of being in
total command.
of everything.
better-known Noble
Automotive. The
Q1is based on their
erstwhile M400 track-
day machine, which
was built on the same assembly line in South
Africa as the Q1is today. Rossion founders
Dean Rosen and Ian Grunes began importing
the potent Nobles stateside under the name 1G
Racing sixyears ago, but quickly saw that the
kit-car fit and finish was holding it back. Thus
came the Q1, adding amenities such as satellite
navigation, power windows, air conditioning
and a completely refined interior.
The spec sheet remains rife with raw racecar
tech: forged monobloc wheels, custom-valved
Koni coilovers, carbon fiber intake scoops,
a fully integrated roll cage and an optional
fire extinguishing system. It's all carried
like a boot knife in the Q1'SGRP fiberglass
sheathed body-which, with a fresh redesign
to distinguish it from the showy M400, loses
the protruding wings and awkward angles that
call out the Noble's intent as a track-focused
tool. Newvents and channels hint at exotica,
but without the grandstanding. The Q1exudes
understated cool.
Performance, however, is anything but
reserved. Planting the aluminum, long-travel
gas pedal, there's no time to think about the
absent lag of the twin turbine Ford mill,which
sends you vaulting over three gears and plung-
ing ahead in fourth. An approaching exit ramp
signals a callto the Q1'Sij-inch APRacing
derived brakes, causing a bit of tire chirp from
massive ABS-freestopping force. Thanks to an
adjustable pedal box, the obligatory heel-toe
own to third is a simple task, inducing satanic
emissions from the trapezoidal tailpipes. Mer
slicing through a decreasing radius turn it's
back on the straight and into triple digits again.
The acceleration is savage, reaching 60
mph in j.i seconds and pulling the quarter
mile offin 11.4.These are figures that should
earn the Q1hypercar status. And it's not just
the speed that's satisfying-it's the clarity
of being in total command of everything. No
anti-locks, no traction control and a prop-
erlyweighted, gated manual box, with rock-
solid steering that simply knows what needs
to be done. But perhaps the biggest surprise
of it all is the Q1'Scomposure in daily use.
There is no tramlining or skipping around,
the ride is generously comfortable and the
90 I WINTER 2010 I 0-60magcom
RORD TESTED
nose doesn't scrape speed bumps.
It's as mild mannered as a girl
scout when you need it to be.
Of course, there are some things
to get used to. The short, grabby
clutch pedal may require some
practice before setting out in pub-
lic, and the fixed-back carbon fiber
seats take a bit of articulation to get
into. The interior is not the leather-electronica
playpen of some of the Italian marques. And
while there are options for either a quieter
sport exhaust or raspier race unit,
LRunCH DRIVEn there's no escaping the sound of the
nvrm numBERS air huffing turbochargers. However,
V-BDX FIGURES recalling that the Q1covers ground
at the same rate as a Carrera GT and
has a power-to-weight ratio rivaling
certain ''hardcore'' track cars, you
get the feeling that the folks at Ros-
sion are putting their development
I
money where it counts-in what neurologists
call the nucleus accumbens, a.k.a.the "plea-
sure center." RON ZARAS
TRACK TESTED
CHAPERonED
HoonED
DAmAGED
TOTALLED
