Fields Auto Works Scioto Coupe: A track-ready hypercar

Hypercar levels of performance but without the hyper cost of ownership? That’s pretty much what Fields Auto Works had in mind in creating its new Scioto Coupe.

The raw numbers: about 1800 pounds and, even in base trim, more than 500 horsepower.

Building on the success of the Cardinal Coupe–retro looks paired with a modern 2.3-liter Ecoboost engine–the Scioto Coupe simply aims to offer another thrilling, track-ready driving experience. This one, though, is just a bit faster.

[Video: The Fields Auto Works Cardinal Coupe: Quick as a C8 Corvette, but costs less]

Like the Cardinal Coupe, the Scioto Coupe looks European but is another all-American creation. Fields Auto Works is based in Columbus, Ohio, with team members having backgrounds up to and including Indy and Can-Am.

“Having background in high-level formula and sports racer cars,” explains company principal Rob Fields, “we wanted to offer that exciting level of performance without many of the headaches and barriers–including costs–associated with professional race cars.

“We also wanted to make sure our customers could enjoy them on the street,” he continues, “which is why our base-level offering is a turnkey roller using a strong selection of off-the-shelf-parts. The Scioto Coupe vision is iconic endurance racer performance with modern sports car ownership experience.”

Although that styling harkens back to some of the most legendary endurance racers from the 1960s, the Scioto is all modern, starting with a sleek and lightweight carbon-fiber body fitted over a tube-frame, semi-monocoque chassis fitted with an integrated roll cage.

Not unlike a modern Formula 1 car, the Scioto Coupe features a pull-rod suspension with double A-arms on all four corners. The advantage? Optimized packaging regarding the placement of suspension components, many times with an eye toward lowering center of gravity.

And yes, that suspension hardware is adjustable. Remember, the Scioto Coupe is built for the track, not Sunday morning cruise-ins–although, of course, it could easily pull double duty (depending on local laws, of course).

Unlike a modern F1 car, however, power for the Scioto Coupe comes from a common, easy-to-hop-up V8 engine. The General Motors LS-based family needs little introduction.

While the Scioto Coupe’s standard engine is rated at 505 horsepower and 470 lb.-ft. of torque out the box–already impressive for a car that weighs less than a new Miata–Fields is more than willing to bump that output to upward of 800 horsepower. Or even more.

Two pedals or three? That's up to you: the Scioto can be configured with an H-pattern six-speed manual, conventional automatic six-speed, or even a full racing sequential gearbox. In charge of stopping all those wild ponies? Four-piston calipers that clamp down on two-piece vented rotors.

So far, Fields notes that only one car has been ordered with the LS engine and H-pattern gearbox, with most orders customers opting for sequential gearboxes, complete MoTeC systems and even supercar engines or dedicated racing motors.

Wheel options, too: The standard square setup features 18x8-inch wheels, while there’s an optional staggered setup composed of 19x10-inch wheels up front and 19x11-inch wheels out back. DOT-compliant track rubber comes standard: 245/40R18 for the square setup or 295/35R19 front and 315/35R19 rear for the optional staggered package.

Minimalists and purists will likely feel right at home inside the cockpit, which, as Fields explains, features “everything you need and nothing more.” A 6-inch driver display shows the essentials, and composite seats with molded inserts keep both driver and passenger in place.

For added peace of mind, an integrated fire-suppression system is included as standard. Six-point harnesses? Also included.

Build your own or let Fields do it. The company will happily sell a complete, running car or, for the more DIY-inclined, just a rolling chassis.

The pricing? Depends on how it’s configured. A roller–no drivetrain but everything else installed and operating–retails for $144,000.

Figure a base running car–meaning an H-pattern, six-speed gearbox and 505 horsepower–retails for $184,000. “This puts it well below final delivered price of its many supercar rivals, while offering considerably higher performance, a full carbon-fiber body and better street manners than half the One Lap of America field,” Fields notes. “Even customers who option exotic engines, sequential gearboxes, upgraded electronics and luxury interiors are still coming in between $260,000 and $280,000.

[One Lap of America: What we learned competing with an underdog CRX]

“We know those numbers don’t make us the most affordable car at the track,” Fields continues, “but in a world where a new GT3 RS rarely sells for under $350,000, we’re giving more people an opportunity to experience really outrageous performance.”

How long is the wait for one? Actual build time is less than six months but moving towards three months as production scales up, we're told, with the total lead time varying as the cars are built by hand. Exotic drivetrains, like a Lamborghini V12, obviously add to those times.

Interested? You’d better hop in line quickly. The first two runs of Scioto Coupes have already sold out, but the next round of limited allocations is open now.

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