Automobile producers usually flip to completely different sources in relation to naming their automobile creations, particularly the limited-edition varieties. It’s not unusual to attract inspiration from notables. These might be individuals intently linked to the historical past of the automaker or people who’ve influenced the automotive world in a single type or one other. Right here we spotlight some excellent efficiency automobiles named after individuals.
Bugatti Veyron
Sure, Bugatti is called after the corporate’s founder, Ettore Bugatti. Nevertheless, do you know that his era-defining hypercar, the Veyron, was additionally named after an individual? Pierre Veyron was a improvement engineer and take a look at pilot employed in 1932 by Jean Bugatti (son of Ettore Bugatti).
Pierre Veyron was additionally an achieved racing driver who took victory in a Bugatti Sort 57S Tank on the 1939 24 Hours of Le Mans. The Bugatti Veyron, unveiled in 2004, took hypercar requirements to new heights with 987 hp (1 001 psi), a dash time of two.5 seconds at 60 mph and a prime velocity hovering round 250 mph.
McLaren Senna
This barely road-legal supercar takes its identify from one of many biggest System 1 drivers of all time. Ayrton Senna was a three-time F1 champion whereas driving for McLaren between 1988 and 1993. His driving model has been repeatedly described as aggressive, uncompromising and, in fact, very quick.
On this sense, the McLaren Senna is definitely an extension of the late racer’s DNA, prioritizing perform over type with its design and efficiency. It is one of many quickest street automobiles McLaren has ever constructed, and its race-inspired design means it performs simply as nicely on the racetrack.
Lotus Elise
In February 2022, a Lotus Elise sports activities automobile was delivered to a buyer. The occasion was vital for 2 causes. First, it is the final Lotus Elise to roll off the meeting line as the corporate step by step transitions to an all-electric vary. Secondly, the fortunate buyer is none apart from Elisa Artioli, granddaughter of the president of Lotus on the time and who gave her identify to the automobile.
The Elise was first launched in 1996 and has turn into one of many automaker’s most iconic fashions, with over 35,000 items offered. The most recent iteration of Elise is the Sport 240, with 240 hp and 181 lb-ft of torque. The modest energy is nicely balanced by the automobile’s mild weight, and it might nonetheless carry out the 0-60mph dash in a good 4.1 seconds.
Enzo Ferrari
The Enzo Ferrari is not any unusual supercar. It was Ferrari’s flagship from 2002 to 2013 when the LaFerrari arrived. At its coronary heart was a formidable 6.0-liter V12 engine that produced 651 hp and 485 lb-ft of torque – a heady determine on the time.
The Enzo Ferrari had the most effective automotive expertise accessible on the time and mixed it with classes discovered from the automaker’s System 1 automobiles to create the final word supercar. It’s subsequently not shocking that it bears the identify of the founding father of the corporate. Ferrari constructed 400 examples, and it stays a extremely sought-after collector’s merchandise in the present day.
Bugatti Chiron
Just like the Veyron, the Chiron was additionally named after a French racing driver. Born and raised in Monaco on the flip of the twentieth century, Louis Chiron was one of many first Grand Prix drivers. He owned a Bugatti Sort 35 Grand Prix automobile, with which he received a number of races.
Louis Chiron was additionally a part of the Bugatti manufacturing unit staff and was the automaker’s No. 1 driver for a number of years. The imperious Bugatti Chiron continued the place the Veyron left off when it got here to peak efficiency. Recognized for its spectacular straight line velocity, the Chiron is the primary manufacturing automobile to interrupt the 300 mph barrier.
Koenigsegg Jesko
The Koenigsegg Jesko is touted as one of many credible challengers to the Chiron’s 300mph world file. The identify of the hypercar is a tribute to the corporate’s founder, the daddy of Christian Von Koenigsegg. Jesko (pronounced Sure-koh) supported her son’s imaginative and prescient and even needed to promote the household house at one level to maintain Christian’s goals alive. It was a transfer that paid off as Koenigsegg firmly established itself within the hypercar area of interest as a number one producer of unimaginable performance-driven machines.
Mercedes Benz SLR McLaren Stirling Moss
The late Sir Stirling Moss was a British System 1 driver and member of the Worldwide Motorsports Corridor of Fame. He was a fierce competitor, profitable 212 of the 529 races he entered in numerous racing competitions. In 2009, Mercedes Benz acknowledged Sir Moss’ achievements by launching a limited-edition SLR McLaren supercar named in his honour.
The automobile, which lacks a roof and windshield, was drawn by Korean designer Yoon II-hun and impressed by the 1955 300 SLR racing automobile. In all, solely 75 items of the automobile have been made, every costing north of $1 million. It is greater than double the worth of a daily SLR roadster – and it is much more invaluable in the present day.
GMA T.50S Nikki Lauda
Gordon Murray, founding father of Gordon Murray Automotive, and Niki Lauda have been shut pals. Niki sadly handed away in 2019. To honor his pal’s reminiscence, Gordon determined to call his automobile after him. The GMA T.50S Niki Lauda is the track-only model of Gordon Murray’s extravagant T50 supercar.
It was unveiled on what would have been the 72nd birthday of F1 world champion Niki Lauda. The automobile is an excessive interpretation of a flexible monitor automobile – light-weight, extremely aerodynamic and 735bhp from a naturally aspirated V12. GMA plans to construct simply 25 items, every priced at round $4.3 million.
Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2 Balboni
Valentino Balboni is a former chief take a look at driver for Lamborghini. He served the corporate for 40 years earlier than retiring resulting from Italian authorities labor laws. To honor his heritage, Lamborghini determined to call a limited-edition Gallardo mannequin after him.
The Gallardo LP550-2 Balboni is rear-wheel-drive solely, and its naturally aspirated V10 engine is mated to a six-speed handbook gearbox. It is a package deal that provides a extra intense driving expertise than the usual Gallardo all-wheel-drive mannequin. The automaker constructed 250 Gallardo Balboni, all of which have been rapidly purchased up by keen consumers.
Brabham BT62
The Brabham BT62 is a track-focused hypercar with an uncompromising strategy to uncooked efficiency. It is little greater than a tubular metal body constructed round a 5.4-liter V8 that develops over 700 horsepower and 492 lb-ft of torque. The BT62 was initially designed as a track-only automobile.
Nevertheless, a street conversion package was later provided by the automaker after clients expressed a need to have the ability to drive the automobile on public roads as nicely. The BT62 shares its identify with the Brabham household. It is an Australian racing household that features David Brabham, the founding father of Brabham Automotive, and three-time System 1 champion Sir John Arthur Brabham.
