Keating Supercars are celebrating 10 years in business this month, preparing to drive full-throttle into another decade with the soon-to-launch Keating Berus.
A key partner in the University of Bolton's Centre for Advanced Performance Engineering (CAPE), Keating Supercars made their debut in July 2006 with the launch of the Keating TKR at the 2006 London Motorshow. CAPE is a leading centre for the study of automotive performance engineering and motorsport technology and was the first in the UK to have an in-house and fully functioning international race team based on campus.
The TKR was built primarily for competition and track use. It was soon followed by the SKR, based on the TKR, but designed as a road car. In April 2011 the Keating ZKR - reaching 60mph in 3.6 seconds and producing 650bhp - was unveiled at the Monaco Top Marques show held at the Grimaldi Forum, Monaco. Next came The Bolt, launching in 2013, and designed to outperform supercar competition using high-tech lightweight materials to reduce the power to weight ratio, but aiming to increase the car's performance figures to a top speed of 340mph.
The Berus is set to be unveiled at the Monaco Top Marques show in April 2017. Taking its name from the venomous snake Vipera Berus, with a host of impressive features, the Berus comes in two versions. With a top speed of 230 mph+ and 0-60mph in 2.4 seconds, the V8 Berus is a fierce addition to the Keating range. There is also the Electric Berus - packing 150-300KW 1,054ft/lb torque.
Keating Supercars CEO, Dr Anthony Keating, is an alumnus of the University of Bolton, studying both engineering and business with the University. He said: 'The Berus's namesake is reflected in its design; including the lights which resemble those of a snake and the front which appears to display the snake's fangs. The car is engineered, designed and will be built in Bolton.'
In celebration of the tenth anniversary, and the anticipated production of the Keating Berus, the event was recently marked in Southport at the Prince of Wales Hotel. On display was the half-scale Berus model which is now on show in CAPE.
Added Tony: 'It's been an amazing 10 years for Keating's. We're thrilled with our continued association with the University of Bolton and the development of CAPE which has been a testament to the University's drive and vision to excel. With the coming £13 million National Centre for Motorsport Engineering, designed to provide first-class facilities unrivalled in academia, Bolton will be the UK centre to study automotive engineering and motorsport technology.'
