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Covini C6W six-wheel supercar to enter production in 2009

Covini C6W six-wheel supercar to enter production in 2009

Alex Kaufmann December 9th, 2008 Alex Kaufmann By Alex Kaufmann Author December 9th, 2008
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December 31st, 1969 The Covini C6W (short for Covini 6 Wheeler) is an Italian two-seat, two-door supercar with a removable roof section. The vehicle was first conceived more than 30 years ago by Ferruccio Covini but was later ditched until the late 1980s. With the development of new hydro-pneumatic suspension technology, Covini was able to design the front four-wheel section to suit different driving conditions, however the project was delayed once again due to high development costs. Then, in 2004, Covini rolled out the first completed prototype at the Geneva Motor Show, promising to put the car into production. Unfortunately, since its debut nothing has been seen or heard of the Covini C6W. That has all changed with AutoWeek reporting that the oddly-designed supercar is headed for limited production next year. The benefits of the six-wheel system, according to Covini, is that the vehicle is protected if one of the front wheels is deflated, has extra braking capacity thanks to four individual brake units up front plus two in the back, less chance of aquaplaning, increased grip and a more comfortable ride. The production version is expected to sport the same Audi-sourced 4.2L V8 engine as the prototype. Final numbers should read 380hp (260kW) and 331lb-ft (450Nm), with drive going to the rear wheels via a six-manual gearbox. The C6W features a steel tubular chassis with carbon fiber reinforcements and structural parts. The four front wheels measure 16in, while the rear pair measure in at 20in. Covini claims the C6W weighs in at just 1,150kg and is capable of reach speeds in excess of 300km/h.Covini C6W supercar
The Covini C6W made its debut at the 2004 Geneva Motor Show and is rumored to see production next year

The Covini C6W made its debut at the 2004 Geneva Motor Show and is rumored to see production next year

Enlarge Photo

The Covini C6W (short for Covini 6 Wheeler) is an Italian two-seat, two-door supercar with a removable roof section. The vehicle was first conceived more than 30 years ago by Ferruccio Covini but was later ditched until the late 1980s. With the development of new hydro-pneumatic suspension technology, Covini was able to design the front four-wheel section to suit different driving conditions, however the project was delayed once again due to high development costs.

Then, in 2004, Covini rolled out the first completed prototype at the Geneva Motor Show, promising to put the car into production. Unfortunately, since its debut nothing has been seen or heard of the Covini C6W. That has all changed with AutoWeek reporting that the oddly-designed supercar is headed for limited production next year.

The benefits of the six-wheel system, according to Covini, is that the vehicle is protected if one of the front wheels is deflated, has extra braking capacity thanks to four individual brake units up front plus two in the back, less chance of aquaplaning, increased grip and a more comfortable ride.

The production version is expected to sport the same Audi-sourced 4.2L V8 engine as the prototype. Final numbers should read 380hp (260kW) and 331lb-ft (450Nm), with drive going to the rear wheels via a six-manual gearbox. The C6W features a steel tubular chassis with carbon fiber reinforcements and structural parts. The four front wheels measure 16in, while the rear pair measure in at 20in.

Covini claims the C6W weighs in at just 1,150kg and is capable of reach speeds in excess of 300km/h.
Covini C6W supercar
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Tags: Supercars

Posted in: News


Comments (20 total)

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  1. ma_Chris avatar by Chris #1, Posted: 12/9/2008

    ok.. more grip? sure.. protection against hydro-planing? not a chance. hydroplaning is what happens when your wheels cant cut through the water to reach the road below. it means that driving over rain feels like driving over snow. this is WORSENED with higher contact area with the road.

    besides. it's fugly.

  2. ma_LisaV avatar by LisaV #2, Posted: 12/9/2008

    I saw a Tyrell P34 drive straight to the front in a field of multi-year vintage F1 cars recently. This is no gimick. Does make you blink though.

  3. ma_Chris avatar by Chris #3, Posted: 12/9/2008

    i'm not saying that it's a gimick. i'm saying that hydroplaning would be worse.

