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2008 Avro 720 Mirage

Just as the Ford GT becomes a legend in its own time, Avro Motor Cars, the Brooklands-based supercar specialist, has joined forces with Roush Technologies in the UK to create a further strictly limited edition of the car. The Avro 720 Mirage special edition will be limited to just 10 cars – the first of which has just been rolled out of Roush’s Technical Centre in Brentwood, Essex.

Finished in vibrant Arancia Metallica (Italian Metallic Orange) with semi-matt black details and wheels – and exclusive sill plates and side decals, the 720 Mirage incorporates a significant range of engine and mechanical upgrades. Changes in appearance include the deletion of the rear bumper – partly to save weight – and each car will carry an exclusive numbered Avro plaque on the centre tunnel.

Roush Technologies’ close association with the Ford GT programme includes the homologation of the European cars. The company is also the only officially appointed Ford approved service centre for the cars in the UK. Now, its engineers have applied a custom calibration package to the car, to extract a delivered, mean 720bhp at 6950rpm and a massive 815Nm (627lb.ft.) of torque at 4800rpm. The car is also derestricted, which gives a top speed capability in excess of 220mph (354km/h).

Central to the increased power is a larger – and polished – Whipple supercharger. The induction side of the engine also includes an Accufab throttle body and inlet sleeve. An Accufab X pipe exhaust system with ceramic-coated tips is also fitted. Other engine equipment includes a Mafia MAF sensor adaptor and a transmission breather catch tank.

The running gear on the Avro 720 Mirage has been appropriately upgraded to match the boost in power. The front and rear track is 5mm wider than the standard car. The front brakes use AP Racing 6-pot front callipers with Stillen drilled and slotted rotors – and similar rotors are used also at the rear. The suspension has been lowered by 25mm – and uprated to include KW’s Variant 3 fully adjustable coil-over system.

Avro Managing Director, Andy McGrath says, “When we created the highly successful Roush 600RE edition, we recognised the potential in the car to go a step further. The Ford GT is already a rare and sought after motorcar and simply identifying and locating more available untitled vehicles has been a significant challenge for us. The 720 Mirage is available exclusively from Avro – and once these cars are completed, we believe there will be no more. Examples of our 600RE edition are now located in several parts of the world – and we expect the market response to the 720 Mirage to be similarly international.”

Story by Avro Motor Cars

In Detail

engine All Aluminum, MOD V8 w/Dry Sump Lubrication
position Mid Longitudinal
aspiration Whipple Supercharger
valvetrain DOHC, 4 Valves per Cyl w/Variable Inlet Geometry
fuel feed Sequential Multi-Port Electronic Fuel Injection (SEFI) with Dual
displacement 5409 cc / 330.1 in³
bore 90.2 mm / 3.55 in
stroke 105.8 mm / 4.17 in
compression 8.4:1
power 536.9 kw / 720 bhp @ 6950 rpm
specific output 133.11 bhp per litre
bhp/weight 453.4 bhp per tonne
torque 815 nm / 601.1 ft lbs @ 4800 rpm
body / frame Aluminum Panels over Aluminum Spaceframe
driven wheels RWD w/Helical LSD
front tires Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar 235/45ZR18
rear tires Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar 315/40ZR19
front brakes Stillen Discs w/AP Racing 6-Piston Calipers
f brake size mm / in
rear brakes Stillen Discs w/AP Racing 6-Piston Calipers
r brake size mm / in
front wheels F 45.7 x 22.9 cm / 18 x 9 in
rear wheels R 48.3 x 29.2 cm / 19.0 x 11.5 in
steering Rack & pinion
f suspension Upper A Arm & Lower L Arm w/KW Suspension
r suspension Upper A Arm & Lower L Arm w/KW Suspension
curb weight 1588 kg / 3500 lbs
wheelbase 2710 mm / 106.7 in
front track 1604 mm / 63.1 in
rear track 1623 mm / 63.9 in
length 4643 mm / 182.8 in
width 1953 mm / 76.9 in
height 1100 mm / 43.3 in
transmission Ricardo Six-Speed
gear ratios 2.61:1, 1.71:1, 1.23:1, 0.94:1, 0.77:1, 0.63:1, :1
final drive 3.36:1
top speed ~354.1 kph / 220 mph