Comic-Con 2014 opens tomorrow, but particulars on a lot of of the huge reveals have already been blasting across cyberspace. Pertinent (sort of) to our milieu was Mattel’s release of its Star Wars–themed Hot Wheels cars, but even far more thoughts-blowing is the reality that the company built a full-size, totally operational version of the Darth Vader–themed coupe, which it has dubbed the “Darth Auto.”
However, San Diego, the website of the annual Comic-Con International convention, is more than 2000 miles from our offices in Ann Arbor, so we did the next very best point and got on the telephone with the Darth Car’s creators to find out much more. Here’s what we discovered:
1. It is primarily based on a C5 Corvette.
Yes, a C5 Chevrolet Corvette. With a physique fittingly crafted mainly from fiberglass—carbon fiber was employed for the front splitter—the finished Darth Auto is mentioned to weigh nearly 50 percent less than the donor Corvette. And due to the fact a Sith Lord can’t ever sink low sufficient, the donor chassis was lowered slightly.
2. It is completely drivable—and rapidly.
The vehicle has been road-tested at speeds up to an 80-mph cruise. There’s a lot more: Billy Hammon, CEO of PCW Brands, which constructed the auto, says it is capable of reaching velocities in the neighborhood of 150 mph.
3. It has an LS3, infant!
Moving forward a Corvette generation, a GM LS3 V-8—the C6 engine from 2008 onward—is fitted and tends to make a claimed 526 horsepower. Gearchanges are executed via a 6-speed manual we often knew Lord Vader was a Save the Manuals kind of guy.
4. The auto is fitted with a “drift brake.”
The secondary, hand-actuated brake works on the rear axle and can be employed to support steer the auto or, you know, drift it. Perfect for terrorizing Ugnaughts riding shotgun.
5. It has custom wheels and redline tires.
Wheelmaker U.S. Mags custom-milled the wheels for the project. The unique tires are particular to the auto and styled to deliver the iconic Hot Wheels redline aesthetic while also delivering respectable functionality.
6. It is, of course, packed with Vader-y goodness.
The plate on the hood is modeled soon after the a single on the chest of Darth Vader’s suit, much more particularly as it appeared in The Empire Strikes Back. The missiles mounted to the side are machined from stainless steel, and the side pipes are styled right after Vader’s red lightsaber. Yes, they illuminate.
7. It breathes like Darth Vader.
Several Star Wars audio effects, which includes the unmistakable sounds of Darth Vader breathing and his lightsaber coming to life, can be controlled remotely via an iPad.
8. The Darth Car’s designer is living his dream.
At the age of 10, Bryan Benedict—now lead designer for the Hot Wheels Entertainment die-cast line—wrote to his future employer to inform them what sort of toy vehicles to build. 2 years later, he wrote a comparable letter to Basic Motors and received a reply in the type of a checklist of goals he must pursue in order to turn out to be a automobile designer. With 2 decades of design achievement (split evenly amongst Honda and Hot Wheels) under his belt, following GM’s guidance seems to have worked. He told us that his household was unable to afford Star Wars toys when he was a child—he got Hot Wheels instead—so now he’s making his personal.
9. It was built in 6 weeks.
Design function for the toy version of the car began in November of 2013. Perform on the full-size car began in April of this year and went from final design to done in just over 2 months, according to PCW’s Hammon.
10. The hatch opens like Darth Vader’s helmet.
In fact, specific attention was paid to make positive it did so. It is also equipped with a smoke-producing device that activates when the hatch is opened for complete dramatic impact.
11. It dropped jaws on the streets of L.A.
The promotional video embedded below was shot in the 2nd Street tunnel in Los Angeles, where the Darth Car reportedly stunned even the most jaded Tinsel Town residents.
12. It is impressive. Most impressive.
Hot Wheels says its goal was to pay tribute to its own stylistic heritage but to also harness the futuristic but timeless design of the Star Wars universe. We say it succeeded—mightily.
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The Darth Automobile: 12 Things You Need to have to Know About Hot Wheels’ Life-Size, 150-mph Darth Vader Automobile
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