Legendary race automobile engineer Steve Nichols has come out of retirement to launch a brand new supercar below his personal identify.

Revealed on Wednesday, the Nichols N1A ideas the scales at lower than 2,000 kilos and packs a V-8 punch.

Anybody who grew up watching System 1 through the Eighties and ’90s will instantly acknowledge the identify Steve Nichols. The American engineer was influential within the design of F1 vehicles for a number of groups, although his best success is arguably the McLaren MP4/4 pushed by Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna in 1988. The automobile received 15 out of 16 races that season. Nichols was chief designer for the MP4/4, although Gordon Murray, who was McLaren’s technical director on the time, tends to obtain a lot of the credit score.

U.Ok.-based Nichols selected one other McLaren for inspiration for his N1A. The automobile is the sooner M1A race automobile that McLaren efficiently raced within the Sixties, particularly within the Canadian Sports activities Automobile Grand Prix, the forerunner to the Canadian-American (Can-Am) Problem Cup. McLaren itself used the M1A as inspiration for a contemporary supercar, on this case the Elva speedster launched in 2019.

Steve Nichols

The Nichols N1A is far nearer to the M1A in seems and ethos, with Nichols selecting the early McLaren racer as inspiration as a result of automobile representing a turning level the place future race vehicles would turn out to be largely undrivable on the highway. In response to Nichols, the M1A is among the many final race vehicles that one may drive to the racetrack after which drive dwelling on the finish of the day.

The N1A’s chassis is a mixture of carbon fiber and aluminum, and options impartial suspension with double wishbones and anti-roll bars. Energy steering is skipped to maximise really feel however patrons can go for the system ought to they need. The wheels measure 19 inches up entrance and 20 inches on the rear, and are wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires as customary.

Nichols N1A

The physique options graphene-infused carbon fiber much like what’s used on fashionable F1 vehicles, whereas the powertrain consists of a naturally aspirated V-8. Solely the range-topping possibility has been confirmed, on this case a 7.0-liter V-8 that’s primarily based on Normal Motors’ LS3 small block however closely modified by Langford Efficiency Engineering, an organization that specialises in sustaining and restoring retired F1 engines. The estimated peak output is 650 hp.

The engine is mated to a 6-speed guide as customary however Nichols stated various choices will likely be accessible, with out offering additional particulars.

Nichols N1A

Inside, the controls are stored easy to allow the driving force to deal with the highway forward. A particular contact is the reclined seating place which is similar as within the MP4/4, giving drivers an opportunity to expertise the identical view loved by Prost and Senna whereas out on the observe.

Nichols plans to restrict manufacturing of the N1A to a most 100 models. The primary 15 will likely be a particular launch mannequin outfitted with the 7.0-liter V-8. The quantity 15 was chosen because it matches the variety of wins earned by the MP4/4.

Nichols N1A

Pricing info hasn’t been introduced.

“Having skilled superb racing vehicles over the a long time, I’ve by no means been in a position to implement these quirky qualities right into a highway automobile, till now,” Nichols stated in an announcement. “The method from pencil to manufacturing mannequin has been extraordinarily gratifying; this must be a reminder to the whole automotive trade that combining the previous, current and seeking to the longer term, is the way in which ahead for this complete group.”