Introduced in late 2012, the RXC Coupe arrived to give Radical Sportscars->ke3734 a road-legal car (in some countries) that had a roof to keep the elements out. Additionally, it arrived with optional air conditioning, carpeting, and more goodies to make road travel a little more comfortable. For the 2015 model year, the RXC Turbo arrived with a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 with 454 horses and 500 pound-feet of torque. Now with the 2016 model year looming and Radical looking to best its existing Nurburgring->ke999 record, the automaker has released the RXC Turbo 500, which is essentially a hopped-up version of the RXC Turbo.

Boasting all the race-car goodness that made the 2014 RXC so awesome, the RXC Turbo 500 takes things to a whole new level of insanity. But awesomeness aside, is the RXC Turbo 500 really worth the scratch that Radical is asking for it?

Click past the jump to read my full review of the 2016 Radical RXC Turbo 500 to find out.

2016 Radical RXC Turbo 500

Specifications

• Make: Array
• Model: 2016 Radical RXC Turbo 500
• Engine/Motor: V6
• Horsepower: 530 @ 6100
• Torque: 481 @ 5000

Pros

Cons

Exterior

Note: RXC Turbo pictured here.

Radical failed to detail any changes to the outside of the RXC Turbo 500, so I think it’s safe to assume that it will carry on with the same looks as the standard RXC Turbo. This means that the RXC Turbo 500 will retain the Le Mans LMP-like look. Imagining seeing one of these on the road makes me chuckle a bit, but after a second or two I would be star-struck.

The RXC Turbo 500 will also carry on with the gullwing doors that require a little dexterity to slide through, a pile of air intakes, and that massive rear wing. Yeah, this car’s design is certainly true to its name: Radical.

Exterior Dimensions

Interior

Note: RXC Turbo model shown here

Much like the exterior, the interior is not affected by this upgrade. This means that the RXC Turbo 500 features the same multifunction steering wheel, electrically adjustable mirrors, air conditioning, heated windshield, adjustable pedal box, Corbeau-trimmed, FIA-compliant seats, and six-point racing harnesses.

Like the model it’s based upon, buyers can also order bepoke items for the cabin.

Drivetrain

The drivetrain is what really matters in this update, as Radical took the RXC Turbo and cranked it to about 12 or 13 by boosting its 3.5-liter EcoBoost’s output to 530 horsepower, which is a 76-horsepower jump. Torque, on the other hand, falls from 500 pound-feet to 481 pound-feet for some unexplained reason. This insane amount of power results in a 0-to-100-mph time of 6.8 seconds and a 40-to-80-mph time of just three seconds, which is best in the class.

The power bump is courtesy of a pile of new parts, including a pair of new high-performance, water-cooled Garrett GT28 turbos; Owen Developments twin-phase anodized actuators; a revised, fluid-optimized intake manifold; high-performance Ford injectors; a fuel rail upgrade with an improved flow rate; a race-ready fuel regulator; high-flow, Ni-resistant alloy manifolds; a larger-diameter exhaust system; and a LIFE engine management system.

Delivering the goods to the rear wheels is an RPE/Quaife seven-speed transverse gearbox with paddle shifters. This transmission rams through the upshifts in 50 milliseconds, and auto throttle blips make for easy clutchless downshifts. Out back is a Quaife Automatic Torque Biasing differential for ideal traction in the corners.

Wanna talk about tear-your-face-off fast? This is it...

Drivetrain Specifications

Suspension and Brakes

I am assuming that the RXC Turbo 500 carries the same underpinnings as the RXC Turbo, which includes an Intrax Racing Suspension inboard-pushrod system with double wishbones at all four corners. The dampers are fully adjustable for varying road conditions.

The brakes comprise 350 mm front and 310 mm rear floating rotors clamped by six-piston calipers. As an option, buyers can swap out the metallic rotors for a set of carbon-ceramic units that not only reduce unsprung weight, but also reduce brake fade.

17-inch, center-lock rollers round out the keep-it-on-the-track bits.

Prices

Radical didn’t go into pricing, but we already know that the RXC Turbo runs £107,500 ($164,975 as of 2/17/15) (VAT excl.), so I wouldn’t be shocked to learn that this upgrade to the 500 tacks on an extra £20,000 ($30,693 as of 2/17/15) to £30,000 ($46,039 as of 2/17/15).

According to the press release, this kit is available to order now, but there is no mention of it on the Radical website.

Competition

Ariel Atom 3.5R

There aren’t too many cars that can really compete with the RXC Turbo 500, but the Ariel Atom is one that may give it a run on the track. In its base setup, which produces just 245 horsepower, the Atom has no hope, but bumping up to the 350-horsepower 3.5R model may do the trick.

Thanks to this super-powerful 2.0-liter i-VTEC powerplant and a Sadev six-speed transmission that upshifts in 40 milliseconds and downshifts in 50 milliseconds, this open-air two-seater can hit 60 mph in just 2.6 seconds.

The only downside to the Atom is that you’re stuck with no roof. Where the Atom 3.5R wins is in terms of pricing, as it runs just £54,000 ($82,903 as of 2/17/15).

Conclusion

There's nothing like making a good thing better, and that is precisely what Radical is doing with the RXC Turbo 500. With a 530-horse 3.5-liter EcoBoost, there is little that can hang with it – million-dollar hypercars included. Sure, it is just barely a road-ready car by most standards, but all of that glorious speed more than makes up for it.