This track-attack two-seater might look like a teardrop, but it is ready with explosive V8 power at the flick of a claw.

First things first, however: this prototype is wearing composite glass — a testament to the racing pedigree of A.Bessette, the founding gent.

That is why the mounting and glare characteristics are like a race car. But if ever in a hard crunch, plexi is always safer. And much lighter.

The prototype FELINO has a top-hinged windshield. Founding spirit, I tell you!

Alfresco options too… but I digress.

FELINO is living the dream. When this FELINO initially came across my desk, I was sure I had it figured out.

…Exige-topping track pace, Radical lap-time aspirations, Caterham reliability and Aston pricing…

All wrong.

• Often wrong, never in doubt.

• We do try to fix mistakes. If egregious – pls look me up =]

The cB7 is from a ten-year-old racing company in Quebec, Canada — where they speak both English and French interchangeably. But mostly French.

This is also relatively nearby one of the most magnificent F1 tracks in the world: the Gilles Villeneuve Circuit in Montreal. Running around a mini island, the F1 track is like a dream from Sim City meets Gran Turismo.

I have never had the privilege of going in person.. yet… but the FELINO rips it up nicely on our behalf in the below film.

 

The frame is tubular steel, while the panels are carbon-composite. All practical stuff – and hopefully much more production-feasible than 3rd-party carbon-fiber parts supplies.

Please enjoy the full image galleries and specifications of the FELINO cB7 now, and a much more thorough analysis of its performance very soon!  We hope?

 

One concern: the LED DRL’s in the headlights look very familiar to me. These burn out really quickly, in about a month or less, in my experience.

I did a triple layer of these. It looked good!

Like a bar of light from far away. But burned out, dot by dot, til I ripped the power in shame.

Just my two cents… perhaps unwanted but there it is.

I recommend these 3W LED points. Individually wired and mounted. Any LED that costs less than $50 for a car will burn out constantly, in my experience.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These are $12.00 for a six-pack, and will wait a bit longer before going kaput.

 

BACK TO THE FELINO!

So where did this car come from?

Antoine Bessette is the racing driver and founder. FELINO is his dream.

Add this name to the Rolodex of ambitious entrepreneurs, right next to my own!

FELINO cB7 – Video Walkaround by AutoMotoTube

 

2015 FELINO cB7

2015 FELINO cB7 – Technical Specifications

PRESS RELEASE
THE FELINO cB7, A TRUE SPORTSCAR MADE IN QUEBEC

• Unveiling of a new sports car at the 46th Salon International de Montréal, January 2014

  Montreal, January 15, 2014 –

• The FELINO corporation of Montreal invites the automobile press and media to preview its new sports car, the FELINO cB7, during the Media Day which precedes the opening of the 46th Edition of the Montreal International Auto Show.

• Race car and design fans will get their chance to visit the FELINO booth on public days from January 17 to 26.

• CEO and the creative mind behind the cB7, Antoine Bessette, will be on hand with
  Marketing Director Pierre Gladu to address the media and answer questions concerning the
  conception, technical specifications and future availability of the cB7.

The Corporation and the Car

• The FELINO corporation has been involved in motorsports for ten years. In 2010, it committed to developing a concept car, building it from the ground up and offering a true high-performance two-seater sports car.

• While the cB7 is purpose built for the track, it will possibly be street legal. The FELINO cB7 is primarily designed for the international market; however, a limited series will be available in Canada.

• FELINO took four years to develop and build the concept cars which will be unveiled at the
  2014 Montreal International Auto Show.

• Although there are still a few details to iron out, FELINO now has the capacity to produce more composite and carbon fibre bodies and store a comprehensive parts inventory for this high-performance sports car.

• FELINO will now phase in pre-production models and will take them to the track and the street in 2014.

A race driver behind the entrepreneur

• A race driver of international status, Antoine Bessette received multiple honours in motor
  racing. In 2005 he was crowned Canadian champion race driver by ASN-Canada FIA, the
  motorsports sanctioning body in Canada.

• Antoine performed on race tracks in Canada, the United States, Mexico, United Kingdom, France, Italy and Spain, developing a solid network of business contacts along the way.

• He won numerous races during his career, including Formula Atlantic rounds at the Molson Indy in Montreal and Toronto.

