Radical is one of those small-scale automakers that focus on hard-core, lightweight driving machines. Products from Radical, along with Caterham, KTM, BAC and the like aren’t well known, but they are lusted over by those in the know. This week the British company launched the Radical Rapture.

Click here to read about another British sportscar, the Ultima RS.

Road-going

The Radical Rapture is the company’s new flagship road-legal sportscar. Radical aims to blur the lines between road-going and racetrack machines by offering a car that can be used in both scenarios. The Rapture is based on a lightweight spaceframe with an FIA-compliant safety cell and crash structure. All up it is said to tip the scales at a scant 765 kg. That frame is covered by composite bodywork, with bi-plane rear wing and double-tunnel diffuser, that has been aero-tuned for high levels of downforce.

Turbo power

Powering the Radical Rapture is a 2,3-litre turbocharged EcoBoost engine, supplied by Ford and reworked by Radical Performance Engines. A new turbo and air induction system help liberate 260 kW and 434 N.m of torque. Drive is sent through a six-speed paddle-shift gearbox to the rear wheels.

Radicals says the Rapture will sprint to 100 km/h from zero in a shade over 3,0 seconds. Flat out it will do 265 km/h. To extract the best from their cars, each Rapture customer benefits from track tuition.

The Rapture’s cockpit incorporates two moulded racing seats with multi-point harnesses. The dash offers a racecar-style LCD display with data-logging functions.

In his own words

Radical Sportscars CEO, Joe Anwyll said: “Radical has always been a business to push the boundaries; in developing Rapture, we listened carefully to our global customer base to ensure that whilst road legal, the Rapture remains an undiluted, out-and-out track car at its core. We’ve distilled over two decades of motorsport heritage into the most focused, open sportscar possible. In Rapture, cutting edge direct-injection turbocharged powertrain technology and advanced underbody aerodynamics contribute to a unique package with electrifying performance.”

Learn more from the company’s official site.