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.
Reader Comments
Tue Dec 9 2008 8:55 AM
Chris says
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.
Tue Dec 9 2008 9:36 AM
LisaV says
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.
Tue Dec 9 2008 10:14 AM
Chris says
i'm not saying that it's a gimick. i'm saying that hydroplaning would be worse.
Tue Dec 9 2008 10:53 AM
Chris says
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.
Tue Dec 9 2008 11:22 AM
Gus says
Of all the ahir-brained ideas out there, this one will not sell simply because it is ugly.
Tue Dec 9 2008 11:23 AM
Gus says
It's like a girl with an extra set. Might be good on paper, but in reality?...
Tue Dec 9 2008 12:12 PM
Chris says
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
Tue Dec 9 2008 12:20 PM
Mike says
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.
Tue Dec 9 2008 12:43 PM
www.mywheelsonwalls.com says
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!!!
Tue Dec 9 2008 2:07 PM
SuperSkyline89 says
Looked weird in the picture renderings . . . looks worse in the real ones . . .
Tue Dec 9 2008 6:08 PM
justin says
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
Tue Dec 9 2008 6:18 PM
Damien Thomas says
According to Covini, the two foremost wheels wipe away the water for the wheels directly behind them and thus lowers the risk of aquaplaning.
Tue Dec 9 2008 7:38 PM
azlan says
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.
Tue Dec 9 2008 9:20 PM
mburleigh8 says
This car looks stupid.
Fri Dec 12 2008 7:29 PM
tknarfalaska says
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....
Sat Dec 13 2008 1:15 PM
mosesmaster says
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
Sat Dec 13 2008 9:19 PM
bren says
i would give it to some i really don't like. just to get even.
Mon Dec 15 2008 6:03 PM
bru5520 says
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
Wed Dec 31 2008 8:39 AM
LisaV says
A real car nut. Wish I was a shiek.
Sat Jan 3 2009 1:08 AM
musicmanvin says
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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