Weber Sportcars from Tobel, Switzerland are dreaming big with their latest mock-up revealed at the 2007 Top Marques Monaco show. What they have in mind is a 250 mph, carbon fiber supercar that is shaped largely by aerodynamics. After nine months of computer-aided design, they were able to make a full size model of what the final shape might look like. Included is an active rear wing that changes in angle for both acceleration and braking.

Power for the new Sportscar will come from a 7.0l supercharged V8 that will churn out 950 bhp to the rear wheels. Other equally impressive features include 12-piston carbon/ceramic disc brakes, a fully sequential gearbox and a speculated 0-60 time of 2.5 seconds.

Options will include a versatile on board computer with timing devices, a multimedia kit or a full race 'package' which might make it eligible for endurance sports car racing.

Over the next year it will be interesting to see if Weber can elevate this project to the next level. While we don't particularly like the styling, if the new car can achieve any of the aforementioned performance figures we will pay close attention.

The Swiss do many things well. Harbouring ill-gotten gold, for example. And triangular chocolate.

But, judging by this effort from Swiss manufacturer Weber, not supercars.

It's simply hideous. The front looks like the kidney grill off a 5-Series. But melted. And repeatedly kicked. The rest of it we're not even going to dignify with any attempt at objective analysis.

All those mangled panels are apparently essential in gaining greater aerodynamic efficiency, presumably because the Weber's appearance physically scares the air out of its path.

That warped, pained exterior is made from carbon fibre - as is the chassis, which gets some aluminium mixed in for good measure.

It's all powered by a 7.0-litre V8. Developing 900bhp with the help of a supercharger, it also generates 775lb ft of torque.

That's enough, says Weber, to get its superuglycar from 0-60mph in 2.5 seconds and a top speed of 249mph.

Quick, yes, but not quick enough for Weber's monster to evade the uncoveted title of Top Gear's Ugliest Car of 2007 Thus Far. Any challengers?

The aerodynamic tuning is probably the most important thing from a super sportscar. Our technicians have spent a long time with the optimism. Over a period of nine months new models were designed again and again. The perfect result can be showed! Reaching the finale speed of over 400 km/h is guaranteed. Important in this case are those contact pressure in the front and in the rear, so that the vehicle remains stable at the street. The engine and transmission interpretation were determined due to these dates. We have a power reserve of 15%, in order to reach the final speed.

The adaptive wing is constructed for excellent acceleration and for best results by braking.

In slow motion is the rear spoiler retracted and will be extended during acceleration.. The position of the spoiler is variable and is affected by the car condition. The rear spoiler will be in a vertical position during the breaking process. The maximum breakpower will be 4'000 N which the car will reach additional.

Basic components:

Complete body from carbon (CFK)

The chassis consists of high-quality aluminum sequential gearbox with semiautomatic and full automatic shift mode

High Performance 7.0l V8 supercharged mid mounted and intercooled engine with dry sump, 900hp and 1050Nm with different engine management modes (comfort mode with reduced power and fuel consumption – Sport mode with high power and aggressive acceleration and top speed)

High performance Carbon-Ceramic brakes with anti lock system and constant capability, also in cold run. Calipers with 12 pistons

Special Weber alloy wheels with own center lock

Active Traction Control System

Active Aero Control, adaptive hydraulik wing, also for breaking

Active four wheel motion control

Mulitfunctional steering wheel with shiftlights and shiftpaddles

TFT- multifunction cockpit display with board computer

Remote controlled central lock system

Keyless entry functionality

Electronic window lifter

Automatic clima control

Rain Sensor

Rear view camera

Sound System with Radio / CD System

Navigation System with TMC

Anti theft device and alarm system

Height: 1'150 mm, 45.3"

Length: 4'500 mm, 177.2"

Width: 2'040 mm, 80.3"

Wheelbase: 2'900 mm, 114.2"

Dry weight 1,100 kg

Tires: Front 265 30 19" Rear 355 25 19"

4 Tanks with a Fuel capacity of 110 litres.

Weber reserves the right to change specifications without further notice.

Options: Extended Functions:

Extended board computer with timing devices and special onboard management systems for races control available like pitspeed limiter and start control

Speed control

Extended Comfort Package:


Multimedia system with internet and e-mail access

Hands free car kit for mobil phones

TV functionality

Race Package:Car prepared for full race usage. Features like:

Laptrigger for lap time measurement

On board logger with professional data analysis software

A variety of additional sensors for professional race application to determine optimum performance of aero – suspension – cooling – engine – gearbox and tyres.

Optional telemetry and radio system.

A great Brazilian poet, Vinicius de Moraes, used to say something extraordinary: “May ugly women forgive me, but beauty is fundamental”. One can apply that to the automotive world and ask: what good is riding a fantastic machine that does not look very attractive? Well, you may ask that for future owners of the Weber F1, acronym that stands for “Fastest One”. And this Swiss-made machine indeed honors the name: weighing a mere 1,100 kg and powered by a deeply modified Corvette LS7 V8 engine pumping out 900 bhp, it achieves a weight ratio of 1.22 kg/bhp. That allows the F1 to reach speeds of more than 420 km/h, according to Weber Sportcars, the Swiss company that has created the car.

The company itself knows the car doesn’t look very appealing and justifies that with the expression “uncompromising innovative styling geared toward maximum aerodynamic efficiency”. In other words, blame it on the air resistance. Weber Sportcars also states that the F1 is the fastest street legal car of the world, but, while the company does not put the vehicle to a certified test, such as the one SSC Ultimate Aero has performed for Guinness World Records in order to get the title the Swiss car claims for itself, that will remain only a statement.

Anyway, we have no reasons to doubt the car can really do what it promises. The LS7 engine has kept only the aluminum block. Everything else has been upgraded to stand the pressure two superchargers impose to reach the high output and the torque of 1,050 Nm at 3,900 rpm. Traction is on all four wheels (up to 36% of power can go to the front wheel), what surely makes the car more drivable, considering its low weight and high output.

Performance figures for the 4.50 m long and 1.50 tall car are impressive: 0 to 100 km/h in about 2.5 s, 0 to 200 km/h in 6.6 s and 0 to 300 km/h in 16.2 s. All brakes use 12-piston calipers, but the company does not inform braking performance numbers. Prices are also amazing: 1,620,000 Swiss francs, or about 1 million euros. Do performance figures, even at that price, compensate having an “uncompromised styling”? Feel free to answer.