2019 FINALIST
BUSINESS:
Brabham Automotive
PRODUCT:
Brabham BT62
AWARD CATEGORY:
Product Design
INDUSTRY SECTOR:
Automotive & Transport
DESIGN:
Brabham Automotive
EXPORTING to: 6 countries
1: BRIEF DESCRIPTION:
For 30 years the Brabham name was at the forefront of Formula One racing, race car design and manufacturing. The BT62 is a contemporary interpretation of the engineering ingenuity and innovation which personified the Brabham marque. The BT62 demonstrates capacity and capability within Australia to deliver an internationally acclaimed supercar
2: DESIGN CHALLENGE:
The design challenge was to re-establish the Brabham marque with a halo product which included design cues for future vehicles. Underpinning the design brief was a requirement to develop a vehicle with a balance of form and function, threaded with the Brabham DNA, and incorporating cutting edge R&D and engineering. The product needed to reflect the heritage of the Brabham marque and be globally competitive in the high value supercar market sector. The core objective of the design of the BT62 was to develop a car designed and engineered to allow the driver to discover the very essence of driving.
3: DESIGN SOLUTION:
Competitor products were benchmarked in performance criteria and vehicle packaging to instruct the creation of a vehicle concept that was best in class. Taking this concept, the design and engineering team combined the highest levels of creative design and engineering simulations, FEA and CFD, to create a vehicle that has received international acclaim in the high performance supercar market. Whilst mechanically the car demands more from the driver, technology enhances vehicle feedback which is overlayed with driver biometrics to provide a holistic driving experience. The result is a performance oriented hypercar which is currently unrivalled on the track.
4: DESIGN IMPACT:
The vehicle’s balance of form and function coupled with engineering excellence and innovation, and demonstrable performance, has re-established the marque on the global platform. The BT62 has repositioned Australian automotive manufacturing as a niche vehicle segment internationally, with overseas sales, global media engagement and requests for attendance at international automotive and motorsport events. Market engagement has provided a platform for the marque to go racing again, and for the development of future vehicle variants. Using both local and international suppliers, the business has attracted employees from leading brands such as McLaren, Aston Martin, Koenigsegg and Ferrari.
5: OTHER KEY FEATURES:
The design and engineering of the BT62 involves the use of advance lightweight materials and a multi-skilled workforce, creating a leading edge best in class hypercar, putting South Australian niche manufacturing at the forefront of this global market. Described by Top Gear as “the most track focused hypercar in the world” the BT62 has appeared at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, the Monterrey Motorwork Festival, the Geneva Motorshow, Hannover Messe and the Australian and British Grand Prix. The BT62 has also appeared on the internationally acclaimed Fifth Gear TV show which is distributed through the Discovery Channel. Originally designed as a track-only car the Company has developed a road compliant conversion kit for Europe and Australia. With a global market the BT62 has been designed for both left and right hand drive. Market focus has been predominantly in Australia and Europe but this will expand to the US, UAE and Asia in the coming months. Headquartered in Adelaide, the Company is attracting overseas employees from leading edge OEMs including McLaren, Aston Martin and Koenigsegg. The vehicle CAD has been used to develop VR/AR tools for customer engagement and for use in international gaming applications.