Photo: S. Baldauf / R. Kah
Hailing all the way from Japan, the new Phiaro P75 Concept Cipher made its world debut on the set of this year’s Geneva Motor Show. Look out BAC Mono and KTM X-Bow, here comes competition!
Well, to be perfectly frank, as hardcore as this car looks, it might not have what it takes to make in this sub-niche. The specs are impressive but they pale in comparison to others out there.
To be more precise, let’s dive right into them. The most impressive number on the spec sheet is the weight. Claimed to put only 596 kg (1,313 lbs) atop the Earth’s surface, the Cipher is light on its feet, to say the least.
That was achieved thanks to multiple carbon fiber surfaces and other innovative solutions. The seats are made of the same material and they are as close to the ground as possible. However, the engine is a bit of a letdown.
The 4-cylinder 1.5-liter mill makes 144 HP at 6,600 RPM and 166 Nm (123 lb-ft) of torque and while it may seem enough for a car that’s so light on its feet, in reality it might not be so. Come to think of it, that makes for a 241 HP/ton ration. By comparison, the BAC Mono has around 570 HP/ton while the X-Bow sits a lot closer at 304 HP/ton.
Even so, the car does look spectacular and it might be extremely fun to drive. The brakes come from Wilwood and are ventilated both front and back while the cog swapping business comes down to a 5-speed manual gearbox.
An interesting fact is that the fuel tank is rated at just 13 liters which might be good for up to 100 km (62 mph) but no official figure was offered. On top of that, the steering is a good old fashion rack and pinion setup. That’s what we like to hear!
To be more precise, let’s dive right into them. The most impressive number on the spec sheet is the weight. Claimed to put only 596 kg (1,313 lbs) atop the Earth’s surface, the Cipher is light on its feet, to say the least.
That was achieved thanks to multiple carbon fiber surfaces and other innovative solutions. The seats are made of the same material and they are as close to the ground as possible. However, the engine is a bit of a letdown.
The 4-cylinder 1.5-liter mill makes 144 HP at 6,600 RPM and 166 Nm (123 lb-ft) of torque and while it may seem enough for a car that’s so light on its feet, in reality it might not be so. Come to think of it, that makes for a 241 HP/ton ration. By comparison, the BAC Mono has around 570 HP/ton while the X-Bow sits a lot closer at 304 HP/ton.
Even so, the car does look spectacular and it might be extremely fun to drive. The brakes come from Wilwood and are ventilated both front and back while the cog swapping business comes down to a 5-speed manual gearbox.
An interesting fact is that the fuel tank is rated at just 13 liters which might be good for up to 100 km (62 mph) but no official figure was offered. On top of that, the steering is a good old fashion rack and pinion setup. That’s what we like to hear!
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