Covini Sports Cars C6W Is A Very Special Supercar

Covini Sports Cars C6W Is A Very Special Supercar

Italian car maker Covini Engineering has finally completed their 6-wheeled sports car, and it’s ready for its debut this week. On autshow Bologna, Covini Sports Cars is a very special supercar. The Covini C6W is the world’s first six-wheeled supercar. C6W is an Italian Sports Cars 2-seat, 2-door sports coupé with a removable roof section. The manufacturer of the Covini Sports Cars C6W  announced that the model is ready for production.

Covini Sports Cars C6W Is A Very Special Supercar

Inspiration for the car was taken from the 1976 Tyrrell P34, which had two pairs of smaller front wheels, a principle applied to the C6W. The project was started in 1974 but abandoned shortly after, and left dormant into the 1980s due to the lack of availability of low-profile tires at the time.

Covini are convinced 6 wheels are better than 4. The Italian car maker says the addition of two extra wheels on the front of the vehicle helps improve traction, and the smaller space on the front of the car makes for a reduction in drag, which in turn increases speed.

Covini Sports Cars C6W Is A Very Special Supercar

The manufacturer claims the design produces less understeer than conventional designs, and suspension produces less turbulence from potholes and bumps in the road because of the increased surface area.

Ferruccio Covini, the founder of the company, speaks of comfort and reduced risk of aquaplaning. Additionally, the safety, eg because there is less risk of accidents is a flat tire. About the disadvantages is not much known

Covini Sports Cars C6W Is A Very Special Supercar

The C6W is powered by a rear-mounted 4.2-litre V8 Audi engine with 325kW (433 BHP) and 470Nm of torque. The car features a rear, 4200 cc 8-cylinder engine and the sports car’s has a top speed of 186 mph (299 km/h).The six-speed manual transmission transfers power to the 20in rear wheels. The four front wheels (all 15in) are responsible for the steering. All six wheels feature vented Brembo brake discs.

The body is made of lightweight fibreglass and carbon fibre, leading to an overall vehicle mass of 1150kg.

Covini C6W, 2004

Covini C6W, 2004

The original idea for the Covini C6W was conceived by Ferruccio Covini in '74 and made provision for 10 inches front wheels because there where no low profile tyres at the time. The project was ditched in favour of the Soleado prototype, deemed more important, and lay dormant until the 80s when hydro-pneumatic suspension for the four front wheels where devised to optimise weight distribution under various loading conditions. High development costs and other contingencies forced the project to be delayed again. Its use of new ABS technologies and airbags in the 90s pointed in the direction of new research into active and passive safety. This aspect encouraged backing from companies for its development.

Why six wheels?

* in case of a front tyre deflation, the vehicle control is guaranteed by the other wheel next to it.
* four front disc brakes, although a smaller single area, ensure a greater braking surface; this means less overheating and a higher brake effort
* low risk of aquaplaning, due to the two foremost wheels, which wipe the water for the ones behind them, ensuring a better roadholding
* comfort is a consequence of more evenly distributed reaction forces in the supension: the reaction in case of a pot hole is divided between the four front wheels and the shudder in the chassis is limited.
* reduced unsprung weight in the wheels improves the grip. Directional stability is improved: a change of angle due to slack in the steering mechanism is compensated by the second set of wheels.
* two additional springs and dampers provide a better handling for the vehicle.

Technical Specifications

* ENGINE: rear, longitudinal, 8 cylinder in V formation, 4 valves per cylinder, naturally aspirated, petrol direct injection Bosch-motronic.
* CAPACITY: 4200 cc
* MAX POWER: 380 PS (260KW) at 6400 rpm
* MAX TORQUE: about 450 Nm (45.9 Kgm) at 2700 rpm
* TRANSMISSION: rear wheel drive transaxle
* GEARBOX: mechanical 6-speed + reverse. Manual and electro-hydraulic steeringwheel mounted servo
* CHASSIS: steel tubular with carbon fibre reinforcements and structural parts
* SUSPENSION: independent front and rear wishbones
* WHEELS AND TYRES: front 16in wheels with 215/45-16 tyres; rear 20in with 345/25-20 tyres
* BRAKES: front and rear vented Brembo discs. Bosch servo and electronic brake distribution
* BODYWORK: glass fibre and carbon fibre
* DIMENSIONS: length 4180mm; width 1990mm; height 1080mm; wheelbase 2230mm/2750mm (to foremost/middle front transaxle); front track 1540mm; rear track 1620mm ; dry weight 1150 kg
* TOP SPEED: 300 km/h (185mph)

Covini C6W

Covini C6W

The original idea for the Covini C6W was conceived by Ferruccio Covini in '74 and made provision for 10 inches front wheels because there where no low profile tyres at the time. The project was ditched in favour of the Soleado prototype, deemed more important, and lay dormant until the 80s when hydro-pneumatic suspension for the four front wheels where devised to optimise weight distribution under various loading conditions. High development costs and other contingencies forced the project to be delayed again. Its use of new ABS technologies and airbags in the 90s pointed in the direction of new research into active and passive safety. This aspect encouraged backing from companies for its development.

