F1 racing legend and Indy 500 champion Emerson Fittipaldi has joined forces with Italian design company Pininfarina and German engineering firm HWA AG to produce this stunning hypercar, the Fittipaldi EF7 Vision Gran Turismo.
The ultra-light, all carbon fibre supercar, is the first car to be released under the Fittipaldi Motors marque and has a sleek design inspired by the lines of a shark, with an extraordinary power-to-weight ratio. It has been designed as a racer that is supposedly so easy to use, it can be operated by non-professional drivers.
The sequential gearbox is an integral part of the vehicle structure and helps achieve that ultra-light car weight
Alex Howe
The mid-engine powertrain, designed by HWA for the EF7, has a 4.8-litre naturally aspirated V8 racing engine that runs up to 9,000rpm to put out 600hp. Torque of 420Nm is reached at 6,000rpm. The sequential gearbox itself is an integral part of the vehicle structure and helps accomplish a minimum car weight.
The EF7 exceeds the FIA safety standards, with a carbon monocoque and integrated roll structure. The interior, also designed by Pininfarina, has two seats with six-point racing harnesses. The seats are not adjustable, but the steering column and pedal box are. The steering wheel with shift paddles even has a quick release system so it can be removed when getting in and out of the car.
A racing display puts up all relevant information and instead of an interior rearview mirror, the EF7 uses a rearview camera with a corresponding display. Polycarbonate windows also reduce the weight of this 1,000kg car. While an integrated adjustable rear wing, adjustable anti-roll bars, race brakes and race suspension, plus adjustable traction control and ABS makes the EF7 potentially capable of being handled by both professional and non-pro drivers.
Fittipaldi has long wanted to produce a track-racing car for drivers of all skill levels. “I have tried for years to explain to others what it feels like to be behind the steering wheel of a championship racecar. This is what our team created in the EF7 Vision Gran Turismo by Pininfarina,” he said.
Italian design company Pininfarina designed the Fittipaldi EF7 to resemble a shark
Alex Howe
The EF7 will have a limited production, with every EF7 owner having the opportunity to benefit from personal coaching by Emerson Fittipaldi himself and move up a driver-training ladder designed by the racing champion.
Only 39 EF7 hypercars will be produced – one for each of Fittipaldi’s racing wins
Alex Howe
As the cost of the car is likely to be beyond most household budgets, gamers will also have the opportunity to drive the EF7 in the virtual world as the car will appear in Gran Truism Sport and feature the same characteristics as the real track car.
WIRED recently got exclusive, behind-the-scenes access to the Fittipaldi EF7 Vision Gran Turismo by Pininfarina. Subscribe to WIRED to be among the first to get your hands on the June issue.
Specifications
Vehicle Dimension: 4600mm length x 1980mm width x 1125 height
Wheelbase: 2700mm
Ground Clearance: 60mm
Weight: 1,000 ± 50kg
Weight distribution: 48% front, 52% rear
Transmission: 6-speed sequential
Engine Type: V8
Max power: 600bhp/8250rpm
Max Torque: 510Nm/6000rpm