NILU Hypercar: A Celebration of Aspiration

Disclaimer: If you’re not an extreme auto enthusiast, you may need a few digital car manuals at the ready to decipher the impressive features herein.  ;) !!!

During a time when automotive companies are increasingly moving away from large displacement motors, car enthusiasts dream of raw, naturally aspirated power and sleek, sexy styling. In a world dominated by Bugatti, Koenigsegg, McLaren, and Lamborghini, enthusiasts yearn for a new underdog to boldly hit the market. Sasha Selipanov, a designer for Koenigsegg and Bugatti, founded Nilu27, which set out to grab the market by the, well,…you know what.

So, what do true pure enthusiasts dream of? Well, let’s wet your whistle with a few snippets: gated manual, naturally aspirated V12, and yes…, we cannot forget the gullwing doors. If that’s not a perfect Tinder match for a purist, we don’t know what it is. Even though it may sound old school, it is not as old as you think.

Let's talk about the motor -- the entree of this phenomenal course of cars. From a New Zealand company, Hartley Engines is a massive 6.5-liter 80-degree masterpiece, and Nilu27 states that the engine will "rev like an electric motor." This engine will also have intakes inside the "V" and outboard exhaust so you can hear the engine roar like a lion after drinking a Red Bull. The tri-exit tip exhaust is 3D-printed and was supposedly inspired by a space shuttle. Power is not available yet, but Nilu27 states that the engine will make over 1000 horsepower. And that's with no assistance from electric motors, turbochargers, or superchargers: nothing but just the motor.

The transmission is a seven-speed from CIMA. The shifter also has a locking mechanism that makes sure the car is not accidentally placed into reverse. So, it seems like this transmission is foolproof, but we doubt any fools will be driving a masterpiece such as this.

Clearly, the outside is breathtaking, but the inside is functional primarily with little to no buttons. There are also analog gauges, taking a minimalist approach that focuses on the experience of driving. The seats are also fixed, and the pedal box, headrest, and door mirrors are manually adjustable through levers and switches, focusing on keeping the carbon monocoque car as light as possible. Around the wheels are Micheline Cup 2R tires gripping the car down, making sure it sticks to the ground like a spider climbing up a chimney. To stop this spaceship from re-entering the natural world from its draw-dropping speed are Brembo carbon ceramic brakes, the best in the business.

NILU plans to create 15 launch editions, but it is unknown if they will be street legal. The company also plans to build 54 "street homologated" units. The company plans to debut the car to the world this month at Pebble Beach during Monterey Car Week on the 14 of August. The Irvine/CA-based company intends to take a massive swing at the shining stars of the hypercar market. It's fair to say they came up with a perfect recipe to throw their best punch.