Rodin Cars may not have the brand appeal of Porsche or the heritage of Ferrari, but the New Zealand-based boutique automaker knows a thing or two about building focused track toys. We've already reported on the awe-inspiring FZED, a $500,000 hommage to F1 cars but now the company has announced its latest project.
Known as the FZERO, Rodin's latest track weapon is shaping up to be quite an incredible piece of engineering. Weighing in at a mere 2,138 lbs, the newcomer is fitted with a bespoke 4.0-liter V10 engine, which calls upon twin-turbocharging and hybrid assistance for a total output of 1,159 horsepower and 671 lb-ft of torque. No performance figures have been provided, but we expect it to be seriously quick.
The 10-cylinder engine was designed from the outset to be the lightest and most compact of its kind. It tips the scales at 291 lbs and is capable of revving to 10,000 rpm. Designed and developed by Rodin and Neil Brown Engineering, the company notes the 4,000 cubic-centimeter engine was created in such a way that it can't be bored out to 4.5- or 5.0-liters.
Power is sent to the wheels via a custom eight-speed gearbox built by engineering specialists Ricardo UK. Rodin is particularly impressed with the design of the transmission, noting it adds a mere 146 lbs to the total mass. What's more, the gearbox is contained in a titanium 3D-printed housing, made at the company's state-of-the-art facility. The hydraulic differential is computer controlled.
Despite the featherweight mass, Rodin Cars have fitted the FZERO with some serious stopping power. You'll find 14.9-inch PFC Carbon-Carbon discs up front, along with six-piston titanium calipers. At the rear, you'll find the same setup, albeit with four-piston calipers. The hybrid system also provides regenerative braking, although this cannot bring the car to a halt entirely. Of course, there's ABS and traction control.
Offsetting the black paintwork are the gold-painted 18-inch wheels. Produced in collaboration with OZ Racing - and manufactured according to F1 standards - they're fashioned out of forged magnesium. All four are wrapped in Avon-developed full-slick racing tires.
While it's certainly more dramatic-looking than a Ferrari SF90, you couldn't describe it as pretty. We're guessing Rodin Cars could care less, as the FZERO has been designed to be as aerodynamic as possible. The company claims that the large wings and specially designed vehicle floor are capable of creating as much as 8,818 lbs of downforce, which is immense.
Still, there is something charming about FZERO's styling. With more than a hint of Batmobile in the bodywork, we're guessing the distinctive design will appeal to a few buyers, which is all they need. Production is officially underway but, with just 27 being built, it's set to become a very rare car.
"The only real restrictions we face are the laws of physics, and we have even pushed those to the absolute limit. We look forward to bringing the most intense driving experience conceivable to tracks around the world," said company founder, David Dicker.
Each customer will be able to customize certain aspects of their track-only cars and also gain access to driver training, and vehicle storage. As for pricing, details are scant, but we can expect something like this to command plenty of cash.