Why six wheels?
* in case of a front tyre deflation, the vehicle control is guaranteed by the other wheel next to it.
* four front disc brakes, although a smaller single area, ensure a greater braking surface; this means less overheating and a higher brake effort
* low risk of aquaplaning, due to the two foremost wheels, which wipe the water for the ones behind them, ensuring a better roadholding
* comfort is a consequence of more evenly distributed reaction forces in the supension: the reaction in case of a pot hole is divided between the four front wheels and the shudder in the chassis is limited.
* reduced unsprung weight in the wheels improves the grip. Directional stability is improved: a change of angle due to slack in the steering mechanism (in stuctures like silentblocks) is compensated by the second set of wheels.
* two additional springs and dampers provide a better handling for the vehicle.

Technical Specifications

• ENGINE: rear, longitudinal, 8 cylinder in V formation, 4 valves per cylinder, naturally aspirated, petrol direct injection Bosch-motronic.
• CAPACITY: 4200 cc
• MAX POWER: 380 PS (260KW) at 6400 rpm
• MAX TORQUE: about 450 Nm (45.9 Kgm) at 2700 rpm
• TRANSMISSION: rear wheel drive transaxle
• GEARBOX: mechanical 6-speed + reverse. Manual and electro-hydraulic steeringwheel mounted servo
• CHASSIS: steel tubular with carbon fibre reinforcements and structural parts
• SUSPENSION: independent front and rear wishbones
• WHEELS AND TYRES: front 16in wheels with 215/45-16 tyres; rear 20in with 345/25-20 tyres
• BRAKES: front and rear vented Brembo discs. Bosch servo and electronic brake distribution
• BODYWORK: glass fibre and carbon fibre
• DIMENSIONS: length 4180mm; width 1990mm; height 1080mm; wheelbase 2230mm/2750mm (to foremost/middle front transaxle); front track 1540mm; rear track 1620mm ; dry weight 1150 kg
• TOP SPEED: 300 km/h (185mph)

Covini C6W

Covini C6W

The original idea for the Covini C6W was conceived by Ferruccio Covini in '74 and made provision for 10 inches front wheels because there where no low profile tyres at the time. The project was ditched in favour of the Soleado prototype, deemed more important, and lay dormant until the 80s when hydro-pneumatic suspension for the four front wheels where devised to optimise weight distribution under various loading conditions. High development costs and other contingencies forced the project to be delayed again. Its use of new ABS technologies and airbags in the 90s pointed in the direction of new research into active and passive safety. This aspect encouraged backing from companies for its development.

Why six wheels?

* in case of a front tyre deflation, the vehicle control is guaranteed by the other wheel next to it.
* four front disc brakes, although a smaller single area, ensure a greater braking surface; this means less overheating and a higher brake effort
* low risk of aquaplaning, due to the two foremost wheels, which wipe the water for the ones behind them, ensuring a better roadholding
* comfort is a consequence of more evenly distributed reaction forces in the supension: the reaction in case of a pot hole is divided between the four front wheels and the shudder in the chassis is limited.
* reduced unsprung weight in the wheels improves the grip. Directional stability is improved: a change of angle due to slack in the steering mechanism (in stuctures like silentblocks) is compensated by the second set of wheels.
* two additional springs and dampers provide a better handling for the vehicle.

Technical Specifications
* ENGINE: rear, longitudinal, 8 cylinder in V formation, 4 valves per cylinder, naturally aspirated, petrol direct injection Bosch-motronic.
* CAPACITY: 4200 cc
* MAX POWER: 380 PS (260KW) at 6400 rpm
* MAX TORQUE: about 450 Nm (45.9 Kgm) at 2700 rpm
* TRANSMISSION: rear wheel drive transaxle
* GEARBOX: mechanical 6-speed + reverse. Manual and electro-hydraulic steeringwheel mounted servo
* CHASSIS: steel tubular with carbon fibre reinforcements and structural parts
* SUSPENSION: independent front and rear wishbones
* WHEELS AND TYRES: front 16in wheels with 215/45-16 tyres; rear 20in with 345/25-20 tyres
* BRAKES: front and rear vented Brembo discs. Bosch servo and electronic brake distribution
* BODYWORK: glass fibre and carbon fibre
* DIMENSIONS: length 4180mm; width 1990mm; height 1080mm; wheelbase 2230mm/2750mm (to foremost/middle front transaxle); front track 1540mm; rear track 1620mm ; dry weight 1150 kg
* TOP SPEED: 300 km/h (185mph)