Imagine a designer who has designed for both Koenigsegg and Bugatti making a car by himself. Sounds crazy, right? Well, it has happened, and the designer we are talking about is Sasha Selipanov. He has shown the world his first car, the NILU. This is a car for those who like classic stuff. What kind of classic? We are talking about a naturally aspirated V12, manual gearbox, and gullwing doors.
Mad V12 Powers it
The NILU gets its power from a naturally aspirated V12 designed by New Zealand-based Hartley Engines. It is a 6.5-litre 80-degree powerhouse that Nilu27 claims can rev like an electric motor. Its short-stroke design with individual throttle bodies gets its inspiration from the Formula 1 engines of the 1980s and 1990s. The revs of this monster can go all the way to 12,000 rpm.
The intake and exhaust positions of this engine are flipped compared to regular engines (talk about overengineering). The headers are connected within the V-12's vee, creating an impressive and intricately 3-D printed Inconel "bundle of snakes" that channels all 12 cylinders into a single large pipe, ending in a three-exit design inspired by Space Shuttle engines. The sizable exhaust is set into a wing-like structure, with gold foil heat shielding applied to both sides.
Design is 20 Years in the Making
Founder Sasha has been working on the design of this car for about 20 years. He draws inspiration from Italian racecars of the 1960s and 1970s and the German Bauhaus movement. If you thought the car would be some vintage artefact, you are wrong because it is made up of a carbon fibre body supported by a bunch of aluminium alloy subframes.
The mighty V-12 engine is positioned centrally, just behind the passenger cabin. Each corner features large double A-arms paired with remote-reservoir push-rod dampers that offer multi-way adjustable compression, jounce, and rebound. Brembo is responsible for braking, using carbon ceramic rotors. The staggered, lightweight, five-spoke forged wheels are crafted by APP Tech, with scallops on the inner side to reduce weight. The tyres are Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2Rs, sized 265/35/20 at the front and 325/30/21 at the rear.
Sitting in the Beast
On the inside, you are reminded of the car's old-school approach. Unlike modern cars that feel more like gadgets than cars, the NILU opts for a more analogue aesthetic. There is only one screen which is integrated into the rear-view mirror to help reverse your car. The steering is also completely round and buttonless. The seats stay fixed at their place while the pedals, headers and door mirrors can be moved through levers and switches to your liking.
Not Many Will Hit the Road
Nilu plans to build 15 of the launch-edition NILU hypercars. However, it is still unclear if you would be allowed to drive them on the road. The firm plans to create 54 "street homologated" units, which might limit the 15 made on launch to the racetrack. The NILU will first be ready for the public to see at Pebble Beach during Monterey Car Week, which will be held on August 15. The initial prototypes and customer vehicles will be assembled in Irvine, California before production is relocated overseas.
What do you think of this new hypercar in town?
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