Filed under: Supercars
EXCLUSIVE: Melling Hellcat final design includes 1,175-hp quad-turbo V10
click the image above to view a high-resolution gallery of the Melling Hellcat
Thanks to an avid Autoblog reader, we're pleased to bring you pictures of the final prototype of the Melling Hellcat supercar that's being developed by famed British engine designer, Al Melling. We've reported on the Hellcat a couple times in the past, but the details surrounding this supercar have changed. As you can see, the final design is much more aggressive than the original prototype, and more fitting for a car setting its sights on the fastest production vehicles in the world. Just as the skin has been upgraded to compete on a world-class level, so has the engine, which was originally supposed to be a 700-horsepower, 6.0-liter V10. Knowing full well in these modern times of 600-hp Vipers and supercharged Blue Devils that a 700-hp V10 a world-class supercar does not make, Melling went back to the drawing board and did what he does best. The production Melling Hellcat will now come with a quad-turbo V10 producing a completely ridiculous 1,175 horsepower. That's well above the number of ponies the Bugatti Veyron produces, and it will be stuffed in a package that's considerably lighter. 0 to 60 is expected to occur in a 2.6-second blink of the eye, and terminal velocity will be 275 mph. Those are big numbers; we'll be eagerly anticipating some material evidence of those feats. Until then, enjoy the high-resolution gallery of pics taken by Mark from Maserati of Minneapolis and purveyor of its blog that broke the story.
[Source: Maserati of Minneapolis Blog]
_opt_thumbnail.jpg)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
ruggels 3:10AM (1/23/2007)
"Those are big numbers; we'll be eagerly anticipating some material evidence of those feats."
Thank you, thank you, thank you. Now I won't have to make the comment after the fanboys gush about another car with major claims that's never been tested.
Reply
Car videos 5:21AM (1/23/2007)
I hope this car is going to be AWD, if not the 1,175 horsepower's will go to waste with no traction.
http://www.dpccars.com
Dpccars
Reply
BlogBuster 6:59AM (1/23/2007)
and again American "supercars" will be left behind
Reply
kingvolcano 7:20AM (1/23/2007)
That thing is UGLY!
Reply
kingvolcano 7:26AM (1/23/2007)
Looks like A nissan Z w/ poor execution. It is a garage made vehicle with a $20,000. Paint job. How can anyone get excited about a car that can reach 200 MPH, but fall apart while doing it?
Reply
Tiago do Vale 8:06AM (1/23/2007)
"That's well above the number of ponies the Bugatti Veyron produces [...]"
It isn't: the 1,001 hp the Bugatti claims are in fact around 1,080 hp.
And I don't think that kind of lack of aerodynamic sofistication can make it go faster then 300km/h without flying.
And besides, it will never compete with the luxury, confort, and usability of the Bugatti.
Reply
Gois 11:19AM (1/23/2007)
Nope, the Veyron's "normal" power is about 1100hp. In clear, cold days it can reach 1200-1300hp without a problem...
1001hp is just a "safe" figure...
Reply
pow 2:43PM (1/23/2007)
hey, while they were at it why didn't they also just put the Nissan symbol on the front, cause it look like they copied the rest of the Nissan GT-R concept
maybe, they were afraid the Chinese would jump to copy it first
Reply
Fabulo 4:44PM (1/23/2007)
Mike Wazowski says: "one word: 6 wheel drive!"
Reply
Racingpartners 8:34AM (2/03/2007)
Check out Melling to buy TVR!
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=352135&f=13&h=0
Reply
fisker 10:14AM (2/24/2007)
looks a hell of a lot better than the last protoype mind, and how the hell gois is a veyrons normal power output 1100 BHP?
Reply
Mister.Dj 4:16AM (2/08/2008)
at a speed of 365km/h, it sucks away 1litre to the kilometre.
That's as much as 200 Golf V Diesels need for 100km. I don't know how much it needs at normal speed, but for my part, way too much.
You can drive more than 400km/h, but where can you use this ability? Where do you need over a 1000PS?
Luxury and Comfort yes, but usability? Are you joking me?
The "boot" has the size of bag, you have only 2 seats and it makes you poor. Where the heck is the usability?
(Except from prawling around, naturally)
It's such a useless car and made for Dickheads to buy it and Boys to dream of it.
Lightning GT for the win!
Reply