One of this year's big mysteries has been the proposed new supercar from a potential carmaker known only as Project 1221. All year they have been 'drip feeding' information on the project - most recently revealing that it will be gas-turbine powered - a detail that has finally explained the astronomic horsepower figures they have been dropping into the equation.

However, while this information, along with details of the chassis, an innovative centrally-positioned steering system, the 2 or 4 wheel drive transmission, a novel 2 or 3 seat arrangement, its optional 'amoured' capabilities, and even its luggage capacity, have now been revealed, the Project 1221 firm have been totally silent on the styling of this supercar - which will be titled as the MF1 - in homage to legendary Ferrari engineer Mauro Forghieri.

Thus 'SpeedandDesign.net' - a website that brings car designers - from potential to professional - together has taken the plunge and launched a competition to find out just how the world's car designers expect the mysterious MF1 supercar to actually appear in the flesh. Using the snippets of reasonably detailed information that has been released by Project 1221, along with a CAD generated wheelbase that SpeedandDesign.net have established based on the McLaren F1 supercar, the design competition is now underway.

"The contest is starting to create a stir in the design community and a lot of people are interested in participating," comments SpeedandDesign.net's Harvey  Ettinger. "Our site is made up of freelance, professional, and novice designers that meet just to have fun throwing out new ideas and creating fresh challenges," He added, before concluding, "We felt the Project 1221 project posed many very interesting and unusual design requirements so we chose to run with it."
 

The designers have some further dimensional data on which to draw their conclusions. The general size of the engine of the MF1 will be approximately that of the FJ33 fanjet - give or take a few adaptations require to make it suitable for road car application - so they can use that as a reference too.

The MF1, as already stated in one of Project 1221's earlier updates, was supposed to adopt a less powerful and smaller engine. However, after they made a more recent decision to use the much more powerful (and inevitably larger) FJ33 fanjet engine they had to modify the original MF1 concept (an AWD 2-seater) and so decided to offer two distinct models, an AWD 3-seater and a RWD 2-seater. Consequently, the design and packaging will have to be unique as far as the 3-seater is concerned (shades of the 1990's very limited production McLaren F1 supercar here maybe?), adding a totally fresh dimension to the secrecy-shrouded project.

The 2-seater MF1 on the other hand retains a "conventional" mechanical layout so, essentially, Project 1221 will create two entirely different cars that share the same name and the same engine (as well as the same suspension, windscreen and other such parts).

The designers will thus have to style two compact berlinetta's - also using established practices from the MF1's competitors, including the Ferrari F430 and Lamborghini Gallardo - one of which will inevitably have a higher back end than the other, in order to accommodate the third, centrally located, passenger (Volvo 3CC-style).