GENESIS
The archipelago of Oura is a group of small rugged islands located on a rural coastline in western Finland. This region, characterized by its treacherous waters and fragile wildlife, serves long distances, harsh Scandinavian climate and twisty roads to enyone living there. It was in these surroundings that the KMR Oura was created to bring the best from the great driving roads of the area while preserving the surrounding nature for future generations.
The prototype car was completed in 2010 and has since been driven all year round in all weather conditions, from daily commutes to tours around Europe.
STRUCTURE
The number one priority in the styling of the car is aerodynamics. Low height, rearwards narrowing shape and a flat underbody minimize aerodynamic drag while large air exits on the sides and an engine bay opening to the rear are there to bring downforce.
The bodywork is a one piece monocoque constraction built from carbon fiber composites. This material is used for the same reasons it is used in the world's fastest cars: The strength to weight -ratio is unsurpassed as is the stiffness. To get the most out of this amazing material, the bodywork is built unlike any other car. Every millimeter is loaded bearing, there are no separate panels to bring unnecessary weight.
There are not many occasions to enjoy driving with the roof open in Nordic climate and a roof that takes more than five seconds to open or close, just does not work. For this reason and because great handling comes with maximal body stiffness, the roof double acts as door allowing sills to extend all the way up to the shoulder level just like in a F1 car. When you get in the car, you can just leave the roof open if you like, or close it behind you and drive through a snowstorm just as comfortably as in any car with a fixed roof. It is also possible to open or close the roof even when driving at highway speeds.
What is the best placement for the driver when only driving is concerned? The answer can be seen in most cars built purely for racing. The central driving position is best known from a car which many still consider the world's best sports car two decades after its introduction. Unlike in the McLaren F1 road car, getting onto the driver seat does not require learning two pages on the owner's manual. Instead, it is as simple to get in and out of the car as getting onto a bicycle. There is no roof blocking the way and the air ducts on the sides are designed to be used as steps. After you have had the change of being in the middle of things, driving a car from the side does not feel just right anymore.
The car weights 570 kg, ready to drive.
HANDLING
To make this car handle like a dream, it is built as light as possible. This makes an unassisted quick ratio steering possible without making it feel too heavy. It is the only way to get such a pure feeling of steering that the driver can sense every detail of how the tires interact with the road. Turns are immediate and accurate due to the lightness and maximal stiffness of the bodywork.
"Insanely fun to drive car"
-Jani Kiviranta, AutoBild Finland
SAFETY
Modern F1 racing cars have shown how safe a carbon fiber composite monocoque is in an accident. The carbon fiber in the Oura is laminated on top of a polystyrene foam core, an excellent crash energy absorbent used in racing helmets. Therefore the passive safety of Oura is on the same level with other modern cars despite its light weight.
The pursuit of light weight has not taken away any safety or comfort feature. ABS, ESP and Airbags are standard equipment as well as air conditioning, full heating and ventilation system, seat heating and hill launch assistant. Due to the seating layout, there’s plenty of foot space for the two passengers.
INTERESTED?
KMR Oura is a one-off prototype. However, we would be happy to build a car to your
specifications. A monocoque for your homebuilt project is also an option.
