Bufori to introduce all-new model in 2010
The Bufori Motor Car Company (BMCC), after years of offering us the 1930s-looking La Joya, is set to bring us an all-new model called the Bufori CS. On the official press release from BMCC, it was stated that Bufori is ‘extending its model range’, so chances are that the CS will be sold alongside the 2.7-litre La Joya rather than replace it.
Unlike the La Joya, however, the CS is styled according to modern cues. Details released are sketchy at this stage, as sketches are indeed all we have – the three images accompanying this article are artist impressions given to us by Bufori. However, what we have been told is that the CS will be getting propulsion from a two-litre blown motor, with the use of composites in body construction to bring weight down.
The monocoque spaceframe chassis is made of ultra-light and rigid carbon fibre and kevlar, making it literally bullet-proof. Handling is set to be sweet with double-wishbone suspension all-round and fully adjustable coil over shocks. Power figures are not released, but we’re betting that Bufori will be playing a weight game with the CS in order to boost the power-to-weight ratio.
Set for a 2010 launch, the CS is fully designed and developed by the Kepong-based outfit. A race version of the car is also being developed, as part of a collaboration between Bufori Motor Sports (BMS) and Axle Motorsport. Dubbed the Bufori BMS R1, this is a GT3 version of the Bufori CS, and it will compete in the upcoming Macau Grand Prix on 19-20 Nov 2009.
“After two years of hard work in designing and developing our new sports car, the BUFORI CS, we are very proud that a racing version of our car has been developed and will have its first public appearance at such a prestigious event as the Macau Grand Prix. We could not have wished for a better occasion. Our intention is to transfer the racing technology to the road version of the BUFORI CS and bring in all the qualities for which BUFORI is renowned” says Felix Haller, General Manager Marketing & Operations of BMCC.
For this project, Alex Yoong, founder of Axle Motorsport, assembled a team local and F1 engineers and mechanics, with the hope that the F1 experience and knowledge would significantly boost Bufori’s chances in the race, and also its overall engineering capabilities.
“In my years of being a part of motorsport, from regional series all the way to Formula 1, I’ve always wanted to help grow the industry here in Malaysia as well as Asia. This project was a great catalysts to do so as it extends from what we were doing with the Malaysian A1GP Team, taking it a step further from running a race team at an international level to building the actual race car from ground up,” said Alex.
“BMS-Axle have followed a very tight working schedule, in under 10 weeks, to create this race car, and we are looking forward to being a part of this racing event and making history with Bufori, the first Malaysian sportscar to run at the Macau GT Cup” says Joe Lim, the BMS Team Principal and Managing Director of Bufori Sales & Marketing (BSM), the global Distributor of Bufori vehicles.
Lim further added, “A big part of this project is of course not only to go racing and do well, but to also have the road versions of the car benefit from what the team has learned and develop in order to produce a better performance and experience for our customers.”
