Protactinium - Div20 Sedan (Elemental)

Type: Sedan, Chassis: Xtra-Heavy, Suspension: Heavy, Engine: Large Electric (PC) (Pwr 2100, 10dp), Tires: 4 Solids(12dp), Crew: Driver (no equip), Weaponry VFRP (30/reg) front (1D each rocket, max 6x1D), Weighted Accessories: IFE, spoiler & airdam, Unwgt. Acces.: HRSWC, HTM & Overdrive (linked), [1 total links], Dischargers: 10 total: 4 oil (FBRL) 6 smoke (2T, 2U, 1R 1L), Wheel Armor: 60 total = 2x10 pt WG rear, 4x10 pt WH on all wheels, Component Armor 9 pts LRFP for (a) PP (5 sp), (b) Driver (2 sp), (c) VFRP (3 sp) Cargo: 0 sp, 4 lbs.; Vehicle Armor: 163 pts sloped Composite (11 Metal/152 Plastic): F(2/32) B(2/32) R(2/36) L(2/36) T(1/6) U(2/10); HC: 3 (4 over 60), Acc. 5 (HTM 10/Overdrive 2.5),  Top Speed 90 (67.5/110), DM: 1, Hit Mod: -1, Weight: 6116 lbs. Max 6120, Cost: $19,979.10

• #1 Div25 TL Option 1 - Remove HRSWC, add TG & LGL to all 30 rockets, remove 1 pt Metal & Plastic armor, 6112 lbs, $24,959.80.


• #2 Div20 Midsize Option - Type: Midsize, Chassis: Xtra-Heavy, Suspension: Heavy, Engine: Large Electric (Pwr 2000, 10dp), Tires: 4 Solids (12dp), Crew: Driver (no equip), Weaponry VFRP (30/reg) front (1D each rocket, max 6x1D), Weighted Accessories: IFE, spoiler & airdam, Unwgt. Acces.: HRSWC, HTM & Overdrive (linked), [1 total links], Dischargers: 10 total: 4 oil (FBRL) 6 smoke (2T, 2U, 1R 1L), Wheel Armor: 60 total = 2x10 pt WG rear, 4x10 pt WH on all wheels, Component Armor 9 pts LRFP for (a) PP (5 sp), (b) Driver (2 sp), Cargo: 0 sp, 4.4 lbs.; Vehicle Armor: 163 pts Composite (11 Metal/154 Plastic): F(2/33) B(2/33) R(2/36) L(2/36) T(1/6) U(2/10); HC: 3 (4 over 60), Acc. 5 (HTM 10/Overdrive 2.5),  Top Speed 90 (67.5/110), DM: 1, Hit Mod: 0, Weight: 5755.6 lbs. Max 5760, Cost: $18,191.50 

Design Notes - I'm still in my sedan phase, and after a few of them I'm starting to think of the body type as viable, but that could be a false positive. The major question is whether a sedan is markedly better at the same design concept than an equivalent Midsize. 

I had in my head "OK, a sedan with a VFRP, using a HRSWC instead of LGL, possibly to be Div20 or if possible Div15" The HRSWC because I surmised (correctly, see option 1) that it'd be significantly cheaper to just use the (game-breaking, for this reason) +2, 0 weight, targeting computer than to use laser-guidance (which carries laser penalties & the other weird 'broken link' worries). The metal armor was a way to fireproof the armor on the cheap (and to keep costs low). 

Option 2 proves to me that there's a good place for Sedans, given that the VFRP-HRSWC idea works best as a sedan not a midsized. The original had full component armor (great for fire issues & adding sneaky armor, don't @me) & sloped armor. While the Mid had 2 pts more plastic armor (muted applause) I couldn't keep the main design intact and make it div15.

I feel good about this 'road test' - after all these years, I see that for a high-concept design (meaning: let's have this configuration of weapons/internals), a sedan can allow more accessory variation while still keeping costs manageable. 

Name Notes - Just a random element name. From the Wiki: 

"...symbol Pa and atomic number 91. It is a dense, silvery-gray actinide metal which readily reacts with oxygen, water vapor and inorganic acids.... Because of its scarcity, high radioactivity and high toxicity, there are currently no uses for protactinium outside scientific research, and for this purpose, protactinium is mostly extracted from spent nuclear fuel."

It's Pro-Actinium because it was seen to be a precursor to Element #89, Actinium. I was about to name the Midsize option that (for symmetry's sake) but after reading about the element, it needs it's own car. It's pretty cool. So I think I'll try to design a really good VFRP car to earn that name.

Counter pic is of a Ferrari 488 GTB (2015-2019) from here.