The MT900 is a sports car built in the United States by Mosler. Three submodels have also been produced. The MT900R was a racing version of the MT900. The basic car was updated as the MT900S for 2005, with the MT900S Photon being its racing variant. The original MT900 was introduced in 2001 and the MT900S continues in production. Components for 25 MTs were produced as of January, 2005, though only three road cars and eleven racing versions have officially been completed.
MT900
The MT900 was designed by Rod Trenne, who previously worked on the Corvette C5. The name stood for Mosler, Trenne, and the car's 900 kilogram (1984 lb) target weight.
The MT900 used a carbon-fiber chassis with a LS1 V8 engine mounted amidships, powering the rear wheels. Power output is 350 hp (261 kW), with 350 ft·lbf (475 N·m) of torque. A ZF transaxle, designed for Porsche, was mounted upside down to allow the engine to sit in front of the rear axle.
The original MT900 weighed 1175 kg (2590 lb), much more than the target weight, but could still accelerate to 60 mph (97 km/h) in 3.5 seconds according to Car and Driver. The MT900 they tested could also do a 12.0 second quarter mile at 118 mph (190 km/h), and they recorded a top speed of 150 mph (241 km/h), limited by the redline. More impressive, the MT900 pulled 1.02 g on the skidpad. The EPA estimated 19 and 28 mpg (12.4 and 8.4 L/100 km) in city and highway driving, respectively.
The car had a somewhat plain exterior was designed for aerodynamics, with a low 0.25 coefficient of drag. List price was US$164,000. Sales were certainly slow, however, with some reports even indicating that not a single road version of the MT900 was sold.
MT900R
Introduced at the same time as the basic MT900 was the race-ready MT900R. It was designed for use in the 24 Hours of Daytona, where it won the GTS class, and sold for $119,000. Mosler planned to build 10 for the 2001 season, and reports indicate that eleven were produced by October 2003.
The MT900R won the British and Spanish GT championships, and the car was competative in the FIA GT championship as well. Three MT900s were entered at the May, 2005 RAC Tourist Trophy race at Silverstone, England, finishing second, fifth, and twelfth. The car also took a class win at the FIA GT race in Imola, Italy.
MT900S
The MT900 underwent several changes to become the MT900S. It now boasts 435 hp (324 kW) from its Corvette Z06-derived LS6 V8. The car weighs just 2200 lb (998 kg) without fuel.
An early prototype MT900S, despite being up 390 lb (177 kg) and down 65 hp (48 kW) from the producion version, boasted a 0-60 time of 3.5 seconds and a quarter-mile time of 12 seconds flat.
In June, 2005, Mosler announced that they had reached EPA and CARB certification on the MT900S, finally allowing road car sales to begin in the United States. The price is set at $189,000 with two examples having been built as of January 2005.
Photon
A MT900S Photon variant is available which adds a Hewland transmission, thinwall subframes, BBS magnesium wheels, titanium springs, and carbon fiber seats and bodywork, reducing the car's weight to just under its initial target at 898 kg (1980 lb). This is technically a $50,000 option package for the MT900S. As of January, 2005, a single Photon had been built and was sold for use in the United Kingdom.
References
- Template:Journal reference
- "Mosler MT 900 Supercar Comes To America". Motor Trend. June 22.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=and|year=/|date=mismatch (help)