Rodin FZero: New Zealand's 360km/h 'Batmobile' takes to the track

The Rodin FZero New Zealand hypercar exclusively revealed by Wheels has taken to the track for the first in its bid to be one of the fastest cars in the world.

Rodin Cars' billionaire founder, Aussie David Dicker, took the wheel of the track-only single-seater for the prototype's debut test at the company's Mount Lyford facility on New Zealand's South Island.

The company confirmed the FZero will be powered by a 755kW/700Nm twin-turbo 4.0-litre hybrid V10 that has been built in-house and has a targeted top speed of 360km/h.

4

That would edge the FZero past the 354km/h top speed of its benchmark rival, the Aston Martin Valkyrie.

The powertrain features a "direct crankshaft drive" 130kW electric motor, dry-sump lubrication, and 10 direct injectors supplying 200 bar (2900psi) of fuel pressure.

It's mated to an eight-speed titanium sequential paddleshift gearbox jointly developed by Rodin and engineering consultancy firm Ricardo.

A normally aspirated version of the V10 dubbed the RC-Ten is planned, and Rodin says it intends to offer the engine as a crate motor for "motorsport application".

4

With its dramatic bewinged rear end and enclosed front wheels, the FZero is uncannily reminiscent of the Batmobile driven by Michael Keaton in Tim Burton's late 80s and early 90s Batman movies.

“While there’s a long road ahead of testing and development, running the FZero for the first time gives me immense pride in what everyone at Rodin Cars has achieved in bringing this programme to life," said Dicker.

"The test went very well and we were able to work through our programme. We’re excited as the FZero project enters its next phase. It really is a car like no other.”

The carbonfibre-bodied FZero is 5.5 metres long and more than 2.2 metres wide. Rodin says the front, rear and floor wing produced four tonnes of downforce in simulations.

Rodin has previously talked about producing a road car version of the FZero.

The FZero follows the Rodin RZed open-wheeler racing car, which was powered by a 3.8L Cosworth V8 engine and had a top speed of 300km/h.

4