RML’S SHORTWHEELBASE’S DEVELOPMENT ON FINAL LAP PRIOR TO LAUNCH

James Welford – Powertrain

James and his team have been responsible for the very heart of the Short Wheelbase: its 485bhp 5.5-litre Ferrari V12 engine and drivetrain.

“The engine’s dyno pass-off test has been completed with no issues, and the unit is being dressed for build into the car,” reported James. “The powertrain’s design is also complete, and as bespoke parts are manufactured, we need to check them against the original drawings to make sure that they’re to specification.

“Another vital task is checking that the newly-released instruments for Car Zero are functioning correctly, as part of testing and sign-off for the car’s coolant and oil systems. One of the most important tests is a full vehicle climatic wind tunnel sign-off, which replicates the extremes of temperatures that a customer’s car may be exposed to in the real world. We’ll also be finalising a full-vehicle test plan to validate the powertrain’s integration in the Short
Wheelbase.”

Charles Bouma – Vehicle electrical systems

Charles and his team have been responsible for developing a highly bespoke electrical system for the Short Wheelbase. Here he explains the attention to detail needed to validate the system for the extremes of real-world usage.

“We’re now at a stage where all exterior lights and interior switchgear are being manufactured, which is a great relief. We faced all sorts of challenges during the development phases, especially with such unique designs of tail- and headlights. For instance, creating a tail-light cluster with four distinct light rings, while trying to avoid light-bleed between the rings, and still achieve a set brightness, occupied a good deal of our time. Inside, we also designed switchgear to be extremely tactile for the user, with great feel and feedback, while also being robust enough to survive our durability cycles.

“Over the next month, we’ll be inspecting the first manufactured parts to make sure they’re to specification against the drawings, and validating the entire assembly’s fitness for purpose. That includes the exterior lights, for example, undergoing environmental testing to ensure that the units will not leak, and that the electrical components do not create condensation within them.”

Nic Rutherford – Production

Nic’s team, including key engineers like Paul Stewart and Ben Amos, are critical at this stage, as the Short Wheelbase’s various architectures are validated and readied for integration into the final assembly. Here, Nic gives a feel for some of the
challenges to come.

“In preparation for Car Zero, we’re running virtual build activities to establish a planned build process, including producing build manuals and sign-off documentation. We also need to make sure that the process is sufficiently flexible to allow for the high degree of personalisation that we expect from customers.

“’Right first time’ is our mantra, which means an incredible attention to detail to make sure that when series production starts, it will be to the highest possible standard – this is so important where such low volumes are involved. We’re currently defining facility requirements, along with jigging and fixturing needs, to streamline production. We’re also developing a build-issue resolution plan to make sure that Car Zero is produced to the correct timeline
and quality standards.”