Company:Arash Motor

From HandWiki
Arash Motor Company Limited
FormerlyFarboud Limited (2000–2006)[1]
TypePrivate
IndustryAutomotive
Founded1999; 27 years ago (1999) in Newmarket, Suffolk
FounderArash Farboud
Websitearashcars.com

Arash Motor Company Limited is a British sports car manufacturer based in Newmarket, Suffolk. It was established as Farboud Limited in 1999 by Arash Farboud, and renamed in 2006.[1]

The company specializes in low-volume production of high-performance vehicles. As a "Micro" entity registered with UK Companies House, it operates with fewer than 10 employees and reports a balance sheet under £500,000.[2] Production capacity is reported to be fewer than three cars per year.[3]

The company has developed four models to date: the Farboud GT, the Farboud GTS, the AF-8, and the AF-10. The AF-8 and AF-10 are the company's current production models, alongside the electric Imperium concept.[4]

History

Foundation and early development (1999–2005)

The company was founded in 1999 by Arash Farboud, an Iranian-born British entrepreneur. It was officially incorporated as Farboud Limited on 27 November 2000.[1]

The company's first vehicle was the Farboud GT, developed in 1999 and presented at the Autosport International show in Birmingham in 2002.[5] This was followed by the Farboud GTS concept, shown in 2003 and officially launched at the British Motorshow in London in 2004.[6]

2005 split and Farbio formation

A critical divergence occurred in 2005. Chris Marsh, whose father Jem Marsh co-founded Marcos Engineering, was working with Arash Farboud as a sales representative.[7] Marsh was granted a license to use the GTS design in exchange for shares in a new, separate company.[8]

Marsh's team simplified the design, substituting the Audi RS4-based racing engine with a more cost-effective Ford V6.[6] Following a dispute in 2005, Marsh renamed the car "Farbio." An initial attempt to use "Fangio" was blocked by the Formula 1 driver's family.[6]

Arash Farboud sold his shares in the Farbio entity to Michael Simmonds, while retaining 100% ownership of the original Farboud Ltd.[6] Farbio Sports Cars began production of the Ford-powered Farbio GTS in 2007. The design was later sold to Laurence Tomlinson of Ginetta Cars, which renamed it the Ginetta F400.[7]

Rebranding and current operations (2006–present)

After the 2005 split, Farboud Ltd. was renamed Arash Motor Company in 2006.[1] The company remains an active private limited company based in Newmarket, Suffolk.[1]

The company's longevity is supported by its funding model. According to a 2009 interview, the company was financed by Arash Farboud's other successful family-owned business, Unisurge, a medical packaging supplier.[9] Farboud described the car company as a "hobby" he was turning into a business, with an investment of about £5 million to develop the AF-10.[9]

Models

Farbio GTS, production model at the Goodwood Festival of Speed 2005
Farbio GTS 350
File:Arash AF10 Monaco IMG 1210.jpg
2016 Arash AF10
Arash AF8 Cassini at the Geneva Motor Show 2016

Farboud GT (2002)

The Farboud GT was the company's first model, a one-off prototype presented at the Autosport International show in Birmingham in 2002.[5] It featured a 2.8-litre Audi V6 twin-turbo engine producing 620 bhp (460 kW).[5]

Farboud GTS (2003–2005)

The Farboud GTS was shown as a concept car at Autosport International in 2003 and launched at the British Motorshow in 2004.[6] Three prototypes were built with a 620 bhp (460 kW) Audi V6 twin-turbo engine. This should not be confused with the later Farbio GTS production car, which used a Ford V6.

Arash AF10 (2009 concept)

In 2009, Arash displayed the first AF10 concept, featuring a Chevrolet Corvette-sourced 7.0-litre V8 engine producing 500 bhp (370 kW).[10] This conventional supercar was not put into production.

