Four-wheel transport of the future

From a Lamborghini off-road supercar to a Ferrari for the whole family and from a sports car with McLaren roots to a high-tech car with classic looks: MASTERS takes a look at the four-wheeler transport of tomorrow.

Look into the future

For the first time, the Lexus Electrified Sport concept was shown outside Japan. The Goodwood Festival of Speed ​​was credited with this scoop. The future battery-electric sports car attracted crowds of viewers and received a lot of media attention. For example, the British Auto Express described it as a 'fully electric successor to the LFA sports car' with styling that 'really has the wow factor'. The acceleration time to 100 km/h is expected to be just over two seconds, the range will be around 700 kilometers, thanks to the possible use of solid-state batteries. The new battery-electric sports car will be part of a full range of BEVs that Lexus will launch in the run-up to 2030 under the Lexus Electrified brand vision.

High-tech with classic looks

The German Wiesmann made a name for itself with the Roadster introduced in 1993. Because the car has classic looks, in the style of an AC Cobra or Austin Healey 3000, the model has not required a facelift over the years. In 2003 a GT version with a closed roof was introduced and in between there was a bankruptcy and a restart, but it was not until thirty years later that a new type was introduced. And that is tackled right away, because this Wiesmann Thunderball seems to do everything right. The look of the carbon fiber body is still wonderfully neoclassical, but beneath the skin lies the ultimate electric driving experience. Despite 680 hp at the rear wheels, 1.700 kg and 0-100 in 2,9 seconds, the range is no less than 500 km. The handmade Thunderball can now be ordered, starting from 300.000 euros.

Little brother, big boy

The Aston Martin Valkyrie is probably the most uncompromising hypercar ever built. Partly because of the price tag of around 3 million ex taxes, Aston Martin decided to also build a slightly more modest supercar. That became the Aston Martin Valhalla, and it was not very modest. The price is a lot lower. But yes, even if you pay almost 80 percent less, there is still a receipt for 675.000 euros, before taxes. You get a lot of nice things for that. Because in contrast to the uncompromising aerodynamics of the Valkyrie, the Valhalla has very clean lines. The 'simple' design makes the Valhalla one of the most beautiful Astons ever. And the numbers? Not exactly modest: 963 hybrid horsepower, 350 km/h and 0-100 in 2,5 seconds. You can already order, delivery will start in 2024.

Ferrari for the whole family?

Ultimately, Ferrari also has to believe it: their first SUV is out. The Ferrari Purosangue is not the kind of SUV where four children can romp in the back seat, because in the second row luxurious bucket seats offer space for two adults. Admittedly: you can also fit a child seat in such a bucket seat, and the dog can also come along in a 473 liter trunk. Ferrari itself does not use the S-word, because they do not consider this an SUV. This is a thoroughbred, or in Italian: puro sangue. To underline that pure image, the Purosangue has four-wheel drive and a 725 hp V12. It is a shame that it will therefore probably be Ferrari's least economical car. Apparently their really-not-SUV must first be accepted by Ferrariists before they can think about V6, V8 and hybrid. Of course this is indeed an SUV, but also a Ferrari. And for that delicious combination you pay at least 390.000 euros, excluding taxes.

Sports car with McLaren roots

Steven Nichols is a McLaren man. He was chief designer of the McLaren MP4/4, with which Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost won fifteen of the sixteen Grands Prix in 1988 - an unprecedented winning percentage of 1 percent in F93,8. That makes even Max silent... And now Nichols has started his own sports car brand. He also shows his McLaren heart here, because his first car is the Nichols N1A. Connoisseurs know that the first racing car of Bruce McLaren Motor Racing, founded in 1963, was also called 'N1A'. The Nichols N1A is a tribute to this beautiful classic model. It is both a modern version, including a carbon fiber body optimized in the wind tunnel, and an old school racer. Steven Nichols stays far away from the digital saturation he sees in modern sports cars. So a big 6,2 liter V8, with well over 600 hp if desired, powers the 900 kg sports car. The price is not known yet.

Off-road supercar

Nowadays we mainly associate Lamborghini with circuits and boulevards, yet the Italians started out as a tractor builder in 1951. Thanks to this successful company, founder Ferruccio Lamborghini had built up a nice collection of sports cars in 1963. One of these was a brand new Ferrari, the clutch of which broke four times in one year. When Ferruccio spoke to Enzo Ferrari about this, Ferrari replied that it must be his own fault, because it could not be the car's fault. Three months later, at the Geneva Motor Show, the exasperated Lamborghini launched its first sports car of its own. A rivalry was born. Lamborghini is now in the hands of Audi and part of the Italian temperament has worn away. Yet the designs remain extravagant. The latest version of the Huracán is a sports car for boulevards, circuits and the unpaved road. This Lamborghini Huracán Sterrato has, among other things, more ground clearance, more track width, fender flares, special tires and a 5,2 liter V10 with 618 hp. Pure extravagance, but with a nod to the tractor past.