No price, performance figures yet for outrageous FZERO.

INTENTION by New Zealand-domiciled Rodin Cars to deliver a closed cockpit Batmobile-style track car has been announced, but cost and where the machine will be built has yet to be divulged.

The Rodin FZERO hypercar announced in the United Kingdom today is coming into production from 2023, with 27 examples being made. None have yet been built. The images provided today are a mix of renders and pictures of a diecast model.

It is the second machine developed by the marque, which is funded by Australian magnate Dave Dicker (below) and established in 2016 on a site in North Canterbury. It has been best known until now for the Fzed, a single seater-style performance model, originally based off a still-born Lotus project and also designed just for track play, and as a sponsor of up and coming racing drivers.

The FZERO is being touted as a 894kW, sub-700 kilogram model that is described as being free from “restrictions of road laws and race series regulations’ – translation, it doesn’t meet structural and safety requirement for road use and likely cannot be raced in any FIA racing category, but would be eligible for clubmans’ racing.

The engine is a twin-turbo 4.0-litre V10 which redlines at 10,000rpm with a hybrid aspect. It has been developed by Rodin and engine manufacturer Neil Brown Engineering, a British company that has been designing, manufacturing and supporting race winning competition engines for over 40 years in British and German touring cars and Formula Three.

Rodin cited an output from the engine of 735kW and 910Nm, but says the addition of the 130kW hybrid power raises this to 865kW and 1026Nm. Either way, it’s a lot of oomph for a car weighing just 698kg.

The car runs an eight-speed gearbox with an in-house titanium 3D printed case.

Other elements are 380mm carbon brake rotors, with titanium six-pot calipers up front and four-pot in the rear, with ABS and regenerative. The model also has a traction control.

The 18-inch forged magnesium rims from OZ Racing are to Formula 1 standard and are shod with Avon slicks.

Rodin says focus on aerodynamics has shaped the car; it produced up to 4000kg of downforce. The singular goal is to be the fastest car around a track.

“The Rodin FZERO is the physical representation of the ultimate heights in vehicle performance. Without the restrictions of building to a set of rules, we are able to make the car lighter, more powerful, and produce significantly more downforce,” says Dicker.

“The only real restrictions we face are the laws of physics, and we have even pushed those to the absolute limit. We look forward to bringing the most intense driving experience conceivable to tracks around the world.”

The intent is to allow customers to configure their FZERO to their liking. Owners also achieve custom racewear, vehicle storage and delivery, and full driver training at Rodin’s private racetrack, at its facility.