Is there room in the automotive spectrum for another hypercar? New Zealand-based Rodin Cars thought so by developing the FZero. This is a track-only engine, but a road version is planned. This Batmobile-looking monster features a massive single seat that measures 5,500 mm (216.5 inches), 2,200 mm (86.6 inches) wide, with a massive 3,000 mm (118.1 inch) wheelbase. It sits very low to the ground at just 1,130 mm (44.4 in).
Despite being a bit bulky, the Rodin FZero weighs just 698 kilograms (1,539 pounds) and that’s after adding the necessary fluids. As you probably know by now, it uses carbon fiber extensively to keep weight under control. From nose to tail, the chassis is made of carbon fiber composite, while the front and rear 380 mm brakes use a carbon-ceramic variation. Forged 18-inch magnesium alloy wheels from OZ Racing also contribute to the diet and are wrapped in Avon slicks.
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At the heart of the monster track is a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V10 that it claims is “revolutionary.” This is an all-new engine developed in collaboration with Neil Brown Engineering to produce 986 horsepower at 9,000 rpm and a peak torque of 910 Newton-meters (671 pound-feet) at 7,250 rpm. The engine redlines at 10,000 rpm and sends power to the road via an eight-gear Ricardo gearbox.
The ICE is equipped with an electric motor to produce a combined output of 1,160 hp and 1,026 Nm (757 lb-ft) – all channeled to the rear wheels. Only 27 people will be able to enjoy the incredible hybrid power provided by the Rodin FZero, with the first car due for completion next summer. Price? £1.8 million or nearly $2.2 million at current exchange rates.
Rodin Cars aims to have a fully functional prototype by the end of 2022 to test its claimed downforce of 4,000 kilograms (8,818 pounds) and hopefully a top speed of 224 mph (360 km/h). As for the street-legal equivalent, it won’t arrive before selling the track-only FZero.
