Delage D12 is a New French Supercar With a Canadian Flavour
Nearly 70 years after it stopped production, French automaker Delage is back with a new hypercar called D12. And this one has some Canadian flavour with former F1 world champion Jacques Villeneuve serving as test driver on a development team that includes a combined 16 FIA world titles.
Inspired by Formula 1 and fighter jets, the stunning Delage D12 boasts a centre driver’s seat (similar to the McLaren F1 and the new T.50 from Gordon Murray) with an additional seat located behind the driver.
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As the name suggests, the D12 uses a 12-cylinder engine mounted in a midship position. This 7.6-litre powerhouse is mated to an electric motor to generate a total of 990 horsepower. An eight-speed automatic transmission is also part of the mix.
Performance figures are not available yet, but the car weighs a mere 1,400 kilos (3,086 pounds), so you do the math. A Club variant will follow producing 1,010 horsepower and tipping the scales at 1,310 kilos (2,888 pounds).
Other highlights of the Delage D12 include an integrated door/windshield, ultra-aggressive aerodynamics featuring a massive front lip spoiler and rear wing, plus a multi-link suspension connected to turbine-style carbon fibre wheels.
"We are thrilled to bring Delage back to life as one of the most exquisite and innovative hypercar brands in the world. It was the dream of the company's original founder, Louis Delage, to create the D12. I am honoured and proud to be making his dream a reality with this incredible hypercar,” said Laurent Tapie, CEO of Delage Automobiles.
“The D12 will be a worthy modern successor to the engineering marvels that brought Delage its original fame. We want the feeling in the D12 to be the closest to the sensation of driving a Formula 1 car that has ever been experienced in a street-legal car."
Production is set to begin in 2021 with a limited run of 30 units sold at about $3 million apiece.
