Arash Motor Company Limited is a British sports car manufacturer based in Newmarket, Suffolk. It was established as Farboud Limited in 1999 by Arash Farboud, and renamed in 2006.[1]
The company specializes in low-volume production of high-performance vehicles. As a "Micro" entity registered with UK Companies House, it operates with fewer than 10 employees and reports a balance sheet under £500,000.[2] Production capacity is reported to be fewer than three cars per year.[3]
The company has developed four models to date: the Farboud GT, the Farboud GTS, the AF-8, and the AF-10. The AF-8 and AF-10 are the company's current production models, alongside the electric Imperium concept.[4]
History
Foundation and early development (1999–2005)
The company was founded in 1999 by Arash Farboud, an Iranian-born British entrepreneur.[5] It was officially incorporated as Farboud Limited on 27 November 2000.[1]
The company's first vehicle was the Farboud GT, developed in 1999 and presented at the Autosport International show in Birmingham in 2002.[6] This was followed by the Farboud GTS concept, shown in 2003 and officially launched at the British Motorshow in London in 2004.[7]
2005 split and Farbio formation
A critical divergence occurred in 2005. Chris Marsh, whose father Jem Marsh co-founded Marcos Engineering, was working with Arash Farboud as a sales representative.[8] Marsh was granted a license to use the GTS design in exchange for shares in a new, separate company.[9]
Marsh's team simplified the design, substituting the Audi RS4-based racing engine with a more cost-effective FordV6.[7] Following a dispute in 2005, Marsh renamed the car "Farbio." An initial attempt to use "Fangio" was blocked by the Formula 1 driver's family.[7]
Arash Farboud sold his shares in the Farbio entity to Michael Simmonds, while retaining 100% ownership of the original Farboud Ltd.[7] Farbio Sports Cars began production of the Ford-powered Farbio GTS in 2007. The design was later sold to Laurence Tomlinson of Ginetta Cars, which renamed it the Ginetta F400.[8]
Rebranding and current operations (2006–present)
After the 2005 split, Farboud Ltd. was renamed Arash Motor Company in 2006.[1] The company remains an active private limited company based in Newmarket, Suffolk.[1]
The company's longevity is supported by its funding model. According to a 2009 interview, the company was financed by Arash Farboud's other successful family-owned business, Unisurge, a medical packaging supplier.[10] Farboud described the car company as a "hobby" he was turning into a business, with an investment of about £5 million to develop the AF-10.[10]
Models
Farbio GTS, production model at the Goodwood Festival of Speed 2005Farbio GTS 3502016 Arash AF10Arash AF8 Cassini at the Geneva Motor Show 2016
Farboud GT (2002)
The Farboud GT was the company's first model, a one-off prototype presented at the Autosport International show in Birmingham in 2002.[6] It featured a 2.8-litre Audi V6 twin-turbo engine producing 620bhp (460kW).[6]
Farboud GTS (2003–2005)
The Farboud GTS was shown as a concept car at Autosport International in 2003 and launched at the British Motorshow in 2004.[7] Three prototypes were built with a 620bhp (460kW) Audi V6 twin-turbo engine. This should not be confused with the later Farbio GTS production car, which used a Ford V6.
Arash AF10 (2009 concept)
In 2009, Arash displayed the first AF10 concept, featuring a Chevrolet Corvette-sourced 7.0-litre V8 engine producing 500bhp (370kW).[11] This conventional supercar was not put into production.
Arash AF10 (2016 hybrid)
A revised AF10 was revealed at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show with a completely different hybrid drivetrain.[12] It combines a 6.2-litre supercharged V8 with four electric motors for a manufacturer-claimed total output of 2,080hp (1,550kW) and 2,280N⋅m (1,680lbf⋅ft) of torque.[13][14] The electric motors are powered by a 32-kWh lithium-ion battery.[15] According to the manufacturer, the vehicle achieves 0-60 mph in 2.8 seconds.[13]
Arash AF8 (2014–present)
The AF8 was designed by Arash and revealed at the Geneva Motor Show in 2016.[16] It features a carbon/steel tubed chassis and a mid-mounted 7.0-litre GM LS7 V8 engine producing 505bhp (377kW) in standard form or 550bhp (410kW) in the Cassini variant.[16][17]
Imperium (2021–present)
The Imperium is the company's electric hypercar concept, first detailed in a 2021 company document.[18] It features a pure electric drivetrain with four electric motors, built on a single-piece carbon fiber monocoque chassis.[18] The vehicle represents the company's pivot to electric vehicle technology.[4]
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