Rejoice, all die-hard automotive enthusiasts! Defying the ever-tightening emission standards and the inevitability of electrification, a brand-new V12 hypercar has arrived in the automotive world, which has been designed from the ground up for purists. Behold the Nilu, the first product of an all-new automaker named Nilu27. The company is the brainchild of automotive designer Sasha Selipanov, known for his work on the Bugatti Chiron, the Koenigsegg CC850, and the Lamborghini Huracán.
Created to offer the purest form of driving pleasure, the Nilu features the haloed combination of a naturally aspirated V12 and a manual gearbox. This rare combination puts the new hypercar in a list of some of the most storied and celebrated automotive creations, including the McLaren F1, Pagani Zonda, and Lamborghini Countach.
Underneath the hood is a 6.5-liter V12 that is capable of producing 1070 horsepower and 645 lb-ft of torque. The high-revving V12 is a brand-new unit designed by New Zealand-based Hartley Engines, who claim that it will “rev like an electric motor.” The 80-degree V12 features a unique design with a 3D-printed 12-into-1 Inconel exhaust exiting from the top of the engine and 12 throttle bodies on the outside of the unit. Furthermore, the Nilu gets an exposed engine bay to improve heat dissipation.
The V12 hypercar is equipped with a gated seven-speed manual transmission developed and manufactured by Cima, which sends the power to the rear wheels. The performance figures have not been revealed, but the Nilu is reportedly capable of hitting a top speed of 248mph and accelerating from 0 to 60mph in less than 3 seconds.
As far as the design is concerned, the Nilu looks absolutely wild, perfect for a pinup poster. The front is dominated by gaping air intakes, which are outlined by thin LED light strips. Gullwing doors add drama, while the minimalistic yet sculptural rear end is simply outstanding.
On the inside, the Nilu features a simple and mostly analog design, putting the focus on driving. The racing seats are fixed, while the pedal box, headrest, and door mirrors can be manually adjusted with the help of billet-machined levers and switches. The gated seven-speed manual shifter and the analog gauge cluster are the highlights of the cabin. The hypercar is underpinned by a carbon-fiber monocoque, which is bolted to aluminum tubular subframes supporting a forged double-wishbone pushrod suspension.
“We’ve been delighted and humbled by the reaction to our social media teasers alone,” co-founder and COO Inna Selipanov said in a statement. “While the world is moving towards electrification, and for very good reason, we firmly believe the timelessness of these cars will not only keep them relevant but they will continue to find a place in the collections of passionate car lovers.”
The Nilu will make its public debut at Pebble Beach during Monterey Car Week on August 15. The automaker says it will build 15 Launch Edition versions of the V12 hypercar. However, we still don’t know if they’ll be street-legal or not. The pricing has not been revealed either. Nilu27 also has plans to build 54 “street homologated” units, which suggests the initial 15 units will be track-only hypercars. Additionally, the company claims the first batch of prototypes and customer cars will be assembled in Irvine, California before the production is moved overseas.
