Previously seen only in computer-generated pictures, the Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus 004C race car finally appeared in public, and it looks every bit like the showstopper those CG images hinted at. The race-spec version of the 004 supercar was spotted performing some test runs at the Cremona Circuit in San Martino del Lago, Italy.

Wearing nothing but naked carbon fiber panels, the 004C looked completely at home and in its element, racking up precious testing and development ahead of its competitive debut in this year’s VLN Series in Europe. There’s been a lot of speculation surrounding the status of the SCG 004C and its street-version alter ego, the SCG 004S. Now those speculations can be put to rest. The SCG 004C is now out and about and judging by its track test runs, it’s ready to take a bite out of the competition.

Looks at home on the race track

It’s one thing to see a car come to life on a computer screen; it’s another thing to see it on track, performing some test runs. That’s what greeted us when we saw a video of the SCG 004C racer in full form. OK, so it’s not technically in full form yet, but the racer is now real in a lot of people’s eyes.

Judging by the video of the race car’s test runs at the Cremona Circuit in San Martino del Lago, Italy, the SCG 004C sounds like a proper race car, too.

That’s when you hear the V-8 engine come alive in ways that’ll give you goosebumps. The seven-minute video of the SCG 004C’s test session is a worthy watch. Dial the volume up, too, because you’re going to want to hear the all-natural screams of that V-8 engine.

Tracing its roots

For some people, the SCG 004C remains stuck in relative anonymity. Not a lot of people know about SCG as a brand and less probably know the brand as the creator of the SCG 004S, the street-legal alter ego of the race-spec 004C. But those who do know about SCG and the 004 project know that its roots can be traced to its predecessor, the 003.

The SCG 003 is a limited-edition sports car and racing car that was launched in 2014 by American boutique automaker Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus, or SCG. From this model, two versions of the 003 came to life: the road-level 003S (Stradale) and the race-spec 003C (Competizione). The latter competed in a number of races throughout its lifetime, including the 24 Hours of Nurburgring and a host of VLN Nurburgring races from 2015 to 2017. The 003C had its fair share of success in the race track, and that success spurred SCG to become more ambitious with its future offerings, specifically with the 003’s successor, the 004.

The lowdown on the SCG 004S

It’s not like he doesn’t have something to be proud about, either. The 004S has all the makings of a worthy successor to the successful SCG 003S. It’s been designed with tremendous attention-to-detail. It carries a 5.0-liter supercharged V-8 engine that produces around 680 horsepower. It’s also built with the expectation of being a better performance car than some of the existing ones that are already out on the market.

Glickenhaus himself singled out the Ford GT as a chief rival of the 004S, saying that his new baby is better in a lot of ways than the erstwhile Ford supercar. Not only does the 004S have more power, but it’s also available in either a six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. It features a three-seat arrangement, with a center-mounted front seat and two rear seats flanking it in the vein of the McLaren F1.

Glickenhaus even touched on building a more hardcore road-ready version of the 004C race car, called the 004CS (Competizione Stradale). This one will pack an LT5 engine that produces around 800 horsepower.

The Race Car of the Lot

Part of what makes SCG’s 004 car program so intriguing is trying to kill three birds with one stone. It’s an audacious plan, though SCG managed it well with the 004’s predecessor. This time, though, we’re not just talking about a road car in the 004S and a track-focused yet still road-legal supercar in the 004CS. We’re also talking about an actual race car in the 004C.

All three models carry some similarities, including the use of a carbon-fiber monocoque and a carbon-fiber body across the entire 004 lineup. All three models will also come with a mid-mounted engine setup and, as far as the interiors go, a McLaren F1-style central driving position.

More than the said similarities, each version of the 004 will offer something unique on the table that’s specific to its purpose. In the case of the 004C, the race car is spec’d to compete in the SPX class that’s required to compete in the 24 Hours of Nurburgring. The 004C will eventually be developed to meet GT3 racing specifications, though the door is also open for GTE and GT4 versions to be developed if there’s enough interest in those series.

From a power and performance perspective, the 004C is powered by a 6.2-liter naturally-aspirated V-8 engine that was developed for SCG by Autotecnica Motori.

But, since racing regulations prevent the use of supercharged engines, the LT4 unit inside the 004C was developed to comply with said regulations, hence its naturally aspirated setup.

There’s no word on how much power the 004C will carry, but expect the number to sit somewhere in the 650- to 700-horsepower range.

SCG also secured help from Podium Advanced Technologies, which is responsible for developing the rest of the 004C. It’s worth noting that PAT is also helping SCG develop the 007, the company’s planned entry to the 24 Hours of Le Mans race.