Arash Motor

Arash Motor Company Limited
FormerlyFarboud Limited (2000–2006)[1]
Company typePrivate
IndustryAutomotive
Founded1999 (1999) in Newmarket, Suffolk
FounderArash Farboud
Websitearashcars.com

Arash Motor Company Limited is a British sports car manufacturer based in Newmarket, Suffolk. It was established as Farboud Limited in 1999 by Arash Farboud, and renamed in 2006.[1]

The company specializes in low-volume production of high-performance vehicles. As a "Micro" entity registered with UK Companies House, it operates with fewer than 10 employees and reports a balance sheet under £500,000.[2] Production capacity is reported to be fewer than three cars per year.[3]

The company has developed four models to date: the Farboud GT, the Farboud GTS, the AF-8, and the AF-10. The AF-8 and AF-10 are the company's current production models, alongside the electric Imperium concept.[4]

History

Foundation and early development (1999–2005)

The company was founded in 1999 by Arash Farboud, an Iranian-born British entrepreneur. It was officially incorporated as Farboud Limited on 27 November 2000.[1]

The company's first vehicle was the Farboud GT, developed in 1999 and presented at the Autosport International show in Birmingham in 2002.[5] This was followed by the Farboud GTS concept, shown in 2003 and officially launched at the British Motorshow in London in 2004.[6]

2005 split and Farbio formation

A critical divergence occurred in 2005. Chris Marsh, whose father Jem Marsh co-founded Marcos Engineering, was working with Arash Farboud as a sales representative.[7] Marsh was granted a license to use the GTS design in exchange for shares in a new, separate company.[8]

Marsh's team simplified the design, substituting the Audi RS4-based racing engine with a more cost-effective Ford V6.[6] Following a dispute in 2005, Marsh renamed the car "Farbio." An initial attempt to use "Fangio" was blocked by the Formula 1 driver's family.[6]

Arash Farboud sold his shares in the Farbio entity to Michael Simmonds, while retaining 100% ownership of the original Farboud Ltd.[6] Farbio Sports Cars began production of the Ford-powered Farbio GTS in 2007. The design was later sold to Laurence Tomlinson of Ginetta Cars, which renamed it the Ginetta F400.[7]

Rebranding and current operations (2006–present)

After the 2005 split, Farboud Ltd. was renamed Arash Motor Company in 2006.[1] The company remains an active private limited company based in Newmarket, Suffolk.[1]

The company's longevity is supported by its funding model. According to a 2009 interview, the company was financed by Arash Farboud's other successful family-owned business, Unisurge, a medical packaging supplier.[9] Farboud described the car company as a "hobby" he was turning into a business, with an investment of about £5 million to develop the AF-10.[9]

Models

Farboud GT (2002)

The Farboud GT was the company's first model, a one-off prototype presented at the Autosport International show in Birmingham in 2002.[5] It featured a 2.8-litre Audi V6 twin-turbo engine producing 620 bhp (460 kW).[5]

Farboud GTS (2003–2005)

The Farboud GTS was shown as a concept car at Autosport International in 2003 and launched at the British Motorshow in 2004.[6] Three prototypes were built with a 620 bhp (460 kW) Audi V6 twin-turbo engine. This should not be confused with the later Farbio GTS production car, which used a Ford V6.

Arash AF10 (2009 concept)

In 2009, Arash displayed the first AF10 concept, featuring a Chevrolet Corvette-sourced 7.0-litre V8 engine producing 500 bhp (370 kW).[10] This conventional supercar was not put into production.

Arash AF10 (2016 hybrid)

A revised AF10 was revealed at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show with a completely different hybrid drivetrain.[11] It combines a 6.2-litre supercharged V8 with four electric motors for a manufacturer-claimed total output of 2,080 hp (1,550 kW) and 2,280 N⋅m (1,680 lbf⋅ft) of torque.[12][13] The electric motors are powered by a 32-kWh lithium-ion battery.[14] According to the manufacturer, the vehicle achieves 0-60 mph in 2.8 seconds.[12]

Arash AF8 (2014–present)

The AF8 was designed by Arash and revealed at the Geneva Motor Show in 2016.[15] It features a carbon/steel tubed chassis and a mid-mounted 7.0-litre GM LS7 V8 engine producing 505 bhp (377 kW) in standard form or 550 bhp (410 kW) in the Cassini variant.[15][16]

Imperium (2021–present)

The Imperium is the company's electric hypercar concept, first detailed in a 2021 company document.[17] It features a pure electric drivetrain with four electric motors, built on a single-piece carbon fiber monocoque chassis.[17] The vehicle represents the company's pivot to electric vehicle technology.[4]

In video games

The AF10 and AF8 Falcon Edition both appear in the video games Asphalt 8: Airborne and Asphalt Legends.[12]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Arash Motor Company Limited overview". Companies House. 27 November 2000. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
  2. ^ "Arash Motor Company Limited". Endole. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
  3. ^ "10 British Sports Cars So Rare You'll Never See Them In Real Life". HotCars. 19 July 2021. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
  4. ^ a b "British Supercar Startup Building New Electric Hypercar". CarBuzz. 2 June 2021. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
  5. ^ a b c "2002 Farboud GT". UltimateCarPage.com. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
  6. ^ a b c d e "ARASH SUPERCAR". YouTube. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
  7. ^ a b "Ginetta Purchases Farbio, Bringing it to the U.S". CarThrottle. 9 March 2010. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
  8. ^ "Farboud changes its name to Farbio". Autoblog. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
  9. ^ a b "Arash Motor to offer powercar in Middle East early next year". Gulf News. 5 November 2009. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
  10. ^ "Arash AF-10 supercar (2010) unveiled". Car Magazine. 9 November 2009. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
  11. ^ "Arash Says It Will Sell You A 2,080 Horsepower Hybrid With A Gated Manual For $1.5 Million". Jalopnik. 1 March 2016. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
  12. ^ a b c "The Arash AF10: The 2,080-HP British Hypercar You've Never Heard Of". CarBuzz. 15 January 2025. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
  13. ^ "Geneva 2016: Arash AF10". GTspirit. 1 March 2016. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
  14. ^ "Arash AF10 Hybrid Storms Geneva with 2,080 Horsepower". autoevolution. 22 February 2016. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
  15. ^ a b "New 200mph Arash AF8 supercar unveiled". Autocar. 28 February 2014. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
  16. ^ "2014 Arash AF8". UltimateCarPage.com. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
  17. ^ a b "Imperium" (PDF). Arash Motor Company. 1 June 2021. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
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