- Zenvo, a small Danish supercar builder, has revealed a new model featuring a hybrid V-12 powertrain called the Aurora at Monterey Car Week.
- Two hybrid setups are available—one pairs the V-12 with a single motor for 1450 hp while the other adds two additional electric motors on the front axle for 1850 hp.
- The Agil variant is more focused on lap times, sporting aggressive aerodynamics, while the Tur is designed more for eating up on-road miles.
Since 2009, a small Danish firm called Zenvo has assembled a series of dramatic-looking mid-engined supercars powered by massive V-8 engines in extremely limited quantities, including the TSR-S and its bonkers rear wing that pivots both up and down as well as side to side. Now Zenvo has revealed its latest creation at Monterey Car Week, a V-12 hybrid hypercar called the Aurora.
Zenvo says the Aurora—named for the aurora borealis natural light phenomenon—is the lightest and most powerful road car they’ve built, built around a carbon fiber monocoque chassis with a claimed dry weight under 3197 pounds. Behind the cabin sits a quad-turbocharged 6.6-liter V-12 that revs to 9800 rpm and churns out 1250 horsepower. Developed by Mahle Powertrain, 90-degree V-12 uses a “hot-V” configuration with the turbochargers placed between the cylinder banks.
The Aurora will be sold in two versions—a tamer, road-focused Tur model and a more aggressive Agil variant—which each pair the V-12 to a different hybrid system. The Agil is rear-wheel drive and uses a single 200-hp electric motor to bump total output to 1450 hp, while the Tur comes with all-wheel drive courtesy of two more 200-hp electric motors at each front wheel. This 1850-hp setup is also offered on the Agil and produces a combined 1254 pound-feet of torque versus the rear-drive setup’s 1033 pound-foot total.
The power flows through a seven-speed gearbox that incorporates the rear-mounted electric motor and is controlled by paddle shifters behind the steering wheel. The Tur is tuned for smoother gearshifts while the Agil’s gear changes are said to be more “mechanical.” The transmission also incorporates an electronic differential, while the front electric motors act as a torque-vectoring system.
The two models sport distinct looks—the Tur is sleek and streamlined while the Agil is adorned with all manner of aerodynamic doodads. Zenvo says that the Agil, which comes in at 2866 pounds, can rip to 62 mph in an estimated 2.5 seconds and can reach 186 mph in just 10 second en route to a 227 mph top speed. Although the Tur is less focused on track performance and features a richer interior, its slipperier profile helps it hit 60 mph in 2.3 seconds and shave a second off of the sprint to 186 mph, with a claimed top speed of 280 mph.
The Agil’s straight-line performance is likely held back by the substantial rear wing that can shift forward to act as an air brake and apply even more downforce when slowing for a corner. Zenvo claims the the Agil’s splitter, diffuser, and wing combine for 1940 pounds of downforce at 155 mph. Inside, the Agil is far more spartan than the Tur, with lightweight upholstery for the seats and doors and glimpses of the carbon-fiber chassis peeking through. The Tur’s cabin looks far more finished and additional sound proofing should help it feel more like a grand tourer than a track toy.
Zenvo will build only 50 units for each Aurora model, with production kicking off in 2025 and the first Auroras being delivered to their owners in 2026. There’s no word on price, but the Aurora certainly won’t be cheap given that the 2019 TSR-S cost a cool $1.6 million.
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Associate News Editor
Caleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan.
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