• During that period, he also nurtured a dream of one day building his own race machine.

• He is now working to make the dream a reality and offer the car to motorsports fans, while keeping the entry-level price under $100,000.

• The corporate web site is available at www.felinocars.com

 

THE FELINO CORPORATION

• The FELINO corporation, led by Antoine Bessette, has been involved in motorsports for about ten years and primarily organizes corporate events, featuring advance driving classes for car manufacturers and race driver coaching for top-level racers.

• However, over the last four years, FELINO has concentrated its efforts on building a true Made in Quebec sports car.

FELINO: THE MISSION

• Designing, building and marketing a purpose-built high-performance two-seater sports car with on-track capacity but that is also potentially street legal.

• The FELINO cB7 is primarily designed for the international market; however, a limited series will be available in Canada.

• Future customers will also be able to customize their car according to their aesthetic or mechanical preferences.

OPTIONAL – The FELINO Driving Experience Program

• FELINO will utilize its special events experience in order to stage an unforgettable Driving Experience for its customers.

• For example, FELINO will offer a series of events each year at a well-known race facility. At each event, FELINO instructors, all professional and well-known race drivers, will offer advance driving classes and personal coaching. Friendly atmosphere, fast and safe… adrenaline rush and guaranteed thrills!

FELINO cB7, a race-worthy sports car

• The FELINO cB7 is a tubular frame vehicle wrapped with composite and carbon fibre elements; it weighs approximately 1 000 kg, according to the selected drive train.

• Therefore, the cB7 can be mounted with a 4, 6 or 8-cylinder engine, optional for the buyer.

• The early prototype, equipped with a 4-cylinder turbo engine, was tested and received high marks in 2012 and 2013. In 2013, a 6,2 litres V-8 was installed under the bonnet of a second-generation prototype and will be tested thoroughly in the Spring of 2014.

• The specifications featured in the press documents are those of the V8 version. These specifications may change.

• Final model specs will be available in the Summer of 2014.

• The entry-level model of the FELINO cB7 will be available at a price under $100,000.

• The FELINO corporation is already considering the possibility of an electric vehicle in a few years.

PRODUCTION STATUS OF THE FELINO cB7

• After three years of research and exhaustive development, the first FELINO cB7 prototype became a reality in 2012 and was tested on race facilities and notably on Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve in 2012 and 2013.

• In 2013, FELINO built a second-generation prototype, featuring a chassis evolution, along with a mechanical and design upgrade. It will be tested in the Spring of 2014.

• In 2014, the company will reach the final phase of development and the level of pre-production. Two more units will be assembled and tested before Production 1 starts. A limited production series is forecast for 2015.

• For the 2014 Montreal International Auto Show, FELINO will offer first buyers the opportunity to contribute to the final phase of development and pre-production with designer Antoine Bessette and FELINO’s team of professional drivers.

Antoine Bessette – Résumé
CEO of FELINO, Antoine Bessette is the designer and builder of the FELINO cB7.

• A race driver of international status, Antoine Bessette received multiple honours in motor racing.

• In 2005, he was crowned Canadian champion race driver by ASN-Canada FIA, the motorsports sanctioning body in Canada. Antoine performed on racetracks in Canada, the United States, Mexico, United Kingdom, France, Italy and Spain, developing a solid network of business contacts along the way.

• He won numerous races during his career, including Formula Atlantic rounds at the Molson Indy in Montreal and Toronto.

• By the end of 2007, Antoine took a leave from motor racing and armed with the experience gained throughout the years, carried on to fulfill his dream, build a sports car with unique styling and race-worthy, but also with a street legal potential.

• While Antoine got his project going, he continued building his business network, launching new products with car manufacturers such as Audi, BMW, Volvo, Lexus, Jaguar and Ferrari.

• He traveled across Canada, the United States and China. He also coached top-level race drivers.

• In 2012, after three years of research and development, the first FELINO cB7 prototype became a reality.

SUPPORT THE FELINO PROJECT

• Many personalities from the motorsports and automotive worlds are encouraging the FELINO project.

• Some of them have put their support into words, as a testimony towards the seriousness of the project.

• Among them, Richard Spénard, Jacques Duval, Luis Pereria and Claude Bourbonnais whose statements are in the press documents.

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