car design thread

We don't need no stinking back windows!
https://www.autoweek.com/opinion/a61733511/polestar-vehicles-without-rear-windows-opinion/

 

Hit 2 mil views today!

Views: 2,000,153
Took on a life of its own.

 

And to keep the ball rolling.......
Introducing the NILU Hypercar – A Triumph of Raw Performance and Desig




This summer, the automotive world is set to be stunned by a breathtaking new arrival: the NILU hypercar from Nilu27, a groundbreaking brand founded by celebrated designer Sasha Selipanov and his partner Inna Selipanov. The grand reveal of this high-octane marvel will take place at Pebble Beach during Monterey Car Week, marking a monumental moment in automotive history.

A Radical Departure from the NorIn a landscape where electrification and digital aids are becoming the norm, the NILU hypercar represents a bold adeparture. Shunning these contemporary trends, NILU is dedicated to delivering a raw, unfiltered driving experience. Inspired by the pioneering spirit of ‘60s Formula 1 and Le Mans racers, alongside classic Italian design ethos, American muscle cars, and even avant-garde metal music, NILU’s design is as diverse as it is innovative.

Sasha Selipanov’s vision for NILU was to create a vehicle with an “inevitable” design—one that feels both refreshingly new and deeply familiar. The result is a hypercar that combines sleek, aerodynamic lines with exposed mechanical elements. Its exterior design, characterized by tight cross-sections and sinuous curves, strikes a perfect balance between form and function, echoing the Bauhaus principle of celebrating essential functional beauty.

Engineering Excellence

At the heart of the NILU hypercar is its bespoke V12 engine, developed in partnership with Hartley Engines from New Zealand. This 6.5-liter, 80-degree V12 is set to become one of the most powerful naturally aspirated engines in the world, boasting over 1000 horsepower. The engine's unique “Hot V” configuration, which swaps traditional exhaust and intake positions, not only enhances packaging and heat extraction but also serves as a visually stunning feature.

This engine is complemented by a seven-speed manual transmission, making the driving experience as engaging as possible. The NILU’s mechanical components are housed in a carbon fiber monocoque chassis with lightweight aluminum-alloy tubular subframes, a deliberate choice to facilitate better access and heat management.

A Cabin Designed for Drivers

Inside the NILU, every detail has been meticulously designed to enhance the driving experience. The cabin features a low roofline and compact dimensions without compromising on comfort. The seats, arranged in a traditional side-by-side layout, are fixed and sunken to allow for easy ingress and egress. The use of substantial gullwing doors further contributes to the vehicle’s practicality.


True to its commitment to analog driving, NILU’s cabin is devoid of digital distractions. The steering wheel is compact and round, offering precise feedback with no switches or buttons to interrupt the driving experience. The only screen present is the rear-view camera/mirror, addressing the common issue of limited rearward visibility in mid-engine sports cars.

Unmatched Dynamics

The NILU hypercar is engineered for exceptional handling and performance. It features double wishbone, pushrod suspension with long wishbones that contribute to precise and compliant handling. Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tires, mounted on custom Nilu27 centerlock wheels, ensure optimal grip and performance. The car’s braking system, provided by Brembo, includes high-performance carbon-ceramic components, delivering outstanding performance and fade resistance.

Production and Future Plans

Initially, NILU will be available in an extremely limited run of just 15 units, reflecting its exclusivity and the meticulous craftsmanship involved. In addition, Nilu27 is developing a street-homologated version, limited to 54 units, including four unique designs that will further evolve the car’s design language.

The first batch of NILU hypercars will be assembled by Aria Group in Irvine, CA, while Nilu27 prepares to establish its own production facilities overseas. This marks the beginning of what promises to be a decade of extraordinary vehicles from the brand.

A Historic Unveiling

The NILU hypercar will make its private debut on August 8 in Los Angeles, followed by its public unveiling on August 15 at Pebble Beach, Monterey. It will also be featured on the Concept Lawn at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance on August 18. For those keen on experiencing its performance digitally, NILU will debut in Zynga’s NaturalMotion’s CSR Racing 2 later this year.

Inna Selipanov, Co-Founder and COO of Nilu27, encapsulates the ethos of the brand: “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 will continue to find a place in the collections of passionate car lovers.”

With the NILU hypercar, Nilu27 is not just introducing a new vehicle but setting a new benchmark for what a hypercar can be. It’s a triumph of design and engineering, celebrating the pure essence of driving in an era of technological proliferation.
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One of my former associates Bob Munson discovered Vizcom and has embraced it. Very cool work.
https://www.deansgarage.com/design-decoded-robert-munson/

 

I’ll let him know!

 

Bob is the BEST.
That's him in the black.
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A much heavier version as it were.
The current version is a leaner example.

 

To close out the new NILU Hypercar, this weeks Autoextremist
Issue 1260
August 14, 2024




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ON THE TABLE
AUGUST 14, 2024
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The original - and still our favorite - Autoextremist logo.



