Ν-Asurada AKF-0

ν-Asurada AKF-0 ν-Asurada AKF-0/G Category Cyber Formula Constructor Sugo Designer(s) Claire Fortran Technical specifications Chassis S.C.F.R.P and S.P.R.M Length 4,701 mm Width 2,493 mm Height 942.7 mm Engine AKF-0: Sugo SV-7/B cyber cycle V12 hydrogen 4,494 cc V12 with twin boost pods, mid-mounted AKF-0/G: GIO V Spec-01 (Spec-02) cyber cycle hydrogen 4,497 cc V12 with twin boost pods, mid-mounted Transmission 6 forward speeds + 1 reverse Weight 461 kg (AKF-0) 458 kg (AKF-0/G) Competition history Notable entrants Sugo Grand Prix(2020-2021) Sugo GIO Grand Prix(2022-) Notable drivers Hayato Kazami Debut 2020 German Grand Prix Races Wins Poles Fastest laps 31 18 6+ - Constructors' Championships 2 (2020, 2022) Drivers' Championships 2 (2020, 2021)

The ν-Asurada AKF-0 (ν-アスラーダ AKF-0^?) is a fictional race car driven by Sugo Grand Prix driver Hayato Kazami in the OVA sequel anime series Future GPX Cyber Formula Saga, an minor-changed model ν-Asurada AKF-0/G also appeared in the following sequel Future GPX Cyber Formula Sin.

History

AKF-0

2020 season

Work on the AKF-0 began following the conclusion of the 2019 season, however many challenges appeared during development and by the start of the winter testing season, the machine was still not ready for the track. Development delays along with personal reasons saw Hayato Kazami beginning the season with the updated Garland SF-03. After several retirements and less than expected results development of the AKF-0 was increased and shortly before the sixth round in Germany, it was ready for testing. It managed to only qualify sixth in its debut, but a stunning race by Kazami lead to a victory and a string of four more victories all by a wide margin defeating the vaunted Al-Zard NP-1 of Aoi. Despite dropping out from the race in Japan, Aoi was disqualified from the series after Aoi's cheats (doping, kidnapping, and cheating in the race) was revealed by the members of Aoi. After Aoi's disqualification, Hayato Kazami was crowned the World Champion, his third title since 2016, and become the first person having 3 World Championships. Sugo would also won their second Constructors Title after the Japan Race. Kazami won the final round in Australia to conclude the season.

2021 season

The following year saw an upgraded AKF-0 minor improvements. With main rival Aoi banned throughout the season (as the aftermath of the Al-Zard incident in 2020) and slow development of other constructors, the 2021 season saw Kazami drive the AKF-0 to a record setting 76 points and six victories tying the previous years record and secured another World Championship. Despite having spectacular cornering performances (mainly linked to Kazami's driving skill), the Asurada was commented lacking power on straights while not using boosters, the weak-point of Sugo-made engines, it leads to Sugo to co-partner with GIO, having their Cyber Engines winning 60 times in Indy, at the end of the season.

AKF-0/G

2022 season

The 2022 season saw the Sugo Grand Prix enter into an engine supply contract with an American automobile company, GIO Motors which previously had found much success in Indy. The new AKF-0/G utilizing GIO's V-Spec engine increased power and torque, however as the season moved ahead, serious reliability issues began to surface. Despite winning the first two rounds in the United States and Brazil, the first of these issues surface in Argentina. The new transmission began to overheat and despite a valiant effort from team members resolving the problem by the final laps, the transmission gave it on the final corner. The same problem continues in Canada round even they still managed a close victory. And the transmission problem later lead Sugo to 4 consecutive retirements, giving lots of grounds for rival constructor Aoi ZIP Formula's Bleed Kaga to claim the lead. However diligent work by both GIO and Sugo lead to an improved gear box and another string of victories going into the final round in Japan. However it was not to be as the stunning race lead to Bleed Kaga getting his first world title and the ν-Asurada having to settle for second place. However as Aoi only entered with one driver, Sugo who entered with two drivers still managed a constructor's title as a consolation.

