Don't write off the V12 engine just yet! Nilu27 presents its namesake "hypercar" with over 1,000 CV

The name Sasha Selipanov may not ring a bell, but you should know that he is one of the most celebrated supercar designers, especially recognised for being the chief designer at Koenigsegg, where he was responsible for the birth of models such as the Gemera, although we can also thank him for his work on other projects such as the Lamborghini Huracán or the Bugatti Chiron.

All this accumulated experience has led the good Sasha Selipanov to venture into creating his own hypercar brand, Nilu27, recently founded and now ready to present its first model, which will simply be called the Nilu. It was first unveiled at a private event in Los Angeles on the 8th, while its public debut will take place on 18 August during the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

According to its creator, the design of the Nilu draws inspiration from a multitude of automotive icons such as the Formula 1 cars and Le Mans prototypes of the 1960s, the classic Italian design houses, the much-cited Bauhaus philosophy, the golden era of muscle cars, mathematics, and something as surprising as heavy metal music. Although, to be honest, it is inevitable that if we look closely at the rear, it recalls a Koenigsegg in some way.

The Nilu is built on a carbon fibre monocoque chassis with lightweight aluminium alloy tubular subframes, a tubular design chosen deliberately to improve access to the drivetrain components while also enhancing heat extraction. Mounted on this chassis is a cabin designed to give the driver perfect visibility despite its compact size, partly thanks to the low roofline. Access is through doors with a gullwing opening, providing space for two people seated in low-mounted sports seats.

Both driver and passenger will find an interior dedicated solely to driving and enjoying a unique, passionate vehicle, with an interface that blends manual and analogue controls that keep us fully focused on driving. An example is the steering wheel, which has no buttons or paddles, and even the adjustment of elements such as the mirrors or the steering wheel itself is manual. That said, it does feature a single digital screen, dedicated to the rear-view mirror function to solve the lack of rear visibility common in this type of supercar.

A vehicle like the Nilu restores our faith in designers who still believe in real cars, even though this is a hypercar that will be within reach of only a few fortunate buyers, and of those, even fewer will know how to appreciate it. For this reason, its powertrain had to be entirely traditional, and indeed it is, because Nilu has partnered with New Zealand’s Hartley Engines to create one of the most powerful and striking naturally aspirated engines in the world.

The Nilu will be fitted with a spectacular fully exposed 80º V12 with 6,500 cc, which they claim will exceed the 1,000 CV barrier and, of course, uses no form of electrification for the benefit of its future owners. To make us drool even more, it is paired with a seven-speed manual gearbox, and it will delight us with one of the finest soundtracks thanks to its 3D-printed Inconel exhaust line.

All this power will reach the road through Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tyres mounted on 20-inch front and 21-inch rear AppTech wheels. Braking has been entrusted to Brembo, with carbon-ceramic brakes and white-painted calipers, although those who wish may also opt for Brembo’s CCM-R Plus discs for greater performance and fatigue resistance.