The Hofstetter Turbo is a Brazilian sports car created in the 1980s by Mario Richard Hofstetter. In 1980, Hofstetter started to draw a prototype of the car. The idea was to produce a domestically built sports car, since the Brazilian government had strict policies on importing foreign cars at the time. In 1982, he started to put the mid-engined car together with some other workers, and began the Hofstetter company in 1984. Hofstetter was only able to sell 18 cars between 1986–1991.
| Hofstetter Turbo | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Hofstetter |
| Also called | Hofstetter Cortada |
| Production | 1984 |
| Model years | 1986-1991 (18 produced) |
| Designer | Mario R Hofstetter |
| Body and chassis | |
| Layout | Rear mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout |
| Doors | Gull-wing |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2,380 mm (94 in) |
| Length | 4,170 mm (164 in) |
| Width | 1,740 mm (69 in) |
| Height | 1,070 mm (42 in) |
| Curb weight | 1,120 kg (2,470 lb) |
Performance
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The Turbo featured a fiberglass body with gull-wing doors that were reportedly inspired by the Alfa Romeo Carabo concept car.[1] The interior was upholstered in leather and featured an early digital dash.[2] Early models of the Turbo were powered by a 1.8 L Inline-four engine from the Volkswagen Passat which was then equipped with a Garrett turbocharger and coupled to a 4-speed manual gearbox. These engines reportedly produced 140 hp (100 kW) at 5,000 rpm, and would accelerate the car from 0–60 mph (0–97 km/h) in 9.3 seconds and reach a top speed of 120 mph (193 km/h). Later models used a 2.0 L inline-four engine out of a Volkswagen Santana that was also turbocharged with a Garrett turbo. This engine reportedly produced 210 hp (160 kW) and increased the top speed to 147 mph (237 km/h).[3]
References
edit- ^ "Best Cars Web Site - Páginas da História - Hofstetter". bestcars.uol.com.br (in Brazilian Portuguese). 15 July 2003. Retrieved 2018-04-11.
- ^ "Hofstetter Turbo". thepetrolstop.com. Archived from the original on 2018-04-12. Retrieved 2018-04-11.
- ^ Mead, Derek (16 October 2010). "Brazil's Hyper-Exclusive Gullwing Death Wedge". Jalopnik. Retrieved 2018-04-11.
External links
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