The Toniq Build

[Randy Chase]

I thought I would start a new thread to document our Toniq build and post some pictures.

First, a bit about the car. The idea was done in 2003 by a team from a university in the UK to make a new car, a "Seven" clone, but one updated for to look more modern and stylish (not to say that the existing Sevens and clones lack any style!). And at the same time, make a modern performing car that would rival anything else as far as the driving experience. The head guy is and was, Colin Williams out of Cornwall.

Official site-
Toniq R - Bespoke Specialist Sports Cars - Refresh Your Ride!

The latest generation is the Toniq CB. This incorporates some major improvements to the car. Round tube chassis (lighter and stiffer), Pushrod inboard front and rear double wishbone suspension. The suspension engineer is someone well known to Lotus fans. Other minor improvements abound, including a removable windscreen option, digital dash option and more.

The car is normally fitted for a Mazda/Duratec engine -OR- with a motorcycle engine and a 6 speed sequential tranny (button shifters) with included reverse gear.

A review by Evo-
Toniq-R | evo Car Reviews | Car Reviews | evo

Part hotrod, part spaceship, the Toniq-R is definitely a Marmite car. Personally, I think it looks terrific, a really bold take on a classic formula

In a nutshell... what it is, is a PURE SPORTSCAR. How pure do you want the experience? A frame with an engine and two seats and a way to steer the bloody thing. No doors. No windows. No heater. No AC. No alarm system. No immobilizer. No fobs. No stereo. No GPS. No trunk or boot. No ABS or traction control. No carpet. What there is, is a tube frame, sophisticated suspension, carbon fiber and fiberglass and gobs of power. You can feel the wind in your face, and see the front wheels hit the apexes. Raw yet sophisticated. Pure but with style.

NOTHING TO GET BETWEEN YOU AND THE EXPERIENCE. And at an affordable price.

[Randy Chase]

The previous generation-

Note the round bullet style billet aluminum front and rear lights. Sadly these are now gone.

The car was offered in either a Duratec engine, or with a Honda Fireblade motorcycle engine and a 6 speed sequential shifter.

[Randy Chase]

New generation-

To be posted once we get full pictures of a completed car.

[Randy Chase]

Specs

To be posted

[Randy Chase]

US Pricing, shipping details, etc.

Typical car WITHOUT Drivetrain will be approx $28k + $2k shipping into the USA. This is just an estimate for consideration and will be dependent on the exchange rate with the UK Pound.

Roller:
• Powder coated tube framed chassis
• Powder coated aluminium interior panels
• Front and rear wishbones with pushrods and rockers
• Front and rear uprights with hubs, bearings, brake disks and callipers
• Pedal box assembly, master cylinders, brake bias bar
• Steering column and linkage
• Front and rear dampers
• Steering rack
• Brake line/hose kit
• Hand brake kit
• Fuel lines, tank, pump and sender
• Main chassis wiring loom
• 15” Pro Race 2 Wheels with Yokohama 195/50/15 A048 tyres
• Full fibreglass body set in natural finish – requires paint
• All light units – main, side, front & rear indicator, side repeater, stop, tail, and reverse
• AIM or Race Technology digital dash
• All switches
• Steering wheel covered in suede
• Tillet composite seats (adjustable)
• Schrothe camlock Harnesses
• Aero Locking Fuel Cap
• Front grill
• Rollbar with rear bracing
• Hand brake gaitor
• Master kill switch
• Mirrors
• Master kill switch
• Engine/gearbox mounts
• Propshaft
• Driveshafts
• Differential Mazda Limited Slip
• Exhaust system complete
• Radiator with fan
• Water pipes and hoses
• Header tank
• Battery


Drivetrain options:
2.0l Mazda engine, 6 speed Mazda gearbox
Mazda Renesis Engine
Kawasaki ZX14 engine, 6 speed sequential shifter

OPTIONS"
Full SCCA roll cage by CAGED
Paint Two tone metallic scheme
Custom and pearl paints
Racing Nose Module
Race Technology Digital Dash
ChaseCam DATA + Video recorder
Windscreen Module plus wipers


Shipping. Above chassis and body bits are shipped from England. Estimated delivery is 8 weeks after order. Delivery is grouped with other cars in a container to save costs. Estimated shipping via boat is $2000 and FOB Long Beach, CA. We may arrange alternate ports.

Unassembled Kit. Reduce MSRP by $3000.

[Randy Chase]

The build of my car.

