Croatian newcomer to the hypercar scene Rimac has been proving itself over the last few years. They have showcased some of the most innovative and striking electric supercars the world has seen.
Their latest release, the Nevera, has evolved from the C_2 concept car they had unveiled a few years prior. The result is a refined piece of mechanical design that is aiming to push the way we look at electric cars in the future.
The new $2.4M hypercar is what Rimac CEO, Mate Rimac, had in mind since they began the project. The development and innovation are truly astounding. The way Rimac has entered and stirred up the hypercar market is truly a testament to their product.
It's rare that good things go unnoticed, and this small Croatian brand is evidence that the underdogs can pack a big punch. Let's take a look at how the Rimac Nevera has shaken and stirred the ever-growing hypercar market of today.
Rimac Nevera: Design & Function
We start with the name, something which all hypercars must keep up to standards. Nevera is the name given by Croatians to a strong, unexpected Mediterranean storm that sweeps off the open sea and one that is powered by lightning.
And much like its namesake, that's what the Rimac Nevera aims to do. An electric-powered force that has been built to unsettle and disturb the hypercar market.
Rimac opts for clean and effective design at every stage and that design language is shown in the "form-follows-function" nature that has been Rimac's goal with the Neveras elegant design. Everything has been designed in-house and they haven't skipped corners. It's come a long way since Concept One, a car that left Richard Hammond in hospital.
A huge set of changes came to the Nevera’s bodywork, new air diffusers and intakes have meant a 34% improvement in aero efficiency from the concept cars. The new hood profile, the structure of the pillars, and the lines that come off of the diffusers and splitters have all been reworked and researched in order to improve downforce and efficient airflow.
New inlets and channels for cooling have been designed with aim of increasing the cooling efficiency of the brakes and powertrain, this has meant a 30% improvement at low speeds for the new Rimac.
The interior is a refined setting of soft leather and exposed carbon fiber. It's very easy to get carried away when designing an interior for a car like this, but Rimac hasn't overdone it. The Nevera's seats, steering wheel, and interface are elegant and tasteful, it's never too "in your face".
The thing about Rimac is that they are intricate and they have certainly taken their time in producing the Nevera. The result has shown an extremely aerodynamic and efficient design that allows this car to transform from a comfortable grand tourer to a super-focused performance car in seconds.
The Nevera Gets Unthinkable Power
The main component in the performance of the Nevara is Rimac’s electric powertrain. The entirety of the Nevera’s fully electric powertrain has been redesigned and manufactured to deliver an optimal amount of torque, better performance numbers as well as increased levels of efficiency.
The liquid-cooled, 120kWh battery was designed from the ground up by Rimac and sits bang in the middle. It's able to produce a huge 1,914 horsepower, and the battery is also a key part of the car’s structure, adding significant structural stiffness to their uniquely fabricated carbon fiber monocoque. The battery’s positioning is low and central, meaning it helps contributes to an ultra-low center of gravity. This creates an almost perfect 48-52 weight distribution, so the Nevara can definitely take corners at speed.
The magnet-driven motors help put down a jaw-dropping 1914HP and 2360 NM of torque, with the front and rear wheels each connected to a set of two single-speed gearboxes, this means that the Nevera will go on to reach 258Mph flat out. In classic EV fashion, the Nevera delivers Instant torque from the moment you put your foot down. Also, the Nevera’s electric motors are extremely efficient and Rimac claims they are completely maintenance-free.
The Rimac Navera is in the running alongside the likes of the Ferrari SF90, but as we found out, the Ferrari was absolutely left in the dust. The reason it's so effective of the line is due to Rimac's extensive work on their toque vectoring all-wheel-drive system, which is evidently highly sophisticated and capable.
To make the Nevera stop, Rimac has developed an extremely complex electro-hydraulic system that enables them to make the most of their regenerative braking capacities. The brake's themselves are a set of huge Brembo carbon ceramics, no corners cut here.
The Nevera then is the future of hypercars, and it's happening now. Rimac has been developing for over 10 years and the Nevera is a showcase of their extensive research, innovation, and design language.
The hypercar market hasn't stopped growing and Rimac's exclusive run of 150 Neveras will go down in history as the car that shook up the way we see electric cars.