LCV 2017 unveils HIPERCAR

An ultra-high performance sports car with the latest advanced carbon reduction technologies has been unveiled at LCV 2017.

Project partners Ariel Motor Company, Delta Motorsport and Equipmake are showing, for the first time, the results of phase one of the HIPERCAR – High Performance Carbon Reduction – project. The vehicle will be capable of 0-100 mph in just 3.8 seconds.

Phase one of the project to create the prototypes on show at LCV 2017 was supported through £2m grant from Innovate UK.

Simon Edmonds, manufacturing and materials director at Innovate UK said, ‘This exciting project pulls through a number of novel low emission technologies developed by UK based SMEs and deploys these in this stunning vehicle for the first time.

‘Routes to market for new technologies, especially in automotive, are very challenging – projects we fund like HIPERCAR bridge that gap and aid their wider commercial exploitation in mass market vehicles in the future. We look forward to seeing these technologies deployed more widely, and it’s been a pleasure working with Ariel and their partners in this project.’

HIIPERCAR, with a model name yet to be decided, will be built in Somerset by Ariel, but will act as a launch pad of UK developed technology into other niche, medium volume and ultimately high volume production.

Simon Saunders, director of Ariel said, ‘Developing another of the fastest cars in the world is important for Ariel but anchoring the technology in this country and building a British supply chain is vital for the economy.’

The next phase of the project to further take the vehicle and components forwards to further testing, development and production has secured a grant from the Advanced Propulsion Centre of £6m.