Back in May, we were teased by a relative unknown in the automotive world - Spanish automaker, Aspid - as it was set to unveil a new and secretive sports car. Up until that point, the only car that Aspid manufactured was the SS, which is a semi-open-wheel two seater more known for its agility than anything else.

Well, now Aspid is prepared to expose this all-new sports car to the world, and it has sent us a few PR images and a ton of info via email. Doing what we do best, we will critique this car and find out if it is really up to the task of competing with the Porsches->ke1 and other sports cars of the world.

While this car looks very awkward and a little bit like something out of a Sci-Fi flick, it is actually rather conventional when sat next to its sibling, the Super Sport. In terms of performance, this new Aspid certainly talks a really big talk, but does it really have the bite to match up with its bark?

Click past the jump to find out if this Aspid GT-21 is up to the task of taking on the big boys in the industry.

Exterior

Calling the Aspid GT-21 anything but wild on the outside is an understatement. Up front, it boasts a semi-open-wheel design, as its from fenders only wrap over the top of the tires and the front bumper wraps around part of the front of each tire. If you want a production car to compare its open-wheel design with, think about the Plymouth Prowler.

The hood tapers outward as you approach the windshield, giving it a race car-like appearance. At the front of the hood is a low-profile scoop to get the engine a little extra air. The headlights are very thin and wide, and the front grille is the same way. The lights and grille almost look as if Aspid took the front end of the new Camaro->ke248 and stretched it.

At the base of the front fascia, there's a front spoiler to help keep the front tires glued to the tarmac. Between the front spoiler and the main grille, there's a wide-mouth lower grille that really gives the front end a lot of character.

The side profile of the Aspid GT-21 is far and away the sexiest angle. You have two heat extractors on each side. There is one smaller extractor that sits above the wheel and apparently extracts heat from the engine compartment. The second set of extractors are just behind the front wheels to guide hot air away from the brake system.

The roof line swoops upward gracefully from the shallow-racked windshield and gradually slopes downward until it meets the tail end of the car. Just below each door sits a set of side-exit exhaust pipes that really spice up the side view of the Aspid.

The bulging rear fenders each feature a cooling duct for the rear brakes and large wheel flares to help make the remaining of the back end as aerodynamic as possible.

On the back end, you will notice four holes on either side, which are apparently the downstream end of the heat extractors. Above those extractors, you get a set of taillights that are in the same vertical fashion as the headlights are. You also get a lip-style spoiler on the top of the back end and a diffuser on the bottom of this sports car's tail.

On each corner of the Aspid GT-21 the press image shows a 10-spoke rim, but according to the press release, there are hundreds of customization options, so we are sure there are dozens of rims to choose from.

All in all, the exterior is stunning, but a little bit out of the norm. Then again, Aspid is the last car company anyone would expect to produce a “normal” car.

Interior

Unfortunately, Aspid has not released any interior pictures yet, but it did release some highlights on the interior. On the inside, the Aspid GT-21 is a much larger vehicle when compared to its Super Sport sibling, allowing its passengers to sit more comfortably. It also includes increased luggage space over the SS too. Then again, if you're buying this car with luggage space in mind, you're barking up the wrong tree.

We also know that the GT-21 is a 2+2 seat car, which means that it does have small seats in the rear for passengers. We are willing to bet that these seats are not the most comfortable though.

We'll update you once we receive more information on the interior.

Engine and Drivetrain

Under the hood of the Aspid GT-21 is a BMW-sourced 4.4-liter V-8 that pumps out 450 horsepower at 8,300 rpm and 325 pound-feet of torque at 3,900 rpm. Given that high peak horsepower rpm – 2,800 rpm higher and 50 horsepower higher than the BMW 550 – the engine has obviously been tweaked. The significant drop on torque – 125 pound feet – from the 550i means that this 4.4-liter likely does not boast the twin turbochargers that the 550i does and is likely naturally aspirated.

Tossing the power to the rear wheels is your choice of either a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic or a 6-speed manual.

While all of the numbers so far seem pretty much standard for most sports cars today, the Aspid's shining point is the fact that it only weighs 990 kg (2,182 lbs), which equals out to just 2.2 kg (4.85 lbs) per horsepower. This allows the Aspid GT-21 to hit 60 mph in under three seconds and hit a top speed of 330 km/h (205 mph).

Handling and Braking

The rear wheels measure in at 20 x 11 inches and the fronts measure in at 19 x 9 inches, so there is plenty of rubber to keep the GT-21 on the road. The ALEXCOM chassis is the same style used in the Super Sport model and weighs only 90 kg (198 lbs), but remains extremely strong and rigid, increasing handling significantly.

The front and rear suspension are independent in design and boast cold-resistant, aerospace-extruded aluminum to increase rigidity and low unsprung weight, increasing handling performance.

The braking system on the GT-21 is state of the art. It boasts multiple heat extractors, as you likely noticed in the images and our description of the body. These lower the temperature of the brake pads and rotors, helping resist fading under heavy braking.

The front brake rotors measure in at 400 mm (15.75 inches) in diameter and boast dual calipers to put the squeeze on in heavy braking. The rear brakes boast the same 400 mm (15.75-inch) rotors with a single caliper on each side. This braking system, according to Aspid, give the same performance as a carbon-on-carbon system without the need to warm up the brakes like you need to on carbon-on-carbon systems.

Pricing

Unfortunately, Aspid does not list any pricing. We assume this is because the pricing can vary so much, due to the GT-21 being built to suit each customer. Therefore setting a base price is nearly impossible. Given the fact the Aspid is only building 250 examples of the GT-21 per year, we anticipate a price range starting in the mid $100K range.

When Can I Get One?

Aspid anticipates the GT-21 to be released within two years. Unfortunately, there is no word as to whether it will be available in the U.S. or not. We are leaning towards the idea that it will only be available in the European market.

Competition

The only car that comes close to the Aspid GT-21 in exclusivity, performance, and looks is the upcoming Porsche 918 Spyder->ke3629. It boasts a 4.6-liter V-8 with a pair of electric motors to get a peak horsepower rating of 770. This combined performance is enough to get the 918 Spyder to 60 mph in less than 3 seconds, but there is no definite number given yet. The 918 Spyder will run $845,000, and we highly doubt the Aspid will even crest the $250K range, but we have been wrong before.

If we are right, though, Porsche had better be checking its rear-view mirror for the GT-21, as it could be a prime alternative for the a little less affluent buyer.

Conclusion

On paper, the GT-21 sounds bad ass, but reality may end up being a completely different animal altogether. If one little thing goes wrong, Aspid could be up the creek without a paddle. Then again, given it is using a time-tested BMW V-8 and drivetrain components that are already in use, there is little guesswork to be done with the GT-21.

The severely limited production will hurt its overall numbers and we will likely see it sold out in just a matter of weeks, but it is still an awesome car – on paper – nonetheless. We'll keep you updated on this car as more information becomes available.