Photo Gallery + Video: Drakan Spyder at El Mirage Dry Lake
I had never heard of the Sector111 Drakan Spyder until this past June when I saw it on display at the annual HRE Performance Wheels open house. At first sight, my eyes locked upon it like a pit bull’s jaws clamped on a delicious bone. I was mesmerized. I wanted to keep staring at it like I want to keep staring at this month’s Maxim cover girl, Emily Didonato.
This genre of open-wheel supercar has generally left me cold in the past. The Ariel Atom, while being awesome for trying to rip off Jeremy Clarkson’s face, is too bare-bones for me to take seriously as a sports car. I look at it as more of a four-wheeled motorcycle. Don’t get me wrong — I think the Atom is one of the coolest things ever to attack a strip of asphalt, but bare-basic cars like it always make me feel like there’s something missing. The BAC Mono with its glorious bodywork feels more complete to me, but it’s missing something, too: a passenger seat. I believe the supercar experience should be shared. Thankfully, the Drakan Spyder is a two-seater. With the dump truck’s-worth of lip-splitting smiles I’m sure this car is capable of producing, it’s nice to know someone can ride with you to share the grin burden.
There’s also one other thing the U.S.A.-designed, -engineered and -built Drakan Spyder has out of the box that the BAC and Ariel don’t have: GM eRod LS3 power. Take a listen to how that V8 rumbles as we pulled it out onto the El Mirage dry lake bed for our photo shoot this past weekend.
The Drakan Spyder is the first ultra-light sports car I’ve come across that seems like a fit for a wider variety of car enthusiasts. This thing is for people who like their cars to offer more than just speed. The Drakan adds everyday functionality with that second seat, beautiful looks with its bodywork, and visceral satisfaction with the torquey LS3 V8.
Specifications
0 to 60 mph: 3.2 Seconds
Engine: 6.2L, 430-hp V8 with 424 lb-ft of Torque
Transmission: Porsche G96 Six-Speed Transaxle
Body: Lightweight Composite
Chassis: TIG-Welded Chromoly Tube
Windshield: DOT Safety Glass with Wiper and Fluid Reservoir
Brakes: Wilwood forged, radial four-piston calipers front and rear on Girodisc 12.9-inch floating, ventilated, slotted discs with billet hats.
Wheels: HRE Forged alloy 17”x 8” (Front), 18”x10.5” (Rear)
Tires: Toyo R888 235/40 R17 (Front), 315/30 R18 (Rear)
Top Speed: 165 mph
Lateral Acceleration: 1.2g
Curb Weight: 2,000 lbs.
Weight-to-Power Ratio: 4.7 lb/hp —Â (C7 Corvette Stingray: 7.3 lb/hp || Porsche 911 Carrera S = 7.7 lb/hp)
Weight Distribution F/R: 40%/60%
Price: $80,000 for a rolling chassis with no powertrain, or $100,000 for a turn-key car. Only 10 cars will be sold this year, and nine have already been ordered.
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