Aquila FD1

Driver sits lower in car in order to enable lower overall build and to improve fairing in of main roll hoop. This feature both reduces centre of gravity height and reduces frontal area.

  • Engine is located right up against the rear cockpit bulkhead, off loading the relatively narrow rear tyres without recourse to an excessively long wheelbase.
  • Front (monoshock) and rear spring/damper units mounted at floor level, again lowering centre of gravity height relative to the standard setup with pushrod operated spring/dampers over the driver’s legs and over the transaxle. Monoshock front saves volume, weight and cost over two-spring setup, and makes corner weight, front droop limit and ride height setup very simple.
  • Intermediate bell crank for the front monoshock enables easy and inexpensive adjustment of front spring/damper characteristics without changing spring or damper
  • Rear dampers easily accessible for adjustment without need to remove bodywork, rear damper reservoirs located in relatively cool airflow.
  • Pedal group, steering coloumn and gear shifter quickly adjustable for different drivers
  • Master cylinders in pedal group assembly lo-cated behind front bulkhead to prevent intrusion damage in case of frontal collision
  • All front-end components requiring servicing located in foot well – minimal bodywork removal required for access
  • Engine semi-stressed member: Frees up frame mass to be used for denser chassis triangulation in driver’s compartment for increased stiffness and driver protection – mass of stiff engine put to structural use, and rear end of car can be narrower and smoother for drag reduction
  • Fabricated high tensile sheet steel bellhousing: Saves weight over traditional cast light alloy units, easier to repair: Bends, doesn’t break, weldable “in-the-field”
  • Alternator located inside bellhousing: Drive downstream of clutch reduces rotating inertia during initial acceleration, location cleans up airflow at rear of car.
  • All suspension and running gear components non-handed for simplified spares logistics – “Murphy” always ensures you’ve got 4 left hand items in stock…and it’s a right hand one you busted again…
  • Front pull rod and upper wishbone share swivel bolt, enabling non-handed wishbones
  • Rear pull rod activated from non-handed upright, enabling non-handed wishbones
  • All aluminium alloy hubs – simple, reliable, lightweight design
  • Outboard CV-joints embedded in rear hub: Enables recessing entire hub/upright assembly deeply into wheel for improved aerodynamics and minimal angular displacement of driveshafts
  • Rear brake caliper located at bottom of disk for low center of gravity, non-handed, compact installation.
  • Catalyst and silencer located in side pod to clean up tail airflow and to move mass forward
  • Hoses and cables located such that access to clutch, clutch slave cylinder and release bearing can be accomplished without disconnecting fluid lines
  • Smooth, low drag wheels.