Rimac reveals 2,078bhp Nevera R

The Rimac Nevera wasn't fast enough so there's now an R version that hits 186mph in 8.66sec

The 2,078bhp electric hypercar is an “aggressive alter ego” for the ‘standard’ Nevera.


Croatian sports car maker Rimac has revealed a new ultra high-performance version of its Nevera supercar dubbed the Nevera R.

Billed as a handling-orientated model that “shifts” the Nevera from being a “hyper grand tourer into hyper sports car,” the Nevera R offers a straight-line performance boost over the standard Nevera.

Where the original Nevera has 1,888bhp, the Nevera R produces almost 2,100bhp and all-wheel drive, permitting unbelievable performance figures.

According to Rimac, the Nevera R will get from 0-62mph in 1.81 seconds, while getting from 0-124mph takes 4.38 seconds — a fraction quicker than the regular Nevera’s astonishing 4.42sec benchmark. Just 8.66 seconds after setting off, the Nevera R can hit 186mph, the company claims, beating the Nevera’s 9.22sec time.

Flat out, the standard Nevera R reaches a top speed of 217mph but Rimac says “with manufacturer oversight”, the top speed can increase to 256mph.

Rimac reveals 2,078bhp Nevera R

Just 40 examples of the Nevera R will be built, with each offering more “focused” driving dynamics, a more performance-orientated 108kWh battery and more advanced brakes. The Rs also get a clean design that appears lower and sleeker than that of the standard Nevera, with carbon-fibre exterior trim parts and new wheels with longer spokes to accentuate their size.

More prominently, there’s a large fixed rear wing, which works alongside a new aerodynamic package that includes a chunky diffuser, upping downforce by 15 per cent compared with the Nevera and improving aerodynamic efficiency by 10 per cent.

The wheels, which measure 21in at the back and 20in at the front, are shod in new Michelin Cup 2 tyres, and this, according to Rimac, reduces understeer by 10 per cent and improving lateral grip by five per cent, contributing to a 3.8-second faster lap time around the Nardo Handling Track.

Rimac reveals 2,078bhp Nevera R

But Rimac hasn’t just chased big numbers with the Nevera R; the carmaker says there has been a greater focus on driver feedback. A new and re-tuned all-wheel torque (twisting force) vectoring system distributes the car’s immense power to each wheel individually to improve cornering feel while maximising the capability of the new tyres.

For the same reason, the traction control system has also been revamped, and there’s a new drift mode, as well as a new steering system that’s intended to provide greater feedback. The new brakes are carbon ceramic with a silicone matrix layer, which apparently allows better stopping power and cooling performance, as well as improved durability.

The Nevera R is being launched in a hue called Nebula Green but drivers will be able to customise the car inside and out, with new colour and trim options, including painted carbon trim. This means items such as the main dashboard and centre console, can be matched to the exterior colour (or any shade of the customer’s choosing).

Rimac reveals 2,078bhp Nevera R

Mate Rimac, CEO of the Rimac Group, said the new Nevera R would accentuate the sporting capabilities of the Nevera rather than focusing on the high-performance touring abilities.

“When we developed the Nevera, an important part of the brief was that it should be a grand tourer,” he said. “We made sure it was spacious, comfortable and finely balanced between thrilling and accessible. Ultimately what we achieved struck that balance perfectly; a high-performance record-breaking car that could set new benchmarks at the Nürburgring Nordschleife and be driven comfortably thousands of miles across continents.

“But we’re relentlessly tweaking to customers’ desires, and many were looking for a car that really emphasised the Nevera’s cornering ability, using all the advanced technology on-board. We responded with the Nevera R: all the DNA of the record-breaking Nevera, but lighter, faster and more focused.”

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