Holden unveils future-looking Bathurst concept

GM Holden has marked the 50th anniversary of its first Great Race victory by developing a futuristic, virtual Bathurst Time Attack Concept.

The brand's Melbourne-based design department has produced a concept it says is theoretically capable of reaching a top speed of 480km/h and lapping Mount Panorama in 1:29.30s.

Rather than being envisaged for races such as the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000, the concept is based around the single-lap, against-the-clock Time Attack format.

GM Holden's Engineering team provided technical input, tapping into emerging technologies, with the design then produced as a digitally-printed 3D model.

The end result is demonstrated in the virtual world, in a video to debut on Saturday October 6 as part of the 2018 Great Race broadcast.

“The technology we employ today has transformed the way we design cars," GM Holden’s Design Director, Richard Ferlazzo said.

"We have the ability to simulate a car’s appearance, technology and dynamics in convincing animations, which enables us to deliver better designs in a shorter time.

"A large part of our work is advanced design and we use this technology to develop concept designs for our parent company, General Motors.

"This concept is a digital advertisement for the advanced skills, capability and technology of the GM Holden team."

Capable of covering 0-100km/h in 1.25 seconds, the concept is powered by four 250kW Axial Flux Permanent Magnet electric motors.

That total output of 1,000kW is the equivalent of 1,340hp, with hybrid batteries that can be recharged in 90 seconds.

Carbon fibre/kevlar composite panels form a body that channels prototype styling, the package weighing 900kg.

Holden won Bathurst for the first time in 1968 with Bruce McPhee and Barry Mulholland in an HK Monaro.

Its first concept vehicle, the Holden Hurricane, was unveiled the next year with motor shows a regular platform for further rollouts over the decades.

“The cessation of motor shows in Australia left a hole in our automotive culture in some ways and we lost a forum to showcase our passion and creativity to the Australian public with physical concept cars," Ferlazzo said of the digital rollout.

"However, with the realism and detail achievable through modern technology, I felt we could still deliver uniquely Holden concepts via virtual technology and digital media.

"Concepts are always meant to push the boundaries but are even more impactful when they are feasible and this concept is plausible as an advanced racer of the future.

“Automotive Design and Engineering remains a core strength and competitive advantage for Holden and for Australia.

"The Time Attack Concept racer is an illustration of how we can utilise cutting-edge technology to develop transportation solutions for the future.

"You can see from the extremely detailed approach to incorporating the advanced technology in our Time Attack Concept racer that this is more than just a visual exercise.

"Holden’s recent announcement of the expansion of 150 new engineers to our Advanced Vehicle Development team means we have the talent, resources and technology to continue delivering to that charter."

Technical specifications

Simulated Mount Panorama Lap Time: 1:29.300-100km/h: 1.25 secTop Speed: 480km/hMaximum Lateral G-Force: 6.5GMaximum Braking G-Force: 6GWeight: 900kg, without driver

Motors250KW Axial Flux Permanent Magnet Electric Motor Drives x 4 (Inboard mounted)Total output – 1000KW (1Megawatt) / 1340HP3240NM Total Motor Torque5000RPM Maximum RevolutionsEnables full programmable Torque Vectoring Traction Control at each corner

Gearboxes3-Speed Planetary Automatic Shift Gearboxes x 4Ratios 1st 2.97:1, 2nd 1.7:1, 3rd 1:1First gear ratio enables 9620Nm total axle torque at launchGearbox casing integrated into Chassis structure

Power SourceReconfigurable Graphene Hybrid Power Pack1MW power output, 90MJ Usable Charge CapacityFast Recharge: Fully recharged in 90 seconds (1000KW, 800V, 1250A)

Motor CoolingLongitudinal Heat Exchangers x 2Liquid-to-Gas Phase Change Cooling, low drag, full pass-through

BrakesCarbon/Carbon Hydraulic Discs x 4Electrical Heating of pad and rotor in pits and on out lap to conserve energyFull Regenerative capability on all axles, can provide up to 2.0G braking force

ChassisCarbon Fibre composite with cellulose Honeycomb CoreFull Integrated safety cell and crash structure, utilising stressed powertrain components

SuspensionCarbon Fibre Double Wishbone all-round, aerodynamically engineered profilesTitanium CNC’d Uprights with bushed underbody mountsPushrod / bellcrank activated Hydraulic Active Suspension Actuators. Computer controlled programmable ride height adjustment, anti-dive, anti-squat, anti-rollElectrical Power Steering

BodyCarbon-Fibre/Kevlar Composite panels with Polycarbonate Graphene Coated Upper

UnderbodyFull Carbon Fibre / Kevlar Composite quad-venturi underbody, with flexible co-moulded membranes at Body and Chassis junctionsUnderbody is structurally mounted to Suspension uprights at all 4 corners, enabling full aero load to be applied directly to each wheelTorsional twist capability enables underbody to maintain consistent relationship to ground even with extreme road camber change

Wheels310/700 R18 Slick tires all roundCarbon Fibre Composite RimsActive Wheel Fairings support low drag or brake cooling positionsWheel Fairing supported by a Kevlar/Elastane woven skin enabling consistent low drag performance whilst supporting full wheel steering and suspension movement

AerodynamicsLow Frontal Area with all powertrain components on centre-line in Driver’s frontal area ‘shadow’Full Active Downforce Generation via Ground Effects technologyUltra-high Downforce levels achieved via electrically powered Cyclo-gyro fansRubber Skirts control air-bleed and enhance Ground Effect4 Individually controllable Fans accelerate airflow through 4 venturi tunnels to enhance downforce at lower speedsFans enable programmable and constantly tuneable centre-of-pressureCyclo-gyro fans with actuated blades enabling variable thrust direction and forceFans powered by 4 Switch Reluctance Motors (SRM), each up to 50KW, 50,000rpm, 92% efficientHydraulically actuated variable-position rear wing with air-braking capabilityLift-drag Ratio of underbody aero components in excess of 90:1

LightingFront: Active Matrix Laser Units with yellow ‘Endurance’ TintRear: LED Matrix display – programmable pixels

Driver AssistanceAugmented Reality Helmet: 3D graphics projected onto helmet visor to enable graphics overlay in real-time. Essential technical information provided in addition to racing line and braking zone benchmarksIntegrated full steering wheel inputs to control all mechanical and aerodynamic systems via presets Six Point safety harnessTelemetry and Camera mast to enable constant uplink and data transmission and in-car filming