Geneva show: Hard-charging exotica stars

FANS of high-end supercars should head to this year’s Geneva motor show with Rimac, Zenvo, Techrules, Pininfarina, McLaren and Morgan among the marques to reveal their latest offerings.

Hailing from Croatia, Rimac defied expectations with its pure-electric C-Two that claims a zero-to-60mph time of 1.85 seconds, a top speed of 412km/h and a driving range of 650 kilometres.

A carbon-fibre monocoque chassis helps keep weight down, while a 120kWh lithium-ion battery pack feeds two electric motors on each axle, combining to offer 1408kW of power and 2300Nm of torque.

An all-wheel-drive system with torque vectoring is mated to a single-speed automatic transmission that drives the front axle, while each rear wheel has its own two-speed unit.

Not to be outdone, Denmark’s Zenvo fielded the TSR-S, which employs a 5.8-litre twin-supercharged V8 petrol engine that punches out 878kW at 8500rpm and more than 1100Nm.

As a result, the 1495kg TSR-S sprints from standstill to 100km/h in 2.8s before hitting 200km/h in 6.8s and a terminal velocity of 325km/h.

Drive is exclusively sent to the rear wheels via a seven-speed automatic transmission with helical-cut dog gears that Zenvo claims is one of the fastest-shifting units in the world.

Chinese car-maker Techrules also muscled its way into the conversation with the single-seat RenRS that features the company’s Turbine-Recharging Electric Vehicle (TREV) hybrid system.

In its most potent form, the all-wheel-drive RenRS combines two electric motors on the front axle and four at the rear with a diesel engine for total outputs of 960kW and 2340Nm.

This combination results in a triple-digit sprint time of 3.0s and a top speed of 330km/h, while 1170km of driving range is provided thanks to a 28.4kWh lithium-ion battery pack and an 80L fuel tank.

Meanwhile, Italian automotive design studio Pininfarina partnered with China-based Hybrid Kinetic Group to deliver the HK GT, a pure-electric Gran Turismo model that can be paired with the choice of three range-extenders – either a micro-turbine generator, a hydrogen fuel-cell or a internal-combustion engine.

Four electric motors combine for a total power output of more than 800kW, which allows a dash from standstill to 100km/h in 2.7s, on the way to terminal velocity of 350km/h.

A trick torque vectoring system assists in sending drive to all four wheels via a two-speed automatic transmission, while a 38kWh battery pack offers more than 160km of pure-electric driving range, or more than 1000km when a range-extender is used.

While these lesser-known manufacturers made noise with their new supercars, stalwart McLaren took its recently unveiled Senna and dialled performance up to 11 to create the track-only Senna GTR.

Limited to 75 units, the Senna GTR is set to post the quickest lap times yet for a McLaren model, excluding the Formula One racecar, thanks to its uprated 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 petrol engine.

The British car-maker is keeping power and torque outputs under wraps, but improvements over the ‘regular’ Senna’s 588kW and 800Nm are promised – including a goal of more than 607kW.

A motorsport racing-inspired automatic transmission, a revised double-wishbone suspension, slick Pirelli tyres and up to 1000kg of downforce ensure the Senna GTR will be a formidable beast on track days.

Furthermore, McLaren rolled out another bespoke special from its MSO customisation division, this time taking the 720S and adding Atlantic Blue paintwork, Saddle Tan leather upholstery with contrasting Slate Grey stitching, and Carbon Black leather and Grey Alcantara interior accents.

Fellow British marque Morgan farewelled its Aero 8 with the racing-inspired Aero GT, which is restricted to eight examples – all of which have already been sold.

Visual changes extend to restyling wing impression and louvres as well as an optional carbon-fibre hard-top with a rearward-facing roof vent that improves the Aero GT’s drag coefficient.

A 4.8-litre naturally aspirated V8 petrol engine from BMW is mated to a six-speed manual gearbox, producing 270kW and 490Nm for a triple-digit sprint time of 4.5s and a top speed of 273km/h.

This same combination is also used by the Plus 8 50th Anniversary, also revealed by Morgan, which will be the final Plus 8 variant to feature the aforementioned BMW powertrain due to Europe’s new, tighter emissions standards.