It was only this week that Rimac Automobili disclosed that the final version of the Rimac C_Two electric hypercar concept would be unveiled at the 2020 Geneva Motor Show with production set to commence late next year. But the carmaker has already made clear that it has no plans to insert an SUV into its lineup.
In an interview with TopGear.com, company founder and chief executive Mate Rimac stated that the Croatian sports car maker won't create a performance SUV. It looks like the company’s top honcho has made up his mind over the impossibility of offering a performance utility vehicle into the market.
It’s difficult to say that Mate Rimac is just hard-headed. After all, his interview divulged that he really understands why some carmakers – even those known traditionally for building iconic sports cars – are already offering or planning to offer SUVs.
For instance, German automaker Porsche has been offering the Cayenne crossover since 2002. Lamborghini, on the other hand, started production of its Urus SUV in February 2018. Aston Martin just unveiled its first-ever SUV – the DBX – at the 2019 Los Angeles Auto Show. Meanwhile, Ferrari is expected to launch a new luxury performance SUV dubbed Purosangue in 2022.
According to Mate Rimac, it is basically a business decision for sports car makers when they divert from their usual creations and produce SUVs for the market. He remarked that a company might be at a point where it needs to choose between pleasing enthusiasts and a business that survives.
Rimac remarked that performance SUVs are as relevant as sports cars. Carmakers are offering performance SUVs because they can’t just ignore what the market wants and they need to respond to such demand. Well, we currently have a world market that seems fascinated with SUVs and crossovers.
For Rimac, the choice lies with its customers. If they want to buy a performance SUV, they can do so. If they pick sports cars, they can also do so. But since there isn't a need, they aren’t really a sensible choice, Rimac noted.
Interestingly, a number of auto companies -- including Porsche -- own a chunk of Rimac. The German sports car maker owns 15.5 percent of Rimac, while Hyundai and Kia hold 11 percent and 2.7 percent, respectively. Around 47.7 percent of the Croatian builder is owned by Mate Rimac.
After its establishment in 2009, Rimac unveiled the Concept One hypercar in 2011. The 1,088-hp Concept One was followed by the C_2 (Concept Two) in 2017. Just like its chief, we really do hope Rimac sticks to building supercars and hypercars.
(Via TopGear.com)