- Nilu27 is growing its upcoming hypercar, which encompasses a 6.5-liter V12 engine.
- The engine, which shall be in-built New Zealand, produces over 1,070 hp and revs to 11,000 rpm.
- Nilu calls the structure a Sizzling V as a result of the exhaust manifolds stream by way of the realm between the cylinder heads. There aren’t any turbochargers, nonetheless.
Keep in mind that wild new hypercar from an organization known as Nilu27? The car first appeared on the radar back in 2024. Daring claims have been made a couple of high-revving, naturally aspirated V12 paired with a handbook gearbox. Quick-forward to 2026, and a few of these claims, at the very least, have gotten actuality.
The 6.5-liter V12 engine developed for the Nilu hypercar has taken its first gulp of air. Constructed by Hartley Engines in New Zealand, the mill has already exceeded its 1,070-horsepower aim on its preliminary dyno run.
It additionally ought to make a really depraved noise, for the reason that redline lives approach up at 11,000 rpm. Have a pay attention for your self, however keep in mind that is merely an aural amuse-bouche earlier than we hear a totally uncorked clip of the engine in motion.
Nilu themselves are fairly excited to see and listen to the center of the beast come to life. “I have been within the automotive and hypercar business for greater than 25 years, and I’ve by no means seen a model new engine configuration hearth up and run this easily on the primary try,” stated Simon Waegner, CTO/COO of Nilu27. “The precision of the engineering and the seamless integration between our workforce and Hartley Engines was extremely spectacular. It is a large win for our manufacturing timeline and efficiency targets.”
So what’s subsequent for the Nilu hypercar? The engine will quickly fly from New Zealand as much as Nilu’s R&D services in Germany. There will probably be paired with the seven-speed gearbox and fitted right into a automobile to function the primary driving prototype.
Motor1’s Take: Constructing a automobile from the bottom up is a tough course of. It might probably take years, however Nilu seems to be on the proper path, for the reason that engine has turn out to be a real-deal factor relatively than a bullet level in a press launch.
Calling it a Sizzling V setup is fascinating, since that is extra generally a time period for turbocharged autos. Each V8 has a scorching space between the cylinder heads, however not all of them route the exhaust manifold by way of that part. So for now, and contemplating simply how superior this engine is, we are going to give Nilu a cross on this one.
Now hurry up and get the powertrain right into a operating prototype so we will hear it screaming alongside at 11,000 rpm.
