Rimac Nevera: All-Electric Hypercar
Introduction
What is the Rimac Nevera? If you have two and a half million dollars and are itching for the ultimate fast car experience, I have a recommendation for you. The Rimac Nevera hypercar by Rimac Automobili is the fastest most technically advanced car in production in the world.
What exactly is a hypercar? A hypercar is a technology endowed high-performance sports car designed for maximum speed and handling. It is fully functional with a trendy futuristic appearance. Hypercars are traditionally powered by large, powerful engines and have advanced aerodynamics and suspension systems. They are also very expensive and exclusive, usually with only a limited number of units produced.
What makes the Rimac Nevera unique is the fact it is all electric.
Just to wet your appetite, here are some of its specifications:
Powertrain: Four electric motors, one per wheel, producing a combined output of 1,914 horsepower (1,427 kilowatts) and 2,360 pound-feet (3,200 Newton-meters) of torque.
Battery: 120 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery.
Performance: 0-60 mph (97 km/h) in 1.85 seconds, 0-100 mph (161 km/h) in 4.3 seconds, and a top speed of 258 mph (415 km/h).
Range: 342 miles (550 kilometers) on the WLTP cycle.
Chassis: Carbon fiber monocoque.
Bodywork: Carbon fiber and aluminum.
Weight: 4,720 pounds (2,140 kilograms).
Price: $2.4 million.
I have no idea what it feels like to accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 1.85 seconds. That's about the time required to take a long breath. For comparison, a typical commercial jet is traveling around 180 mph when it leaves the ground and the time required to get there is about 30 seconds. The Nevera can be traveling at 180 mph in less than ten seconds.
Street / Race Car
The Nevera is street legal in the US. It has been certified by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The first Nevera in the US was delivered to former Formula One champion Nico Rosberg in June 2023. Although there is a slim chance you will see one on the highway, there is almost no chance of seeing one on the racing circuit.
Source: Cadillac Racing
One of the places where an all electric Hypercar could be raced is the Le Mans 24 Hour. The 24 Hours of Le Mans is an endurance sports car race held annually near the town of Le Mans, France. It is widely considered to be one of the world's most prestigious races, and is one of the races—along with the Monaco Grand Prix and the Indianapolis 500—that form the Triple Crown of Motorsport.
There are three categories of cars that race at the Le Mans.
Le Mans Hypercar
Le Mans Prototype 2
Le Mans Grand Touring Endurance.
The Le Mans Hypercar (LMH) is the top class and the most technologically advanced. These cars are powered by either a gasoline engine or a hybrid system and can reach speeds of over 200 mph. Some of the Hypercars that competed in the 2023 race include the Cadillac LMH, Toyota GR010 Hybrid, the Glickenhaus 007 LMH, and the Peugeot 9X8.
Some other interesting characteristics of the class includes:
Engine: Any type of internal combustion engine, with a maximum displacement of 3.5 liters.
Hybrid system: Optional, but if used, the hybrid system must be based on a single motor-generator unit (MGU) that is mounted on the front axle.
Weight: Minimum weight of 1,030 kilograms (2,270 lb).
Power: Maximum power output of 520 kW (700 hp).
Aerodynamics: Active aerodynamics are allowed, but the cars must meet a minimum downforce to drag ratio of 4:1.
Cost: The cost of developing and running an LMH car is estimated to be around $10 million.
The Le Mans 24 Hours does not yet have a class for fully electric cars but a new class called the LMH e is being considered and is expected to be similar to the LMH class in terms of performance and safety. It is rumored the cars will be required to have a minimum weight of 1,030 kilograms (2,270 lb) and a maximum power output of 520 kW (700 hp).
The introduction of the LMH e category is a major milestone in the electrification of endurance racing. It also presents a significant opportunity for manufacturers to develop and race fully electric cars at the highest level.
Conclusion
The most interesting thing about the Nevera is its ability to alter its driving styles. I am not talking about changing the gear ratio on an automatic transmission by selecting overdrive, or the brightness of the headlights by selecting high beam. I am talking about making substantial changes to various components of the car to address the needs for a certain condition.
For example:
Sport: This is the default mode and is designed for everyday driving. It provides a balance of performance and comfort.
Comfort: This mode is designed for cruising and long-distance driving. It prioritizes comfort and minimizes harshness.
Range: This mode is designed to maximize the car's range. It limits the power output and adjusts the climate control system to conserve energy.
Custom: This mode allows the driver to customize the car's settings, such as the power output, suspension settings, and braking.
Drift: This mode is designed for drifting which is a technique used in racing. It allows the rear wheels to lose traction, which makes it easier to drift. For those of us unfamiliar with the term drifting it is a driving technique where the driver intentionally oversteers, causing the car's rear wheels to lose traction. This allows the driver to control the car's direction by steering the front wheels while the rear wheels slide.
Off-road: It's hard to believe this car would ever be taken off road, but if you do, this is the setting. It adjusts the appropriate components to improve traction and handling on loose surfaces.
The Nevera also has a special "Boost" mode that can be activated by pressing and holding the "+" button on the steering wheel. It's like adding nitro to the fuel mix of a gasoline-car or pressing the boost button on the Mandalorian's Naboo N-1 starfighter. Boost mode provides an additional 100 horsepower for a short period of time, which can be used for passing or a quick start.
It goes without saying the Nevera's is not an everyday man's kind of car but the technology created for cars like this tends to percolate down. For example, the 2023 or 2024 Tesla Roadster is predicted to have 1,242 horsepower (HP) and can go from 0 to 60 mph in 1.9 seconds with a rumored price of $200,000. More affordable than the Nevera, but still an expensive itch.
