Delage was a French company launched back in 1905 as a rival to makers like Bugatti. During its classic era Delage launched models like the D6 and the D8, but the company had to cease operation in 1953. Delage reopened its doors back in 2019, and its first supercar - the 1,100 horsepower D12 - has very big ambitions for the future. The D12 was officially revealed during the 2022 Goodwood Festival of Speed. Speaking with a Delage spokesman at the auto show, the British magazine Autocar learned a few details about the future plans of the Delage company's drive to shatter the Nurburgring record.

The D12 features a "low, long, fighter jet-inspired body" and brings an F1 driving experience on the road. The supercar will be offered in two different forms: D12 GT and D12 Club, with the latter being the one that will try to smash the current Nurburgring record. The D12 is powered by a hybrid powertrain that combines a 7.6-liter naturally aspirated V-12 engine (developed in house) with an electric motor. The V-12 delivers a total of 960 horsepower, while the electric motor adds 110 horsepower in the GT version and only 20 horsepower in the Club version. As a result, the D12 delivers 1,085 horsepower and 794 pound-feet of torque or 996 horsepower and 652 pound-feet of torques, respectively.

The GT weighs 1,390 kilos (3,064 lbs), while the Club version is lighter at only 1,300 kilos (2,866 pounds). With a power-to-weight ratio of up to 781 bhp per tone, the Club version is believed to be 5.0 seconds faster around the famous ring. Delage will make a first attempt to break the record in 2023 when it hopes to finish the lap in 6 minutes and 40 seconds. This result would break the current record held by the Porsche 911 GT2 RS Manthey-Racing with a lap time of 6:43:30.

The D12 is built on a central carbon fiber monocoque, with the front structure being made from carbon fiber and the rear from aluminum. Just like in the 1990s Formula 1 cars from McLaren and Ferrari, the passenger sits behind the driver in tandem configuration.

The supercar unveiled at Goodwood was the first completed prototype. When production starts, Delage plans to build only 30 units, each priced at €2 million ($2.1 million) - before options. Each customer will also receive driving lessons from Delage’s development driver, ex-F1 Driver’s World Champion Jacques Villeneuve.

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