  4. ma_Chris avatar by Chris #4, Posted: 12/9/2008

    plus.. lisa.. remember that F1 cars have lots of down force caused by the body work. the down force is so strong that at race speeds, they could actually drive upside down because they stick so much to the road.

    on cars with little or no downforce (road cars, even super cars) the added contact area might minimize effective grip by not putting enough pressure on the road.

  5. ma_gus avatar by Gus Chyba #5, Posted: 12/9/2008

    Of all the ahir-brained ideas out there, this one will not sell simply because it is ugly.

  6. ma_gus avatar by Gus Chyba #6, Posted: 12/9/2008

    It's like a girl with an extra set. Might be good on paper, but in reality?...

  7. ma_Chris avatar by Chris #7, Posted: 12/9/2008

    lol gus... this car and that girl draw so many parallels.. an extra pair up front, and nothing but business under the rear?

    i hope i dont have to elaborate any further.

    ...makes a front-wheel drive car seem REALLY odd :p

  8. ma_Mike avatar by Mike #8, Posted: 12/9/2008

    Wasn't there a British company that made a huge 6 wheel car back in the '70s or '80s with a Cadillac engine? I think they also made Bugatti Royale or Morgan-esque replicas too.

  9. ma_www.mywheelsonwalls.com avatar by www.mywheelsonwalls.com #9, Posted: 12/9/2008

    Mike- yes there was and it was called a Panther. Also that Cadillac engine was a huge 8.2 litres with twin turbo's. It now sits dismantled in a shipping container somewhere in the middle east.

    As for this idea!!! You've got Ferrari announcing its laying off 10% of its workforce and these guys think that their unknown company is going to sell supercars in the current economy. Fat chance!!!

  10. ma_SuperSkyline89 avatar by SuperSkyline89 #10, Posted: 12/9/2008

    Looked weird in the picture renderings . . . looks worse in the real ones . . .

  11. ma_justin avatar by justin #11, Posted: 12/9/2008

    Chris, theres a very little chance anybody's gona drive this in the rain, so grip is not the issue here. Its just ugly. And there is tons of grip on dry land especially since its light and has the extra pair of wheels. I wouldn't worry about hydroplaning

  12. ma_Damien Thomas avatar by Damien Thomas #12, Posted: 12/9/2008

    According to Covini, the two foremost wheels wipe away the water for the wheels directly behind them and thus lowers the risk of aquaplaning.

  13. ma_azlan avatar by azlan #13, Posted: 12/9/2008

    there is such thing as a six wheeled car but not a supercar! even if somehow it drives amazingly which i doubt it looks like where looking at the car through double vision.

  14. ma_mburleigh8 avatar by mburleigh8 #14, Posted: 12/9/2008

    This car looks stupid.

  15. ma_tknarfalaska avatar by tknarfalaska #15, Posted: 12/12/2008

    I would be much more impressed if there was tandem rear axles.... More power to the road...
    silly, this is for people with too much money....

  16. ma_mosesmaster avatar by mosesmaster #16, Posted: 12/13/2008

    Hey chris, if the front tires have independent suspension from each other on both sides which it says they do, then the hydroplaning would actually be significantly reduced due to the fact that the front most wheel will create displacement for the trailing wheel, think of the wake of a boat. This is actually old tech that was thought of back in the forties by the Famous Tucker

  17. ma_bren avatar by bren #17, Posted: 12/13/2008

    i would give it to some i really don't like. just to get even.

  18. ma_bru5520 avatar by bru5520 #18, Posted: 12/15/2008

    it's basicaly a 6 wheeled ferrari of sorts,an unattractive 1 at that,i wonder what idiots financed such a big waste of time and money

  19. ma_LisaV avatar by LisaV #19, Posted: 12/31/2008

    A real car nut. Wish I was a shiek.

  20. ma_musicmanvin avatar by musicmanvin #20, Posted: 1/2/2009

    i wonder.. have they ever thought of putting the 2 extra set of wheels at the back, and run power to the 4 rear wheels? imagine the thrust that thing would have with an engine from the SL65 AMG! my god... you'd snap your neck if you gassed it lol

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