After 32 years of development, the Covini Engineering team claims this is the production version of the six-wheeled C6W that's finally being unveiled this week. The future is now.
Two years ago we explained how the Covini Six Wheeler takes its engineering inspiration from the 1976 Tyrell P34 race car. That car had two sets of front wheels that were intended to increase air penetration and provide a smaller frontal area to reduce drag.
Even though the specific engineering behind the Tyrell P34 doesn't necessarily translate to the C6W, Ferruccio Covini, the company's founder, gave us the following reasons two years ago for why he's creating his modern-day six-wheeler:
• Less risk of front tires deflating
• Less risk of aquaplaning
• Better braking
• Better grip
• Better comfort
• Better absorption of frontal impact
Now, two years later, Ferruccio tells us he'll finally be bringing what he calls a "production version" of his Covini C6W to this week's Racing Professional Motor Show in Bologna.
Power for this rear-wheel-drive six-wheeled beast will be a 4.2-liter Audi mill channeling 433bhp (440PS) and 346 lb-ft (470Nm) through a six-speed manual gearbox. The C6W's top speed is expected to be 185 MPH.
But that's not all. Ferruccio also let slip that next year Covini Engineering will prepare a new diesel-powered supercar along with a new, as yet unnamed project. All we know is that he'll be announcing the project tomorrow at the show.
For the moment, sate your thirst for six-wheeled awesomeness with the following video of a prototype C6W on the track:
We have to love the idea of any car that follows the maxim: If two wheels are bad and four wheels are good, then six wheels must be awesome.
But as always, we'll believe it when we see it in the cold metal and six-wheeled flesh.