A bit older news, that dates back to 11/08. But enjoy. It's all written in Korean, and I have tried to translate them in English, after the link.

The link is:

http://auto.naver.com/brand/car.nhn?car_id...7&ctype=expert#


Translation: *NOTE, This isn't complete yet of the whole artice, will be finished tomorrow. I tried to translate it as best as I can, and I am not sure if it has been done 100% accurate, but I hope you enjoy.

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Korea's first hand-made supercar Spirra was made of carbon fiber body on a steel space frame. The car used for testing has 2.7 liter Turbo engine, producing 500HP and 58.3KG.M of Maximum Torque, propelling the car in 0-100kph(0-60mph) in 3.8 seconds, with the top speed of 332Km/h. With the car in final testing phase, I could confirm the posibilities and the beauty of the Spirra Turbo.

Korea's automotive industry is made up of large firms, giving lots of benefits to most of the population, but it is a fact that, variety should be included for a higher standard of the automotive lifestyles. To that end, it is great to see such a varing tries and work is being done to the Korean automobiles. Premium Rear Drive passenger cars and Rear Drive Sports Coupes have begun to be manufactured, along with the stylish crossover models that, isn't a shame anymore to be compared with such fancy models like Mini's or new Beetle. But it is still a shame that all those models are being made by a giant auto maker only.

In that respect, the car that has received so much anticipation by so may car mania's for so long is the Spirra. The car that has been known ever since Proto Motors, who have specialized in building Show Cars, and Concept Cars announcing to produce traditional, mid-engined sports car. The Spirra at first, was called PS-II on its prototype stage. The PS-II then have confirmed the new name 'Spirra' and had been re-worked and improved, and on 2007, Oulim Motors have bought the company and is now known as the Oulim Spirra and is nearing it's sales soon.

The author have met the early stage Spirra in 2003. Could drive the car in a limited space for a short time, and not only it wasn't an easy opportunity to take, and it was fascinating to experience the cars pure innocence of the early stage mid-engined sports car made up of the space frame body. Now, had the opportunity to meet the final phase version that is being ready to be sold to the public.

Lately, Spirra have won the GT Master's Series Circuit, specs, photos, and videos have been out to let the word out. It is truly thankful to test the car beforehand, while it hasn't been proven all through 100 percent.

After few days of foggy weather in Korea that is hard to tell if it is Summer or Fall, the forcast have pridicted that there will be showers. A news that isn't a welcoming sign, since that was the very day when the filming and test drive was scheduled. We gathered at the BoonDang Yuldong Park on 5:30AM for the filming and a short test drive. Unfortunately, the forcast was right on, and the weather on 5AM was a drizzling rain.

The meeting of the Sprirra in the drizzling rain, We didn't have any chance to look over the car thoroghly, and had to leave for the Incheon Airport. Leaving BoonDang, we have agreed that I will be behind the wheel of the Spirra first. I rode into the car's flat, recaro bucket seat, by lifting the button hidden on the side of the door, opening the door. The seat fit the body perfectly, and it slowly made me nervous thanx to its tight feel. Adjusting the distance of the seats, seatback, and the angle of the steering wheel for the perfect pedal control. The steering wheel lacks the telescoping feature and only has the tilting feature, but the seating position was well-designed. After fastening the 4 point Seatbelts, it tightened the body with the seat as if its one.

Again, tried on the pedals and tested to see if the seating position is right. The foot that steps on the clutch takes some effort. The clutch is properly heavy enough and right for the car's power. The steering wheel provided by Momo was a different unit than the released photos of the Spirra S, but it's smaller diameter and the grip was excellent that is very suitable for the high performance Sports Cars. Will have to control the beast Spirra with this small steering wheel.

Finally, we started her up. The production car will have push button start, but on this test vehicle, regular, traditional ignition is installed. When the ignition turns on, monstrous loud noise comes up from behind. Cars like Ferraris or Lamborghiney's aren't this loud from the idle. While the ignition turns on, the Speedometer and RPM needles turns all the way up and goes back to 0. Reminds of what Infinity models do. From the interior mirror, I can get a glimpse of the Spirra's red engine cover, but whatever further up is hard to see as if it is sealed.

Before departing, tested the clutch once more, and finally, put in the first gear. The shifter's length is just right and the distance is good. The shifts control is a bit 'ORDINARY' and factoring in the power, it would have been nicer if it was more energetic. The feel of the gearlever design leaves a lot to be desired from the interior and it is something that must be re-born as a 'sexy' units to fit high performance sports cars. The clutch needs to be released softly while quickly. From the city driving maneuver, gear shifts around 3000 RPM, but the noice around there is deafning. You can seriously let the other know your presence.

Going past the city, and merging into the highway's driving wasn't as difficult as we feared. Rightfully heavy clutch, and the monstrous noise of the engine and fuel pumps sound that hits your back head, and as the RPM goes over 3,000 that increases the sound of Turbine and the sound of the blow-off valve whenever you lift your foot off the accelerator increases your nerve level, but there wasn't a situation that make your muscles nervous. The ride transfers the road condition well but it isn't too harsh.

We thought of it as getting used to the Spirra and put up the RPM, swiftly shifted, and passing the city, we have used the 6th gear many times. Then, in the highways, we increased the RPM level gradually, maintaining with the double clutch, and lowering the Gears one by one, The engine sound that increases with the RPM makes the nerve level go up. In 3rd gear, aroune 80KPH, we stepped on the accelator hard and opened up the throttle, then, the sudden RPM increase comes the turbine kicking the Rag, then the level of excitement we haven't noticed before hits your back. That's right, The Turbo kicks in and the explosive speed is shooting the Spirra and its driver away. Not only the amazing speed, but the sound of the Turbo spinning that fades far away was enough to feel more than an actual speed the car is travelling. If it was like this on the 3rd gear, what would it be like on the 1st and 2nd gear?