Highlights
- Mexican high performance track and road car
- Peak exclusivity – the only one in the UK
- VUHL Certificate of Authentication, Edition One, Car #1
- Debuted at 2013 Goodwood Festival of Speed
- The ultimate sub-tonne two-seater sports car
- Received factory-provided upgrades in 2017
The Appeal
Gearheads will know all about the VUHL 05 Edition One.
This particular car is the only one of its kind in the UK (there’s another one in Europe). Thousands will have seen it roar up The Hill at Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2013, piloted by F1 driver Esteban Gutierrez (who kindly left his signature on the dashboard).
This particular car is the only one of its kind in the UK (there’s another one in Europe). Thousands will have seen it roar up The Hill at Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2013, piloted by F1 driver Esteban Gutierrez (who kindly left his signature on the dashboard).
The 05 is a two-seater road-legal circuit car designed and built in Mexico by brothers Guillermo and Iker Echeverria.
It deploys components sourced from British suppliers for 40% of the final car and tips the scales at just 725kg thanks to an all-aluminium monocoque and swathes of real carbon fibre.
Its fun-factor is backed by a 400 bhp per tonne power-to-weight ratio.
It deploys components sourced from British suppliers for 40% of the final car and tips the scales at just 725kg thanks to an all-aluminium monocoque and swathes of real carbon fibre.
Its fun-factor is backed by a 400 bhp per tonne power-to-weight ratio.
Curiosity piqued? Read on…
History and Paperwork
- Dry-stored/driven, garaged when not in use
- Fully maintained by VUHL-appointed UK service centre
- Low mileage, just two keepers
- Fresh MoT awaits new keeper
V7 UHL was built at VUHL HQ just outside Mexico City, Mexico from 4th February to 17th May, 2013.
It was brought to the UK by VUHL’s UK representative in 2013 as a demo/press car. Following its first UK public airing at the 2013 Goodwood FoS and subsequent media launch, it received its first UK registration in October, 2015 to MGSM Automotive Services Ltd of Ware, Kent.
It was brought to the UK by VUHL’s UK representative in 2013 as a demo/press car. Following its first UK public airing at the 2013 Goodwood FoS and subsequent media launch, it received its first UK registration in October, 2015 to MGSM Automotive Services Ltd of Ware, Kent.
The current keeper – a resident of Surrey – acquired the 05 in November, 2017 and has enjoyed the car to its fullest on several occasions. However, it is ‘time to move on’ and has offered the car for sale to a new keeper who hopefully can enjoy it equally as much.
Accompanying the sale of the car will be the V5C in the current keeper’s name, the VUHL Certificate of Authentication and a dealer’s Sale & Fit record of the car’s tracking system, monitored by Tracker Network UK. In addition, a fresh MoT will await the new keeper prior to handover.
In 2017, the car received a series of gratis factory upgrades that included the gargantuan rear spoiler from the VUHL 05RR model, some ECU work to free up 310hp (up from 285 bhp) and a set of 17-inch gloss black OZ wheels shod with Toyo Proxes R888R cut slicks.
The Interior
- Fully original in its sparsity
- Concise digital instrument cluster
- Carbon fibre bucket seats
- Dual Schroth five-point harnesses (FIA approved)
The car is only nine years old so everything inside the open cockpit is pretty much as it was built. Here, sparsity in the interest of weight loss is the name of the game.
There’s a pair of carbon fibre buckets seats each fitted with Schroth five-point harnesses which meet with FIA safety standards and subsequent approval.
Behind the Alcantara-clad, flat-bottomed, quick-release MOMO steering wheel is mounted the diminutive digital instrument cluster offering all the necessary readouts – ideally at a glance as you try to keep your eyeballs securely in their sockets through the twisty bits.
At head height between the two seats, a GoPro has been fitted to record your antics and…er, driving prowess.
To be honest, there’s not a lot else in the open-air cabin of this ultra-lightweight sports car.
To be honest, there’s not a lot else in the open-air cabin of this ultra-lightweight sports car.
The Exterior
- Look at it! Just look at it!
- Super smart in its black/carbon fibre/silver matte finish
- Gargantuan rear wing
- Handsome set of 17-inch OZ alloys.
Time has certainly done nothing to dull the VUHL 05’s visual impact.
With its wheels pushed right out to the extremities, gaping slats to channel air where it’s needed and sporting a spoiler so huge it looks pinched from a racing car twice its size.
With its wheels pushed right out to the extremities, gaping slats to channel air where it’s needed and sporting a spoiler so huge it looks pinched from a racing car twice its size.
Other track day cars such as the Ariel Atom, KTM’s Oxbow, Caterhams and Lotuses tend to merge into one after a while, but there’s little chance of that with this VUHL 05. Indeed, the vendor was once quoted as saying ‘this is not the car for you if you want to be discreet. It gets people's attention everywhere you go’.
The exterior is not in showroom condition, but it’s not too far removed that’s for sure. There are a few minor exterior blemishes received during its 8,000 miles enjoyed so far, but none of a magnitude to upset the most pernickety of owner.
The Mechanics
- Powered by Ford’s 2.0-litre turbocharged EcoBoost engine
- Fully maintained, no expense spared
- A 12-month MoT awaits the new keeper prior to handover
At the photo location, the car was repositioned to catch the best of the available light.
The sweet-sounding 2.0-litre turbocharged Ford EcoBoost power plant started first and every time and settled into an appreciative burble that only a well-tuned sports car can make.
The sweet-sounding 2.0-litre turbocharged Ford EcoBoost power plant started first and every time and settled into an appreciative burble that only a well-tuned sports car can make.
Also sourced from Ford is the six-speed manual gearbox – no flappy paddled automatic ‘box here. The transmission connected smoothly and the clutch engaged with no drama, requiring just a light feathering of the revs to get underway.
The keeper reports the car to be in excellent mechanical condition with the engine, steering, brakes, drivetrain and running gear performing as well as their respective engineers intended.
The keeper reports the car to be in excellent mechanical condition with the engine, steering, brakes, drivetrain and running gear performing as well as their respective engineers intended.
Specifications released by VUHL are impressive – the sprint to 60 mph is completed in 3.5sec which will be down to that incredible power-to-weight ratio. Top speed is more than 150 mph – where legally possible.
Summary
History is littered with examples of lightweight, sub-tonne British circuit cars - we really do love a track day here in the UK.
Though VUHL remains in business in Mexico, its presence over here has been wound up. While it’s a shame that more local success didn’t come the way of such a well-sorted sports car, what an incredible opportunity awaits for its new keeper!
Even the most expensive, million-pound supercars have more than two examples in the whole continent.
Even the most expensive, million-pound supercars have more than two examples in the whole continent.
In his days as a freelance motoring journalist, this writer was fortunate enough to have been offered a drive in this very car at its media launch many years ago.
The VUHL 05 is like driving something as close to a motorbike as is possible on four wheels. It is breathtakingly quick, agile and extraordinarily grippy thanks to those cut slicks.
The VUHL 05 is like driving something as close to a motorbike as is possible on four wheels. It is breathtakingly quick, agile and extraordinarily grippy thanks to those cut slicks.
This VUHL 05 eagerly awaits its new keeper.
It could be you.
It could be you.
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