The Sanrivatti One is a prototype based on an earlier concept where the driver sits head-forward, more like a motorcycle than a car. Power will come from Judd, a U.K.-based racing specialist, in the form of an 800-hp naturally aspirated 5.5-liter V-10. One of the things that will make this track-only machine unique is that it will require the pilot to relearn how to drive. It’s an age-old question: which offers the superior experience, driving a really fast car or riding a motorcycle? Well, like the kid from the old El Paso soft taco vs hard taco meme, hypercar startup Sanrivatti asks, “Why Not Both?” First shown as a concept with minimal details, there’s now a prototype out that reveals how Sanrivatti plans to marry the riding position of a motorcycle with an in-car layout. The car is simply called the One, and it looks quite different than other hypercars, thanks to the head-forward packaging. Carbon-fiber bodywork incorporates huge air channels around the waist, like a Ford GT, but the wraparound glass of the cockpit has the look of a spacecraft rather than earth-bound transportation. Actually, overall, the One looks like something that could have appeared as a playable vehicle from the pre-Mario Kart Super Nintendo racing game F-Zero. Yes, this single-seat hypercar has wheels, but it’s otherwise a radical departure from what a track special would ordinarily look like. And yes, it’ll be track only. Given the “Apex Position” blend between riding and driving, there’ll need to be a complex restraint system for the driver—or rider? Maybe we should just go with pilot. Projected specifications are pretty spicy, with a combustion engine producing 800 horsepower and a claimed curb weight of just 2425 pounds. Top speed is estimated at above 200 mph. That power will come from racing specialist Judd, a U.K.-based racing specialist with experience in F1, IndyCar, and Le Mans. The engine will be a naturally aspirated 5.5-liter V-10, and it’ll put that power to the ground through a racing-spec Hewland six-speed sequential gearbox. Brakes are from AP Racing, wheels are forged magnesium from Braid, with racing-grade Michelin Pilot Sport tires. A blend of Suzuki GSX-R and Audi R8 certainly sounds pretty invigorating, but driving the Sanrivatti One is going to require a complete rewiring of your brain. The car will be controlled with foot pedals for braking and acceleration, and it will have a steering wheel. However, you’ll be pressing rearward for the latter controls, and also able to lean your body into the corners while still clutching the wheel. It’s probably going to feel like flying, both the good parts and the terrifying bits. Sanrivatti is literally leaning into this unique experience, suggesting that learning how to drive the One will kind of be the thing that sets it apart from every other hypercar out there. If nothing else, it’s an interesting way to sidestep the usual metrics of zero-to-60-mph and Nürburgring lap times, and other numbers defined by the stopwatch. How will the Sanrivatti One compare with other hypercars? If they get it right, it simply won’t. ➡️ Skip the lot. Let Car and Driver help you find your next car.
Liked by Kaitlyn Roy, William BouchardLiked by Kaitlyn Roy, William Bouchard
Liked by Kaitlyn Roy, William Bouchard
