New hypercar with V12 and manual gearbox is a purist's dream

Of course, the NILU also has hinged doors

2025 NILU Hypercar

Photo by: Nilu27

By: Brian Silvestro

Published by: Brian Potter

Aug 9, 2024 at 5:00am ET

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Not that it really needed it, but there is a new super sports car manufacturer on the market. It is called, somewhat cryptically, Nilu27 and the founder Sasha Selipanov is a former designer at Koenigsegg and Bugatti. Now they have presented their first product. The name: NILU.

Sympathetically, this car does not rely on electrification or hybrid technology, but rather on a classic and purist twelve-cylinder naturally aspirated engine. Similarly in a no less classic and puristic way, it is combined with a manual gearbox, which is also swept through in a beautiful open shift gate. Oh, and the car also has gullwing doors.

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Nile27

However, the NILU is not completely old-fashioned in its approach. Underneath the striking design is a bespoke monocoque structure made of carbon fibre. There are also aluminium alloy subframes at the front and rear. The V12 engine developed by Hartley Engines in New Zealand has a displacement of 6.5 litres, a cylinder angle of 80 degrees and, according to Nilu27, "revs up like an electric motor".

In contrast to most engines, which have intake inside the "V" and exhaust systems on the outside, the air flow in this V12 is reversed. The single throttle bodies are on the outside, while the exhaust exits at the top in a "hot V" configuration. The 12-to-1 Inconel exhaust is 3D-printed to allow for its complex shape and ends in a treble exit port, which journalist Jonny Lieberman says was inspired by a space shuttle. Exact performance figures are not yet available, but Nilu27 says the V12 will produce "more than" 1000 PS.

Nilu emphasises that its hypercar is all about feedback. For many enthusiasts, this includes a manual gearbox. Here it has seven gears and is the only available option.

There aren't really many buttons in the interior of the NILU. There are none on the steering wheel, for example. There are also no driving modes. The only screen is integrated into the rear-view mirror to improve visibility to the rear. The seats are fixed, while elements such as the pedals, headrests and exterior mirrors are manually adjustable.

Gallery: 2025 NILU Hypercar

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Source: Nilu27

Under the body is a double wishbone pushrod suspension. The car sits on 20- and 21-inch central locking wheels fitted with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2R tyres. Behind them are carbon fibre ceramic brakes from Brembo.

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Nilu wants to build 15 cars in a launch edition, but has not yet said whether they will be road-legal. In the announcement, the company also mentions plans to build 54 "street-legal" units, suggesting that the 15 launch cars could be track-only.

The NILU will make its public debut on 15 August during Monterey Car Week at Pebble Beach. The first prototypes and customer vehicles will be assembled in Irvine, California. Production will then be moved abroad.

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Monterey Car Week: All the cars and the 2024 programme

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