The car was officially unveiled at last month’s 2010 Paris Auto Show and looks like a mix between a Lotus Elise and an Opel Speedster. Power comes from Ford’s 2.0-liter four-cylinder Duratec powerplant (same as in the Fiesta ST) that was fitted with a turbocharger to deliver 240 hp. The manufacturer claims the car is good for a 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) sprint of just 5.9 seconds and a top speed of 143 mph (230 km/h). That doesn’t sound impressive, but with cars like these it’s the driving feel that really matters.
The car was built by brothers Daniel and Carlos Mastretta, through their company, Tecnoidea. Their company has been designing urban buses in Mexico City for over 20 years, for companies like Mercedes Benz and International. In order to save weight, the MXT’s chassis is made out of aerospace-grade aluminum. The engineers have even fitted it with modern electronics like GPS.
According to the manufacturer, customers in England, Germany and Italy have already expressed interest. In 2011 the company also hopes to have distribution agreements in the US, Middle East and Asia in place.The MXT is priced to compete against Lotuses, at around $55,000 (EUR41,000). Some 100 units are expected to be produced next year, with a possible increase in production if demand is high.
The MXT was supposed to make its debut last year, but it only remained a project at the time.
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