Mills Extreme Vehicles
Mills Extreme Vehicles (MEV) is a kit car design and manufacturing company based in Mansfield, UK. It was founded in 2003 by Stuart Mills. As of January, 2016 they manufacture the Exocet and the Replicar, the former an exoskeletal design, the latter a full body design inspired by the Aston Martin DBR1 of the late 1950s. Both cars use the Mazda MX5 Mk1 sports car as their foundation. They also produce an enhanced version of the Exocet, the MX150R which currently runs in a UK race series regulated by the 750 Motor Club and the MSA. Stuart Mills has designed over 20 vehicles ranging from electric commuter trikes to off-road 4x4s, some of which have been commission builds and designs for external manufacture or technological educational purposes, others have been in-house or licensed manufacture.
Tilting trike
MEV's first model was a tilting trike, a single seat trike intended for commuter use. The whole front end tilted into the corner; a patent for the mechanism was awarded in 2005,[1] however this model has never been offered commercially.
Trek 4x4
The Trek 4x4 is a single donor kit based on Range Rover Classic running gear, but mounted mid ships. It was introduced in August 2005 and aimed at the off-road enthusiast, with improved ground clearance, approach and departure angles, and reduced overall weight compared to donor. As well as being featured in Kit Car (May '06) & Total Kit Car (July '06), it was also featured in Total Off Road, and sold in the Netherlands in addition to the UK, though production ceased in 2006.
R2
Electric kit car commissioned as a promotional vehicle by a company to showcase their products as well as challenging pre-conceived notions about electric vehicles, in terms of type and performance. To that end, the R2 (also known as the Electric Sports Car) was an open two-seater with high-performance (4.5 sec 0–60 time was the aim); it made its public debut at The National Kit Car Show at Stoneleigh on 4 May 2008.
R3
The R3, introduced in June 2007, shares the same unconventional seating & mechanical layout combination first seen in the McLaren F1, i.e. three seat with central driver position, mid/rear engine, RWD car. It was powered by a 2.5L Ford Duratec V6 engine. No longer in production.
Rocket
The Rocket was introduced in September 2007. It was conceived as a self-build, budget response to the Ariel Atom, which is credited with creating a new genre of sportscar known as 'exoskeleton' or 'exoskeletal' cars. It is a single donor car using Ford Focus Mk.1 components, but converts mechanical layout to mid-rear RWD. The Rocket has been sold in the UK, Europe, the USA, and Australia (after modification to meet the Australian Design Rules).
Sonic7
The Sonic 7 was conceived as more civilised alternative to the Rocket. Though still a roadster (though a windscreen, doors & roof are available as optional extras) it does feature an enclosed cockpit. Though very similar to the Rocket mechanically, it uses different, simplified, chassis constructed from straight, box section steel instead of the Rocket's curved, tubular sections. Launched in February 2008, it remains in production and has been sold in UK, USA, South Africa & the Netherlands and Hungary (via a distributor).
Etrike
Single seat ultra compact electric commuter trike. Available since June 2008, the Etrike is sold as set of plans (including a component list) rather than a kit: the builder fabricates the chassis.
Atomic
Single seat side-by-side Bike Engined Car (BEC), introduced June 2009. The mechanical layout is intended to give optimal weight distribution (25% at each wheel) with driver on board. It uses the engine from '98–'06 Yamaha R1 which, combined with its low overall weight of 334 kg, gives a power-to-weight ratio in excess of 400 bhp per ton.
Missile
The Missile was an electric exoskeletal car, powered by a brushless 3 phase 11 kW motor incorporating regenerative braking; it used eighteen 50Ah lead-acid valve-regulated batteries totalling 12kWh, which can be charged overnight on a high frequency charger. Range is approximately 40 miles, top speed 50 mph and overall weight is 600 kg, including 280 kg of batteries. It is not in production.
tR1ke
Bike powered, RWD, two seater, exoskeletal, reverse trike introduced July 2009. It uses the engine, transmission and rear swing-arm from a Yamaha R1 donor.
Eco-exo
Compact tandem seat RWD commuter exoskeleton reverse trike using major components from a Suzuki Burgman, meaning it can accept powerplants from 125cc to 650cc. Not currently in production in UK.
Exocet
The MEV Exocet made its public debut in June 2010 at the Newark kit car show. It is a front-engined, rear-drive, single-donor exoskeleton kitcar based on the Mk1/NA Mazda MX-5 and is aimed at the novice builder; some builders are now using the newer Mk2 & Mk2.5/NB. To this end, aside from using a single donor, it makes use of as many of the donor's components with little or no modification. The MX-5 itself has an unusual subframe that allows the body to be removed, leaving the engine, drivetrain and suspension as a rolling assembly which is then transplanted to the Exocet chassis. The Exocet is currently in production with MEV Ltd. in the U.K. and Exomotive in the USA. It is also made under licence in New Zealand and since August 2014, in Australia. MEV also produce an enhanced version of the Exocet, the MX150R which currently runs in a UK race series regulated by the 750 Motor Club and the MSA. Being a kit car there are variations in the final outcome: in the USA, where second-hand V8 engines are cheap as chips, such modifications have been made giving outlandish power/weight ratios;[2] in the UK one builder has modified a Mazda 1.6 Exocet to produce 430 bhp which works out at 977 bhp/tonne.[3]
Mevster
Demand was noted for a MEV with weather protection so they developed the Mevster, a similar concept to the Exocet but with more bodywork and the option of a roof. Demand was low, however, and only 20 units were sold. The kit was withdrawn from the market in 2015.
Replicar
The Replicar, inspired by the 1959 Le Mans 24hr winning Aston Martin DBR1, has a GRP body, triangulated space-frame and uses a Mazda MX5 (Mk1/2/2.5) as the donor. All-up weight is ¾ ton, slightly lighter than the DBR1, so a build with a standard 1.8 MX5 Mk2.5 would produce in excess of 200 bhp/ton. Currently in production with MEV Ltd. in the U.K. and Exomotive in the USA.
References
External links
- Mills Extreme Vehicles official website
- Exomotive - US Exocet Manufacturer & Distributor
- MEV Owners Group - forum for current and prospective owners
- Eco-exo