I started looking at the Toniq some years ago, as my UK company man was associated with them (and Westfield too). The idea was intriguing to me and we flew over to UK and did a nice test drive of one of the original cars on an empty airport tarmac. Tossing the car about at over 100mph was a bit of fun.

We kept in touch with Colin at Toniq and kept abreast of the car's developments, and also offered some ideas for what the car would need to be sold in the USA.

I went out to Cornwall in 2008 to meet at their facility and also to test drive the Fireblade powered car through the English countryside at speed. It was stunning and lots of fun. Colin told us that he was developing some new lights, new suspension, new front nose and more. I wanted to see the new car and Colin offered to meet us during our UK trip to show us the recent developments. He was transporting a car to the tuning shop not too far outside of Wales where we were going to be staying.


A pic showing designer Colin meeting with us with the partially completed car on a trailer-



This is a picture of the racing version front end nose cone.


Here is car designer Colin holding up the new light pods in their approximate location for the street nose cone.


Rear lights


Duratec engine

This one is tuned for near 300hp at the wheels

Front suspension


The grill (or me just "cupping" the car



Nice stacks

[Randy Chase]

To be posted

[Sweet Adrenaline]

The Toniq ROCKS

Plans for SEMA?

[fitfan]

man... why you gotta be like that

[ms355]

A very cool car. What I liked most is, that - other than on 7/Caterham/Donkervoort etc. - you feel cocooned and safe when sitting in it because of the high shoulders.

[fitfan]

Originally Posted by ms355

A very cool car. What I liked most is, that - other than on 7/Caterham/Donkervoort etc. - you feel cocooned and safe when sitting in it because of the high shoulders.

side crash beams or structure up high?

thats the thing that freaks me out about 7/clones too - your upper torso is just "hanging out there" - unless you wrap a cage around the OUTSIDE of one...

[Seb]

That car needs a 4G63T.

[jasper]

Originally Posted by Seb

That car needs a 4G63T.

Thats the last thing it needs. 300whp in a car of that weight is just shy of ridiculous. I have a pretty tame 200hp zetec in my Caterham and its more than enough for me (but i may be old and boring) but I really couldn't imagine what would happen when the boost kicks in on some 400 + horsepower motor - sounds fun on paper, but the nauseating stench from a combination of tire smoke and the load in your pants would get old fast

[mopho]

Originally Posted by Seb

That car needs a 4G63T.

Why?

[Seb]

A) The engine has incredible potential.
B) The engine is very versatile.
C) With the correct turbo you can either choose to run 200hp or 300hp at the flick of a switch.
D) Internals are cheap and readily available.
E) Transmission is rock solid.
F) Internals are tough.

It's quite possibly the best factory boosted 4 cylinder in the world. You don't HAVE to run retarded amounts of power with it, but the output can be changed so easily, so if you ever get bored all you have to do is turn up the boost. As long as you have a solid tune, the possibilities are endless.

After all, a 500hp caterham exists....

[mopho]

Originally Posted by Seb

A) The engine has incredible potential.
B) The engine is very versatile.
C) With the correct turbo you can either choose to run 200hp or 300hp at the flick of a switch.
D) Internals are cheap and readily available.
E) Transmission is rock solid.
F) Internals are tough.

It's quite possibly the best factory boosted 4 cylinder in the world.

And so does the Duratec. It is just as good and doesn't need to be boosted to produce such hp. NA= better, especially in such a light car

Transmission would not work in this application, engine goes in longitudinally


.

[Randy Chase]

Originally Posted by jasper

Thats the last thing it needs. 300whp in a car of that weight is just shy of ridiculous.

I think for me a sweet spot will be about 250whp. For competition autocrossing, I am thinking around 300whp.

I find that the 500hp on my Noble at 2350 pounds is silly for street. I mean silly in an awesome way, but I typically leave it in valet mode and drive it at 325whp.

With only 1100 pounds, the Toniq with 250+whp is nuts.

[mopho]

Originally Posted by Seb

A

After all, a 500hp caterham exists....

The 500hp Caterham is also a V8 that is basically two motorcycle engines put together, so while it may produce a lot of hp, it doesn't produce torque like a 500hp turbo motor would, and even at that, it just spins its wheels


There are some folks who have built silly big turbo motors in Sevens, they brag about how great it is, but after some prodding they admit they mostly have straight roads to drive on. Sort of not the point of these kinds cars

[Seb]

I'm not denying, that's where multi stage boost controllers come in.

[mopho]

Originally Posted by Seb

I'm not denying, that's where multi stage boost controllers come in.