I don't think anyone here is really blaming PD for this, so their disclaimer isn't really relevant - if they'd published that list 12 months ago, then it would be more reasonable. But, they've featured the car in their advertising, lots of people were expecting it, and clearly PD were too. The frustration (for me at least) isn't that PD mislead us, it's that the car was clearly intended to be in the game, and somebody somewhere has decided to leverage the fact the game is only a month from release, probably to get quick settlement and royalties.
As I said earlier in the thread, I probably won't miss the DW much myself (though more than the F1 cars that's for sure!), I just dislike the fact that the rug gets pulled from under our, and PD's, feet at such late notice.
I do think we will get it in the game as dlc, eventually after the dispute is settled. What boggles my mind, is that the FIA has nothing to say about it (that the zeod will be unnable to partake in the event)
After a little reading, i stumbled to looking at Autoweek, one of my favorite car mags second to topgear magazine.
http://www.autoweek.com/article/20130914/motorsports/130919894
Here it describes in detail the whole events from the day after the 2012 24 hours of le mans. What i found interesting, is that Mr. Panoz is suing over the Coupe version (the closed monocoque[the chrome one]) and not the "batmobile" that we were expecting. Why was it taken down then? Here's what i assume:
Ben Bowlby is like Adrian Newey of red bull. They both draw up cars, maybe one does it on a CAD and the other by pencil, but that doesnt matter. Mr. Bowlby was first teamed up with Highcroft to design a car with their "tub" design. He did so and helped modify the car to fit the Nissan power plant, after engine struggles from highcroft. After the 2012 24 Hour Le Mans race, the project was pretty much scrapped by highcroft and bought by mr panoz. He, along with other designers from his own racing teams, designed the DeltaWing Coupe (not the Nissan Deltawing.. two different cars). Mr panoz put up the cars for sale (i think three) for privateer racing groups, but Mr. Panoz sponsored one of the DeltaWings himself. The DeltaWing has basically come to its end in racing now, since Mr. Panoz has settled not to race it with his own team, but rather to "liquidate" them off to privateers.
Now Nissan comes back in for 2014's 24 Hours of Le Mans, with their ZEOD RC (Zero Emissions On Demand Racing Car). Ben Bowlby, who was hiding from designing cars, was picked up by nissan to design the ZEOD. Basically, using patents
HE, Ben Bowlby, submitted, used
HIS drawings to create the ZEOD, due to its lightweightness.
Now that Mr. Panoz has seen this ZEOD, he claims it is patent infringment with his DeltaWing coupe. Supposivley, his plan is to stop Nissan from partaking in the 24 hour race, to submit his own, but that hasnt been confirmed.
So, what can we sum up? Ben Bowlby will be going to court to prove that his drawings are different. Which in fact, they are. What we are basically talking about is the Nissan Deltawing and the Nissan ZEOD, two cars owned by Nissan at one point, now suing their arms and legs. Ever sinc Mr. Panoz bought the Nissan Deltawing, he has been using his own DeltaWing coupe. So there are technically three cars we are talking about. Mr Bowlby's deltawing (the Nissan Deltawing), mr Panoz's deltawing (the DeltaWing coupe), and Nissan's ZEOD. It is basically Mr. panoz's design, versus the Nissan ZEOD, but nissan used the Nissan Deltawing to design the ZEOD. That is why we dont have the Nissan deltawing.
There is probably no chance we will ever see the DeltaWing coupe, but if the case turns in Nissan's hands, there is a good probability to see the ZEOD and the Nissan Deltawing return..
