2022 Rimac Nevera Hypercar Design Performance

Hypercar manufacturer and electric technology specialist, Rimac Automobili, unveiled the production version of the C_Two, now becoming the Nevera, an all-electric, 1914hp, 258mph, €2m hypercar designed and engineered to unleash an unprecedented level of performance. The Rimac Nevera is the production-ready iteration of the Rimac C_Two concept car, which was revealed at the International Geneva Motor Show in 2018. Since then, Rimac's engineers have refined their new flagship on every level during an extensive development program, in the pursuit of the ultimate electric hypercar driving experience. With the majority of key components of the Nevera developed in-house at Rimac's HQ in Croatia, all systems have been improved and enhanced since the initial prototypes to deliver on the ambitious performance targets set for at the beginning of the project in 2018.

A Croatian success story

Inspired by the genius of fellow-Croatian, engineer and futurist Nikola Tesla, Mate Rimac undertook his first electric project when he converted his 1984 BMW 3 Series E30 to battery power at the age of 20 in his garage in 2008. He founded Rimac Automobili in 2009, and just 11 years later, the company celebrated hiring its 1000th employee. Unencumbered by legacy and multiple layers of procedures and protocol, Rimac's agile approach has delivered impressive progress in an incredibly short time. Today, the company develops high-performance electric drivetrain and battery systems for many of the world's largest automotive manufacturers. Its customers include Aston Martin, Porsche, Pininfarina, Hyundai, Kia, Koenigsegg, Renault, Cupra and many more. In keeping with its continued growth, the company recently announced its plans for a new, state-of-the-art home - 200 million euro, 200.000m2 Rimac Campus, which will provide a home for 2.500 employees on the outskirts of Zagreb and the production of its hypercars and research and development of leading-edge electric technology projects.

Named after a force of nature

Fittingly, the Rimac Nevera bears a proud Croatian name and one that truly reflects the prodigious performance the car can unleash in the blink of an eye. The name given by the locals to a quick, unexpected and mighty Mediterranean storm, that races across the open sea off Croatia, a nevera is extremely powerful and charged by lightning. Appearing with exceptional speed and potency, Rimac's next-generation hypercar shares the Nevera's name and looks set to leave a similarly disruptive effect on the global hypercar market. And, like the force of nature it is named after, it is just as adept at transforming its character in an instant - from assured and comfortable grand tourer to ultra-focused performance machine.

Form follows function

Rimac favors lean and effective engineering at every stage, and that philosophy is exemplified in the form-follows-function nature of the Rimac Nevera's timeless, elegant design. It is applied to every single detail, including Rimac's signature 'cravat' feature, which is incorporated into its flanks. A comprehensive raft of changes to the Rimac Nevera's bodywork, air diffusers and intakes has delivered a 34 per cent improvement in aerodynamic efficiency over the early prototypes. The profile of the bonnet, the shape of the pillars and the design of the diffusers, splitters and radiators have all been intensively analysed and refined to improve airflow and downforce. Inlets and cooling channels have been painstakingly developed to increase the cooling efficiency of both the brake and powertrain systems, resulting in a 30 per cent improvement at low speeds and a seven per cent enhancement at high speeds. Rimac has also created numerous new innovative active aerodynamic elements to elevate the Nevera's cooling, performance, stability, and efficiency abilities. The front bonnet profile, underbody flap, rear diffuser and rear wing can each move independently, driven by complex algorithms that provided the optimum aerodynamic configuration for every driving situation. Switching from 'high downforce' to 'low drag' mode reduces aerodynamic drag by 17.5 per cent to create a 0.3 coefficient of drag. Changing back into 'high downforce' mode increases downforce by 326 per cent.

World's most advanced monocoque construction

Rimac Nevera's groundbreaking monocoque, developed by the former C_Two Chief Engineer Daniele Giachi, includes a bonded carbon roof, integrated structural battery pack and rear carbon subframe, is forming the largest single carbon fibre piece in the entire automotive industry. Weighing less than 200kg and utilising 2200 carbon fibre plys and 222 aluminium inserts, the monocoque encases the car's battery to form a compact yet incredibly strong structure with a torsional stiffness of 70.000 Nm/degree. The level of unmatched strength and safety this provides has contributed to the Nevera meeting strict global homologation standards, and delivering the most rigid structure of any car ever made.

Driving the future

The key to the Nevera's exceptional performance is Rimac's pioneering electric powertrain. Every component of the Nevera's electric powertrain has been exhaustively reworked since its inception to deliver more torque, greater performance and enhanced efficiency. The unique H-shaped, liquid-cooled, 120kWh, 6960-cell battery was designed from scratch by Rimac and sits at the very heart of the Rimac Nevera. Capable of producing 1.4MW of power, the Lithium/Manganese/Nickel battery also forms an integral part of the car's core, adding 37 per cent structural stiffness to the carbon fibre monocoque. The battery's optimum positioning low and central within the car's floor contributes to an ultra-low centre of gravity. This helps create an excellent 48/52 front/rear weight distribution and the best possible handling balance. Developments of the advanced battery cooling system have made it even more efficient since the introduction of the C_Two, enabling more power to be delivered for greater periods. Four bespoke surface-mounted permanent magnet motors drive the Nevera's four wheels individually. Together, they enable 1914hp and 2360Nm of torque, which is triple the output of a 'conventional-engined' supercar. The front and rear wheels are each connected to a pair of single-speed gearboxes.