Nilu27's long-awaited hypercar has taken a major step forward as its V12 engine roared to life for the first time on a dyno.
The 6.5-liter naturally aspirated unit, built by New Zealand's Hartley Engines, already exceeded its promised 1,070 hp in early testing.
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The engine revs to 11,000 rpm and features a Hot V configuration, with exhaust headers between the cylinder heads for better performance and packaging.
It also uses an 80-degree bank angle, and the Nilu's exposed engine bay aids heat dissipation.
A Contrarian Choice in Powertrain
Nilu27 founder Sasha Selipanov, a former designer for Lamborghini, Bugatti, and Koenigsegg, chose Hartley Engines over established names like Cosworth.
The decision aligns with the car's back-to-basics philosophy, shunning electrification for raw internal combustion.
“This is the moment theory became reality,” Selipanov said.
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“By firing up this stunning V12 we didn't only prove our engineering capabilities, we delivered the soul of the NILU.
As most of the automotive world embraces digital and electric sterility, we’ve doubled down on the raw, visceral drama of high RPM, naturally aspirated internal combustion.”
The Nilu hypercar will be paired exclusively with a seven-speed manual transmission driving the rear wheels.
After initial testing, the engine will head to Nilu27's production facility in Germany for installation in the first driving prototype.
Nilu27 and Hartley Engines plan to finalize a joint venture to create other high-performance, road-certified engines.
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The Nilu will launch as 15 track-only units first, followed by a street-legal version limited to 54 examples.