2023 season

Following with the transmission issues which costed their 2022 title, a new version of AKF-0 incorporating the lessons learned from the previous year dubbed AKF-0/G II and is ready for the 2023 season. However, in the season's opener they would still use the AKF-0/G with minor modifications. The difference is its head tip was painted in red instead of blue. Otherwise, it is similar to the original car.

Design

The AKF-0 is six-wheeled, monocoque, variable chassis machine utilizing a combination of S.C.F.R.P and S.P.R.M materials in construction. The variable chassis allows the machine to switch between two modes; Circuit mode is the normal operating mode used in most situations which gives the ν-Asurada greater downforce and handling ideal for corners. The Aero Mode streamlines the car by covering areas that traditionally aerodynamically inefficient, wheels being the largest example and improving the cars aerodynamics allowing much higher straightline speed, however this decreases downforce and consequently cornering ability restricting its use to long straights. The transformation system is voice activated by the driver. The S.P.R.M. materials, which was originally used by rival constructor Aoi's Al-Zard NP-1, not only allow a quicker response of variation, but also removes weight from the vehicle.

Just like its predecessors, the ν-Asurada has twin booster pods system, however its mechanism stands different from the SA-01 or AKF-11. The engine critical point time limit is reduced from 27 seconds to 21 seconds. Meanwhile, the booster sequence consists of two phases; 'Aero Boost Mode' and 'Spiral Boost Mode'. Firstly, the Aero Boost Mode adapts the conventional booster system like any other machines, and pressurizes pods for 16 seconds to the first critical point. Secondly, the driver manually presses the button, as 16 seconds elapse, to engage the Spiral Boost Mode by opening the pod hatch. The high-pressurized booster pods immediately consume the oxygen as the hatch opens and ultimately causes flashover, thus literally pushing the machine with extra power from the secondary ignition for remaining five seconds.^[1] This Spiral Boost Mode allows the car to hit top speeds in excess of 800 km/h in testing, and over 700 in race situations.

During testing, an unexpected benefit of the cars effect fans allowed for a new method of turning called 'Lifting Turn' which elevates the car several meters into the air allowing it to change the apex of the corner, and even float over its competitors giving it a tremendous advantage. The cover of the effect fan will turn into a small aero-wing while Lifting Turn was being used.

Apart the usage of Asurada Cyber System, variable chassis, and a different engine/boost system, the AKF-0 would otherwise using the same specification with their Garland SF-03. However, the above items made ν-Asurada 6kg heavier than the Garland (which weighed only 455kg/452kg).

Variants

The ν-Asurada AKF-0 has two variants that appear only in the video games.

AKF-0/1B Nemesis

Th AKF-0/1B Nemesis was a fictional race car appeared in the PlayStation game in 1999, "Future GPX Cyber Formula: A New Challenger".

The car was nearly identical to the ν-Asurada AKF-0 used by Hayato, only using a "Cyber System" called Nemesis instead of Asurada. The car was driven by a Sugo's test driver and the main character of the game, Seiichirō Shiba, during the Cyber Formula special race event, the "Extreme speed" held after the 2020 season. The car also appears in the following Future GPX Cyber Formula: Road to the Infinity (RTI) series and Future GPX Cyber Formula: Road to the Evolution (RTE).

"Nemesis" is a Cyber System frequently speaks like Asurada. The voice for Nemesis could be selected between voice of male and female in the A New Challenger, and the voice actors were Yoshitada Ōtsuka (male) and Atsuko Tanaka (female). In the Road to the Infinity series, the voice is acted only by Atsuko Tanaka.

ν-Asurada II AKF-0/G II

The ν-Asurada II AKF-0/G II is an upgraded version of the ν-Asurada AKF-0/G. Through It has appeared in the extra endings in Cyber Formula SIN. The car's name was known and officially first released in the PlayStation 2 game in 2005, Future GPX Cyber Formula: Road to the Infinity 2.

The car debuted as an upgraded version of AKF-0/G during the 2023 season. In the opening introduction of Road to the Infinity 3, it was known that Kazami and the AKF-0/G II has been crowned their sixth World Champion in 2023 season.

References

1. ^ (in Japanese) Future GPX Cyber Formula SAGA Round 6. LIFTING TURN