Defined by Mastretta says as "the first car ever to be designed and built in Mexico", the MXT's goal is to be a strong rival to lightweight sports cars such as the Lotus Elise and Exige. And the UK will be the launch market for the car.

The MXT will be based on a bonded aluminium semi-monocoque chassis inspired by aircraft style technology.

Closed mould techniques sculpt the distinctive body from fibreglass and the air-conditioned interior is leather-trimmed.

Powered by a Cosworth-built 2-litre turbocharged Duratec engine developing 240bhp, the rear-wheel drive two-seater weighs just 900kg, and this impressive power-to-weight ration gives it an impressive 0-60mph time of less than 5 seconds, while the top speed reaches 150mph.

The engines come from the US division of Cosworth, but can be imported to Mexico tax-free because of the NAFTA free-trade agreement.

Technical features include front and rear double wishbone suspension and 293mm ventilated brake discs with ABS.

Low-volume certification will be complete later this year, with cars going on sale next May. Initial sales target is modest – between 50 and 80 cars a year. In year one, only RHD models for the UK will be produced.

Lifestyle has the rights for distribution elsewhere in Europe, by which time production will be increased to 200 units a year. Sale price is £32,999.

“We have an advantage because of low costs in Mexico, but at the same time the labour there is quite skilled,” says Daniel Mastretta.

The project

The Mastretta MXT at the 2008 Londo Motor Show

Five years ago, the Mastretta brothers decided to develop a sports car. Their first attempt was based on the VW Beetle chassis – Beetles were built in Mexico until a couple of years ago - but chassis was “not up to the task”, Daniel said.

So they decided to start again from scratch, in 2004, resulting in the self-developed aluminium and composites chassis made of extrusions and folded aluminium parts, with a fibreglass body.

The first prototype was ready in 2007 – and discussions with UK-based distributor Lifestyle Automotive resulted in Britain being selected as the launch market.

“We needed to create a great car because Mexico has no tradition of sophisticated sports car manufacturing,” says designer Daniel Mastretta.

“It is most important that our customers are delighted by the new MXT. That’s what we aimed to do from the first drawing of the car, but we also want to make our country proud of the MXT and to show the world what we can do.”

Mastretta MXT - Specifications

About Mastretta

Founded in 1987 by brothers Daniel and Carlos Mastretta, the Mexican company has been working in industrial design for transportation for 20 years – mainly designing bus bodies for Mexican companies.

For more information visit www.mastrettadesign.com.

(Source: Mastretta)