Arash AF10 (2016 hybrid)

A revised AF10 was revealed at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show with a completely different hybrid drivetrain.[11] It combines a 6.2-litre supercharged V8 with four electric motors for a manufacturer-claimed total output of 2,080 hp (1,550 kW) and 2,280 N⋅m (1,680 lbf⋅ft) of torque.[12][13] The electric motors are powered by a 32-kWh lithium-ion battery.[14] According to the manufacturer, the vehicle achieves 0-60 mph in 2.8 seconds.[12]

Arash AF8 (2014–present)

The AF8 was designed by Arash and revealed at the Geneva Motor Show in 2016.[15] It features a carbon/steel tubed chassis and a mid-mounted 7.0-litre GM LS7 V8 engine producing 505 bhp (377 kW) in standard form or 550 bhp (410 kW) in the Cassini variant.[15][16]

Imperium (2021–present)

The Imperium is the company's electric hypercar concept, first detailed in a 2021 company document.[17] It features a pure electric drivetrain with four electric motors, built on a single-piece carbon fiber monocoque chassis.[17] The vehicle represents the company's pivot to electric vehicle technology.[4]

In video games

The AF10 and AF8 Falcon Edition both appear in the video games Software:Asphalt 8: Airborne and Asphalt Legends.[12]

See also

  • Automotive industry in the United Kingdom
  • List of car manufacturers of the United Kingdom

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Arash Motor Company Limited overview". 2000-11-27. https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/04114867. 
  2. ↑ "Arash Motor Company Limited". https://open.endole.co.uk/insight/company/04114867-arash-motor-company-limited. 
  3. ↑ "10 British Sports Cars So Rare You'll Never See Them In Real Life". 2021-07-19. https://www.hotcars.com/10-british-sports-cars-so-rare-youll-never-see-them-in-real-life/. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "British Supercar Startup Building New Electric Hypercar". 2021-06-02. https://carbuzz.com/news/british-supercar-startup-building-new-electric-hypercar/. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "2002 Farboud GT". https://www.ultimatecarpage.com/car/6005/Farboud-GT.html. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 "ARASH SUPERCAR". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vN6Xwz2O1LY. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Ginetta Purchases Farbio, Bringing it to the U.S". 2010-03-09. https://www.carthrottle.com/news/ginetta-purchases-farbio-bringing-it-us. 
  8. ↑ "Farboud changes its name to Farbio". https://www.autoblog.com/features/farboud-changes-its-name-to-farbio. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Arash Motor to offer powercar in Middle East early next year". 2009-11-05. https://gulfnews.com/business/arash-motor-to-offer-powercar-in-middle-east-early-next-year-1.554941. 
  10. ↑ "Arash AF-10 supercar (2010) unveiled". 2009-11-09. http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/News/Search-Results/First-Official-Pictures/Arash-AF-10-unveiled/. 
  11. ↑ "Arash Says It Will Sell You A 2,080 Horsepower Hybrid With A Gated Manual For $1.5 Million". 2016-03-01. http://jalopnik.com/is-that-supposed-to-be-a-bad-thing-1762189410. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 "The Arash AF10: The 2,080-HP British Hypercar You've Never Heard Of". 2025-01-15. https://carbuzz.com/arash-f10-hypercar-history/. 
  13. ↑ "Geneva 2016: Arash AF10". 2016-03-01. https://gtspirit.com/2016/03/01/geneva-2016-arash-af10/. 
  14. ↑ "Arash AF10 Hybrid Storms Geneva with 2,080 Horsepower". 2016-02-22. https://www.autoevolution.com/news/arash-af10-hybrid-storms-geneva-with-2080-horsepower-104874.html. 
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 "New 200mph Arash AF8 supercar unveiled". 2014-02-28. http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/new-200mph-arash-af8-supercar-unveiled. 
  16. ↑ "2014 Arash AF8". https://www.ultimatecarpage.com/car/6004/Arash-AF8.html. 
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 "Imperium". 2021-06-01. https://arashcars.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Imperium.pdf. 



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