Guest post: Speedbox – Taliban Supercar


I will admit I never imagined writing the words Taliban and Supercar in the same sentence. 

But, a few days ago, the Taliban unveiled the prototype of Afghanistan’s first locally developed supercar, manufactured by Kabul-based Entop.   Known as the Mada 9, this car comes to us from a war-torn and dirt-poor country whose ruling militia are best known as fanatical religious thugs.  That and treating women as third class citizens somewhere behind donkeys.  

In any case, the Mada 9 was built by a team of some 30 (male) engineers from Entop and will also apparently be available in an electric variant.  The Kabul-based firm plans to sell the new car in Afghanistan initially before taking it global.  Taliban’s Higher Education Minister Abdul Baqi Haqqani unveiled the supercar at the Entop headquarters saying that the car will help in proving the commitment of Taliban regime to providing “religion & modern sciences for its people”.  Bless his black heart. 

The car’s price has not been revealed nor is the vehicle’s performance data or timeframe for mass production – and there are probably a few reasons or that.  

To start with, the Mada 9 is merely a mock-up like you will see at a global automotive show where legitimate manufacturers display concept vehicles.  These vehicles have engines and can be driven but they are not consumer road registerable and are a long way from being commercially viable.  All the manufacturers do this including Ferrari, Aston Martin, McLaren, Lamborghini etc. and those guys know a thing or two about building supercars.

The Mada 9 does have an engine and Head Designer, Ghulam Haidar Shahamat said the engine was “powerful enough” to let the driver increase the car’s speed.   Well yes, but only to a limited extent.  Powered by a 1.8 litre Toyota Corolla engine, it’s little wonder that the performance figures haven’t been released.   

As it is, the Mada 9 consists of a fibreglass body sitting on a ultra-basic tubular frame fitted with off-the-shelf suspension, wheels etc.  To turn this into a viable passenger car of any description, never mind a supercar, will take substantial automotive expertise and money I doubt the Taliban can access or be willing to commit. 

However, Entop chief executive Muhammad Raza Ahmadi says the Mada 9 is likely to have a name change before global release.   He said “I think we should name it a Black Swan so that the historical memory of this nation will never forget that there is still hope no matter what they are going through.”   My suggestion would be something we associate more readily with Afghanistan such as Bagram or Kandahar.       

Who knows – perhaps a turban-headed Taliban waving an AK47 out the window yelling “Allen’s Snackbar” will appeal to a certain demographic.


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Roger
Roger
January 21, 2023 9:10 am

He said “I think we should name it a Black Swan so that the historical memory of this nation will never forget that there is still hope no matter what they are going through.”

Inspired by the black swans of Australia, I believe.

caveman
caveman
January 21, 2023 9:14 am

C’mon where do they put the C4

At least there having a go, they could have probably built us some subs if we asked them.

Dot
Dot
January 21, 2023 9:21 am

Powered by a 1.8 litre Toyota Corolla engine, it’s little wonder that the performance figures haven’t been released.

The old Hot 4s magazine routinely had 1.5 ltr engines producing absurd kW figures on massive hand grenade levels of boost.

The reader is left to make their own snide commentary.

Shy Ted
Shy Ted
January 21, 2023 9:22 am
Roger
Roger
January 21, 2023 9:43 am

Powered by a 1.8 litre Toyota Corolla engine, it’s little wonder that the performance figures haven’t been released.

The Lotus Elise was powered by a Rover 1.8l engine and was no slouch.

Plasmamortar
Plasmamortar
January 21, 2023 9:48 am

I wonder if they still have shops installing aftermarket optional extras?

I need an M2 HMG For the back of Mt Land Cruiser 🙂

Lurx
January 21, 2023 10:07 am

Nothing remarkable about it…. apart from its origins.
In the latter regard, one should applaud it’s appearance

Damon
Damon
January 21, 2023 11:49 am

Does it have an alert when a woman attempts to get in?

Wally Dalí
Wally Dalí
January 21, 2023 11:58 am

Speaking of long lags between concept and viability*, whatever happened to the Tesla Semi and Cybertruck?
(*and announceables)

Gilas
Gilas
January 21, 2023 12:19 pm

Looks like an Audi R8 chassis Frankensteined by curvy black fibreglass panels.
My Camry has bigger front disk-brakes, but we are also expected to believe that Afghanis can manufacture sleek 19″ alloy wheels..

Anyone who believes this “supercar” is a real project, from the world’s only still-medieval sh@thole, should buy my new bridge.
Really… special offer!

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
January 21, 2023 12:54 pm

Bufori seem to do well manufacturing in Malaysia. Their cars have lots of character!

As for Taliban, well, get used to them as they’re here in essence already.

The Left is Mutating into the Taliban (19 Jan)

From misogyny to religious discrimination, the similarities are too close to ignore.

I’ve commented a few times about the similarity between the new green-progressive religion and Islam. No surprise the two of them are allied.

Colonel Crispin Berka
Colonel Crispin Berka
January 21, 2023 2:10 pm

At least there having a go, they could have probably built us some subs if we asked them.

It will be called: The Ummahrine.

😀

Only weakness is that it has to surface five times per day.

Speedbox
January 21, 2023 2:55 pm

Lurx says:
January 21, 2023 at 10:07 am
Nothing remarkable about it…. apart from its origins.

Precisely. Around the world there are TAFE colleges that teach automotive design and the students routinely draw designs like this. ‘Futuristic’ car design has been happening for decades. A few make it to single unit production as a project for the students.

Dot – grenade engines were called that for a reason. Back in the late 1980s Honda supplied a 1.5 litre engine to McLaren F1 that produced over 1000Kw. Mind you, it was running about 75 lbs boost and was only good for about 4-5 laps of qualifying before it shite itself. As you can imagine, when one of these things lets go, it makes a hell of a mess of the engine. High boost qualifying engines were commonplace and in Australia we used to do it with the Cosworth Sierra and Nissan Skyline GTS-Rs in particular. Same thing – about 70 lbs boost which was good for a few qualifying laps. Race trim was much less but the issue is not entirely the level of boost – it is vital that the delivery of that boost is consistent throughout the rev range which was the modus operandi in rallying. Hillclimbs were a ‘qualifying engine’ approach.

By way of comparison, virtually all turbo production petrol car engines will not exceed 20 lbs boost with many around 15 lbs or less as their maximum. The current model and legendary Nissan GTR runs 20 lbs maximum boost which falls away to 16 lbs fairly quickly as the revs increase.

Shy Ted
Shy Ted
January 21, 2023 6:56 pm

Let’s call it Allah’ Blackcar.

Katzenjammer
Katzenjammer
January 21, 2023 7:36 pm

It’s useless for plowing into crowds unless it gets fitted with an optional roo bar.

lotocoti
lotocoti
January 22, 2023 7:45 am

From the same design studio that gave Iran their first stealth fighter.

Perplexed of Brisbane
Perplexed of Brisbane
January 22, 2023 8:32 am

Just remember Habib. If it has wheels or a burqa, it’s going to cost you money.

pete of perth
pete of perth
January 22, 2023 12:21 pm

pity we can’t make a trade deal, bog roles for supercars.

Damienski
Damienski
January 22, 2023 8:29 pm

I wonder if it will have somewhere for the driver’s handbag?

Fair Shake
Fair Shake
January 23, 2023 3:48 pm

Comes with Optional sword racks, heads-off display and cup holders.

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