Hofstetter Turbo
{{Infobox automobile
| name = Hofstetter Turbo
| image = Hofstetter Turbo.jpg
| caption = 1987 Hofstetter Turbo in the Museu do Automóvel de Canela in Brazil
| manufacturer = Hofstetter
| aka = Hofstetter Cortada
| production = 1984
| model_years = 1986-1991 (18 produced)
| designer = Mario R Hofstetter
| body_style =
| layout = Rear mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout
| engine =
| transmission =
| wheelbase = {{cvt|2,380|mm|in}}
| length = {{cvt|4,170|mm|in}}
| width = {{cvt|1,740|mm|in}}
| height = {{cvt|1,070|mm|in}}
| weight = {{cvt|1,120|kg|lb}}
| doors = Gull-wing
}}
The Hofstetter Turbo is a Brazilian sports car created in the 1980s by Mario Richard Hofstetter. In 1980, Hofstetter started to draw a prototype of the car. The idea was to produce a domestically built sports car, since the Brazilian government had strict policies on importing foreign cars at the time. In 1982, he started to put the mid-engined car together with some other workers, and began the Hofstetter company in 1984. Hofstetter was only able to sell 18 cars between 1986–1991.
Performance
The Turbo featured a fiberglass body with gull-wing doors that were reportedly inspired by the Alfa Romeo Carabo concept car.{{Cite web|url=https://www.autolivraria.com.br/ph/154a.htm|title=Best Cars Web Site - Páginas da História - Hofstetter|website=bestcars.uol.com.br|access-date=2018-04-11|date=15 July 2003|language=pt-BR}} The interior was upholstered in leather and featured an early digital dash.{{Cite web|url=http://www.thepetrolstop.com/2014/03/hofstetter-turbo.html|title=Hofstetter Turbo|website=thepetrolstop.com|language=en|access-date=2018-04-11|archive-date=2018-04-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180412001121/http://www.thepetrolstop.com/2014/03/hofstetter-turbo.html|url-status=dead}} Early models of the Turbo were powered by a 1.8 L Inline-four engine from the Volkswagen Passat which was then equipped with a Garrett turbocharger and coupled to a 4-speed manual gearbox. These engines reportedly produced {{cvt|140|hp|kW}} at 5,000 rpm, and would accelerate the car from {{cvt|0-60|mph|km/h}} in 9.3 seconds and reach a top speed of {{cvt|120|mph|0}}. Later models used a 2.0 L inline-four engine out of a Volkswagen Santana that was also turbocharged with a Garrett turbo. This engine reportedly produced {{cvt|210|hp|kW}} and increased the top speed to {{cvt|147|mph|km/h|0}}.{{Cite news|url=https://jalopnik.com/brazils-hyper-exclusive-gullwing-death-wedge-5665575|title=Brazil's Hyper-Exclusive Gullwing Death Wedge|last=Mead|first=Derek|work=Jalopnik|access-date=2018-04-11|date=16 October 2010|language=en-US}}
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References
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External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20120420083806/http://quatrorodas.abril.com.br/classicos/brasileiros/conteudo_139910.shtml Hofstetter Turbo at QUATRO RODAS]
Category:Automobiles with gull-wing doors
Category:Rear mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive vehicles
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