The AE Quote of the Century: Everybody loves The High-Octane Truth. Until they don't. -WG



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(Nilu27 images)
Tired of the "technological overkill" in today's ultra-performance machines? Well, Sasha Selipanov has just the answer for you. Selipanov is a celebrated sports car designer who has accumulated an impressive resume, having worked on some of the most coveted supercars of the last 20 years, including Bugatti, Koenigsegg and Lamborghini. And now he has unveiled a machine of his own design: the NILU hypercar. The NILU hypercar challenges traditional automotive industry trends by avoiding electrification, digitalization and other technological aids. The NILU is "designed to deliver a raw, unfiltered, uncensored driving experience," according to Selipanov. The hot details:

The NILU chassis features a bespoke carbon fiber monocoque with lightweight aluminum-alloy tubular subframes. In contrast to composite subframes, the designer deliberately chose a tubular approach to improve access to the drivetrain components while effortlessly facilitating heat extraction, while celebrating the mechanical aesthetic.

The NILU human/machine interface is all about manual, analog controls, inputs and feedback. The only screen is the rearview camera/mirror, which addresses the traditional weakness of mid-engined sports cars: the lack of rearward visibility.

The steering wheel’s compact size and round shape allows for incredibly detailed steering feel and input precision. The wheel is void of switches, buttons and toggles, a testament to the belief that performance driving requires full concentration with zero distractions. Gone are the driving modes, settings and options: NILU controls are both primary and intuitive. For this reason, an open-gate, seven-speed manual transmission celebrates raw, analog driving while adding a safety element with its reverse gear lock-out. Steering wheel, pedal box, headrest, door mirrors and other adjustments are deliberately manual, accessed by gratifying manual levers and switches. The tactile, haptic feedback from cold-touch, machined billet controls was deemed both more engaging and, crucially, safer than navigating through screen menus.

Nilu27 has partnered with Hartley Engines in New Zealand to produce one of the most powerful and visually striking naturally aspirated engines in the world. The NILU engine bay is fully exposed, showcasing the beautiful 6.5-liter, 80-degree V12. NILU aims to be the world’s most powerful, naturally-aspirated hypercar. To achieve this, the V12 will deliver more than 1000HP. And while its large bore and short stroke will make it rev like an electric motor, the even-fire engine will provide the driver with the perfect amount of tactile vibration.

The Hartley V12 has a refined combustion area, high-flow ports, and performance-style valve geometry: something OEMs typically cannot accommodate in their compact platforms. The engine also features 12 large, individual throttle bodies for instant throttle response. Another key differentiator for the NILU V12 is its unique “Hot V.” In this configuration, the conventional exhaust and intake positions are swapped around. The setup delivers key advantages when it comes to packaging, heat extraction and aesthetics. And it has allowed for “snakepit” 12-into-1 exhaust headers to serve as a unique highlight of the exterior design. The entire exhaust system was 3D-printed in Inconel, allowing the complex design to be realized, another unique feature when you consider its dimensions. Mated to the seven-speed CIMA manual transmission, and housed in the ceramic-coated aluminum-alloy subframe, the NILU V12 represents functional beauty at its finest.

Nelson Hartley, founder and CEO of Hartley Engines, said: “We’ve been quietly working on the design and layout of our own engine for the last few years, taking inspiration from late ’80s and early ’90s Formula 1 cars. We strove for the kind of engineering that’s raw, endearing, emotional, and sometimes a little crazy. With Sasha’s wish list for NILU, we finally found the perfect project to dedicate our time and were able to adapt our development into his Hot V configuration, designing the engine around his chassis layout. Make no mistake; this is not an OEM engine from another manufacturer converted to the Hot V; this is a bespoke, large bore, short stroke monster. It’s got aggressive cams, aggressive port flow, lightweight components and exotic materials. We want to get a cold sweat every time the V12 starts and revs. It’s fair to say, we’re very excited!"

The NILU hypercar employs a double wishbone, pushrod suspension, with its extremely long wishbones visible from the rear; the length contributing to the exceptionally precise and compliant handling characteristics. A set of Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tires were fitted, specified at 265/35 R20 front and 325/30 R21 rear. They have been mounted to 10x20” and 13x21” Nilu27 center lock wheels, which were designed in-house with intricate lightweight detailing to reduce the unsprung weight. The wheels are produced by AppTech in Italy. Carbon-ceramic braking equipment was sourced from Brembo. The Italian company’s GT | BM calipers are fitted front and rear in a custom white finish. The car also has Brembo’s highest performance CCM-R Plus rotors, which deliver outstanding performance and fade resistance.

The initial NILU prototype vehicles and first batch of customer cars will be assembled by Aria Group in Irvine, CA, allowing Nilu27 to ramp-up its own facilities overseas. Nilu27 is simultaneously developing a street homologated version. This variant will be limited to 54 units, four of which will be unique, one-off designs. Nilu27 is proud to have the support of industry leaders such as Aerotak, AppTech, Aria Group, Brembo, CIMA, Hartley Engines, Michelin, and Schroth. The car was unveiled to a select group of VIPs and the media at a private Los Angeles event on August 8. Its public debut will follow on August 15 on the ramp at Pebble Beach in Monterey, California, before appearing on the Concept Lawn at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance on August 18. The NILU hypercar will also debut in CSR Racing 2, the hyper-real mobile racing game from Zynga’s NaturalMotion. Players can experience the high-octane performance and stunning in-game design this November.

Editor-in-Chief's Note: A totally analog high-performance machine created for driving in its purest form? What a sensational idea. We truly hope it comes to fruition for more than a few. - PMD
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And, Andrew, you've summed it up quite well!
Your comments echo my thoughts as well. The car definitely makes a statement. Not sure I'd be 'comforable' driving it however, but then I guess comfort wasn't the goal.