WANNA BUILD YOUR OWN CARBON FIBER SPORTS CAR?

You probably don’t think of Thailand when you think of countries producing high- performance automobiles. But wait, here’s the exotic Galmer Arbitrage GT. Bangkok lightweight component specialist Cobra International and U.S. automobile stylist Kevin Gallahan joined forces to produce this new supercar. Cobra brings lightweight body-building expertise in fiber-reinforced composites to the table and is responsible for producing all of the carbon fiber body panels.

Aptly named for the business practice, the Arbitrage GT takes advantage of the lower production costs in Thailand to offer a car with typically expensive materials to the U.S. market at a surprisingly low cost. Pricing details and options packages aren’t known yet, but Kevin Gallahan says: “What the customer will receive for the money, compared to other manufacturers outside of Thailand, especially those using advanced lightweight composite parts, will be without comparison.”



Production plans call for just 350 units, a third slated for U.S. delivery, to hit the market in 2008. U.S.-spec models will come fully assembled minus the engine and transaxle. The company provides customers with a list of preferred suppliers for these components. (The top recommended power plant is a GM-sourced, mid-mounted 505 horsepower V8 from the Chevrolet Corvette Z06. VW’s twin turbocharged 3.2-liter V6 is also a candidate.) Many people refer to autos like this as “kit cars,” but this vehicle is a higher caliber than most in that category.

Source: Business Week