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Last One Before Production
Having driven the final prototype (the first production car wasn't complete at the time of writing), I'd say that FBS may well have a point. It would have been relatively easy to slot an over-powered engine into a stiffly suspended chassis and then go round assuring everyone that the resulting monster was "fun to drive". What you would not have would be a car that could sensibly be driven every day on public roads. This practicality is what FBS was aiming for all along, and although it's a more difficult job, the results are more satisfying. In broad terms, to make a car handle really well you need a stiff structure, a low centre of gravity and soft suspension. FBS claims high levels of stiffness thanks to the computer-aided design of the Census chassis. The car is certainly low to the ground. And the suspension is undoubtedly soft, though well damped, which apart from giving remarkable ride quality also increases the lateral grip - or, to put it in more practical terms, the car won't start sliding until you try to take a corner ridiculously fast. If you really wanted to go sideways, you could do it if you had specified the limited slip differential as a £599 option. Personally I don't think I'd bother; apart from the fact that going sideways seems such a waste of energy, the slight nervousness you sometimes feel from the back end if you apply the power early in a corner is not matched by any noticeable traction benefit in normal driving. A Well-Known V6 Power comes from a 2.5-litre Ford Duratec engine whose six-cylinder howl is very distinctive, and far more obvious than when it's fitted to a Mondeo. In fact, the standard Mondeo specification is retained, so maximum power is a shade under 170bhp. Since the Census weighs just 950kg, the resulting straight-line performance is impressive, though not so great that it dominates the rest of the experience. The combination of standard tune and light weight also means that the car is exceptionally tractable at low speeds, and should give excellent fuel economy (FBS once measured 40mpg on a motorway run, though there are no independent tests.) Power steering is a no-cost optional extra, while brake servo assistance costs an extra £299. The test car had both, but it was far more obvious in the steering, which was very light in contrast to the firm pedal. I'd have been happier to have a more consistent feel, probably tending towards heaviness to match the chunky gearchange. Adjusting the seats is only possible when the doors are open, but otherwise the interior space is very generous, even with the folding hood in its "up" position. In addition, the steering wheel is adjustable for both height and reach, so unlike several other performance cars you don't need to contort your body into an approximation of some ideal human shape the designers dreamed up. There's also an unusual amount of luggage room, most of it in the form of a boot which is about the same size as that of the original Mini - and, with its bottom-hinged cover, is opened in much the same way. When the roof is up you can also fit anything up to a set of golf clubs in the area behind the seats. Styling: Hmm Since the test car was a prototype there were occasional glitches which won't appear in production versions and aren't worth mentioning. But the body design had already been finalised, and I can't help thinking this may require a rethink in the near future. The front end is very handsome in an Italianate sort of way, but the rest of the car has far too many curves for its own good. If the whole design looked as good as the front third does already, the Census would be one of the most attractive cars of its type on the road. Base price for the Census is £25,975, including VAT, registration, a tank of fuel and 12 months road tax. Standard specification includes remote central locking, an immobiliser and heated door mirrors. At present FBS is flexible enough to be able to offer a more or less "bespoke" service, allowing customers to invent their own specification within reason. On this basis a fully loaded Census would cost around £29,000. Cars are built to special order, which takes 13 weeks from payment of a 5% deposit. As yet there is no dealer network, but further buying information can be found at the FBS website, www.fbscars.co.uk. Price: £25,975 (basic) |
With its first model, FBS has made a bold claim. The Census V6 is, according to the publicity, "the finest handling sports car in its class". Since handling quality is largely a matter of personal opinion, this isn't something that can really be disproved, but it does leave the company open to a lot of criticism if the driving experience is in any way lacking.
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