Covini Six-Wheeled Supercar: Exclusive First Drive

What is it like to drive the six-wheeled Covini supercar? Awesome, but also surprisingly normal. The steering wheel doesn't feel any heavier than a normal car. But you know you're driving something special because jaws drop everywhere as you roll by.

And not a Ferrari or Lamborghini jaw drop, but something more special. Like when you watch the space shuttle take off. When was the last time you saw a six-wheeled car drive by with four front steering wheels turning in unison?

The stares are awesome — and totally expected. The last time Jalopnik ran a story on this car it brought in over half a million views — and that was in 2008!

Looking back at the incredulous stares I can almost see their lips forming the world Tyrell. But this is no Tyrell. This is no 40 year old Formula One car . This is the birth of a strange new supercar.

It's got six wheels, an Audi V8 engine, carbon fiber body, scissor doors, and an interior that is custom designed to each buyer's specification as if it were another hand made Italian suit. This car is cool and truly one of a kind, but that's going to change. I hope.   

Apparently I am the first person outside of the family or its would-be producers at Genius Car to drive the Covini. I tried to get video of the run but my cheap camera failed 20 seconds in. Sadly, all I have to show you is the quick little clip we have here.

And to be fair I really only drove the car around the Goodwood Festival (not up the hill) but it was enough to understand how this is going to work. I got it moving, put the clutch in so any rolling resistance would be immediately felt and turned hard expecting the two wheels to scrub a ton of speed. But they didn't, the car turned silky smooth. The geometry of the steering works. This car drives. It's not a show car but a running, functioning, driving car.   

Brembo just finished developing a six-wheel, six-channel ABS system for the car. And now we come to the reason for building this car: Safety. Excuse me, safety at ridiculous speeds. You get six contact patches to brake with, six rotors to absorb heat, six tires to dissipate water and prevent hydroplaning, and if one of your front tires blows out at warp speed? Well you'll probably be alright because you still have three more tires in the front to keep you from spinning. 

Does it corner faster? I don't know. I wasn't able to drive it fast enough. But it feels like it should. When I drove it into the corner it felt like I dropped my entire forearm through the wheel down to the road to support the weight of the cornering. It's hard to describe because I have never felt anything like it in any car I have ever driven.

Wheelmate Laptop Steering Wheel Desk Review | Custom Wheels Unlimited

My copilot and I both used these during our "daily grind" transcontinental flights from San Diego to Minneapolis. We had to modify them a bit to fit snug against the instrument panels (when we bought them we didn't realize the planes we fly don't have steering wheels!), but in the end it did the job. With our laptops firmly in place we were able to focus our attention on what really mattered, participating in raids with our WoW clan. During our last flight we were so immersed in trying to take down Eranikus that we overshot Minneapolis by a full hour and a half before some annoying flight attendant interrupted us, babbling something about "FAA and F16 fighters." Introducing the AutoExec WM-01 Wheelmate Steering Wheel Desk Tray - Gray - , featured in our Other Vehicle Parts department. This product generally ships within 2 business day(s) from Pinellas Park, Florida, and weighs 2 pound(s). Attaches to your steering wheel for easy access to a writing and drink storage surface. The Go Office Wheel Mate Steering Wheel Desk is flat for writing and perfect for lunch or a snack. This Go Office Wheel Mate Steering Wheel Desk stores neatly in your car when used with the larger Auto Exec Laptop Car Desk. For safety reasons, never use this product while driving. Easily convert your car into your personal automobile office with the Wheel Mate car desk by MobileOffice.

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