Marussia Motors

Marussia Motors

Founded	2007
Founder(s)	Nikolai Fomenko Andrei Tsheglakovin Jefim Ostrovskin
Headquarters	Moscow, Russia
Key people	Nikolai Fomenko (President)
Products	Automobiles
Subsidiaries	Marussia Virgin F1
Website	MarussiaMotors

Marussia Motors (Russian: Маруся [ma´rusja]) is a Russian sports car manufacturer founded in 2007. Their cars are notable for being the first sports cars to be made in Russia.

Marussia Motors is the first Russian manufacturer of premium class vehicles. It designed, developed and produces the B1 and the B2 sport cars in Russia. The Marussia B1 was launched on 16 December, 2008 in the new Manege hall in Moscow. On September 10, 2010 the first Marussia Motors show room opened in Moscow.

Marussia is led by Nikolay Fomenko. In 2010, the company acquired a 'significant stake' in the Virgin Racing Formula One team^[1], which will be renamed into Marussia Racing starting from the 2012 Formula One season.^[2]

Models

Marussia F2

B1

The first Russian sports car and first car made by Marussia Motors. It has a rear mid-engine, rear-wheel drive layout. Marussia has announced they will build only a limited run of 2999 units.

B2

The B2 features a more aggressive and "brutal" design and is available with the same engines as the B1. The list price of this model is the same as the B1 - about 100,000 Euro.

Marussia F2 SUV

The Marussia F2 is an SUV model. According to Marussia it can be used as a mobile command center, as a military vehicle or as an emergency vehicle. The prototype was shown on May 12, 2010.^[3] The SUV model will be made 300 units in 2012 by Valmet Automotive.^[4]

Body

Marussia B2

The Marussia B1 and B2 models are based on the same semi-monocoque chassis with a steel spaceframe covered by carbon fiber panels - differing only in body shape.

Engine

Both Marussia sports models are mid-engined, with the engine mounted transversally on the back axle. The English company Cosworth supplies Marussia with two different V6 engines. One is a naturally aspirated 3.5 liter producing 300 horsepower and the other is a 2.8 liter turbo-charged engine offered in 360 or 420 horsepower variants. The 420 horsepower engine allows Marussia cars to reach a claimed top speed of 250 km/h and acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds.

Transmission

The B1 and B2 use a six-speed automatic gearbox. A six-speed manual gearbox is in development.

Safety and reliability

Marussia B1

The energy-absorbing cockpit is a three part space frame of steel tubes of different sections. The front and rear subframes are attached to a central cell. In an impact, the subframes are designed to absorb energy by deforming. The B1 and В2 vehicles have passed Russian safety tests and obtained their certification.

Plans and prospects

Marussia Motors has stated its intention to open at least two new showrooms in 2011, with London and Monaco named as probable locations. The company wishes to market its cars to large European countries and some in Asia within several years, with the United States to follow. Planned steps to support this are the desire to manufacture vehicles in Western Europe and increase the product range. Marussia Motors anticipates presenting 7 models at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show to include a new sports coupé, a luxury SUV, a luxury sedan, and a small city car.

References

1. ^ "Russian buys 'significant' stake in Virgin". TheF1Times.com. http://thef1times.com/news/display/02300. Retrieved 11 November 2010. 
2. ^ "RFIA confirms team name changes for 2012". formula1.com. http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2011/11/12748.html. Retrieved 6 November 2011. 
3. ^ "Marussia F2 SUV is multipurpose vehicle built by a supercar maker - egmCarTech". egmcartech.com. May 13, 2010. http://www.egmcartech.com/2010/05/13/marussia-f2-suv-is-multipurpose-vehicle-built-by-a-supercar-maker/. Retrieved 6 October 2010. 
4. ^ "Finnish factory to make SUVs for Russia's Marussia -Reports". helsinkitimes.org. http://www.helsinkitimes.org/htimes/business1/16713-finnish-factory-to-make-suvs-for-russias-marussia-reports-.html. Retrieved 2011-09-21. 

• "2010 Marussia B1 The First Russian Sports Car : Luxury Auto Direct Magazine". luxuryautodirect.com. April 18, 2010. http://www.luxuryautodirect.com/2010/04/2010-marussia-b1-russian-first/. Retrieved 6 October 2010. 
• "Marussia B2: Russia's Second Super Car". jalopnik.com. http://jalopnik.com/5360581/marussia-b2-russias-second-super-car/. Retrieved 6 October 2010. 

External links

• "Marussia official site". http://www.marussiamotors.ru/en/. 
• The newest 2010 Marussia B2 blueprints