Once a household name in racing circles during the early 20th century, alongside giants like Bugatti and Ferrari, Delage is making a comeback. After a 70-year gap, the company was revived in 2019, as CEO Laurent Tapie puts it. They have now officially started producing the groundbreaking D12 hypercar.
Four D12s have already been assembled, according to Tapie in a conversation with Autocar. The entire production line will consist of just 30 cars and will be manufactured in a specialized Delage facility in Magny-Cours, France. However, completing the entire batch could take as long as five years.
The D12 houses a 7.6-liter V12 engine paired with a single electric motor, combining for a total of 1,100 horsepower and 1,076 Nm (794 lb-ft) of torque. The vehicle uses a carbon fiber monocoque frame, a centrally located driver's seat, and a unique F1-based "contractive" suspension system that eliminates the need for anti-roll bars. This design was used by the McLaren and Ferrari F1 teams back in the 1990s and is now exclusive to Delage.
With a U.S. price tag of approximately $2.3 million (€2.7 million), the Delage D12 will be among the world's 50 most costly cars. It's not yet clear whether all 30 units have been sold.
Source: Autocar