Forget aluminum, titanium, chrome, steel, fiberglass, etc. At least, that’s what’s a U.S. car design company believes. It’s created the world’s first supercar with a top speed of 240 mph made from wood.
The 4.6 meter-long, two-seater “Splinter” car, is made from maple, plywood and medium density fiberboard (MDF). It has a 4.6-liter V8 petrol engine and a six-speed gearbox.
According to designer, Joe Harmon, age 27, his new vehicle weighs 1,134 kilograms — 240 kilograms less than the lightweight Porsche 911 GT3. Despite its power, it will achieve 20 mpg.
“Wood is a truly amazing material to work with,” Harmon said. “It has a higher strength-to-weight ratio than aluminum or steel, and it possesses a versatility that makes many different types of construction techniques possible.”
The car is due is expected to available to the public later this year. The design company, Joe Harmon Design, has not announced a price for the “Splinter.”
Article Last Updated: February 28, 2008.
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A sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004.
In addition to founding this site in 2004, James writes a Sunday automotive column for The San Jose Mercury and East Bay Times in Walnut Creek, Calif., and monthly auto review and wellness columns for Gulfshore Business, a magazine in Southwest Florida.
An author and contributor to many newspapers, magazines and online publications, co-hosted The Weekly Driver Podcast from 2017 to 2024.
