Chinese automotive research and development company Techrules has recruited Italian design and engineering partners as it seeks to launch the country's first supercar.
Designers Giorgetto and Fabrizio Giugiaro, and engineering and production specialist L.M. Gianetti, will help Techrules with the development and production of a supercar based on the GT96 concept that was unveiled at the Geneva auto show in March.
The production version of the 1,030-hp GT96, which uses turbine-recharging electric power, will debut at the Geneva show next March by which time "Techrules and its partners will be finalizing the supercar's development and fine-tuning its manufacturing processes," the company said in a statement.
"The level of interest in our technology and our next-generation electric cars proves that we have a formula that can make a major impact," Techrules Chairman William Jin said in the statement.
L.M. Gianetti’s facilities include the capability for small series production, with an initial capacity of 25 units per year.
L.M. Gianetti, founded in 1966, is known for its engineering work on Italian brands including Fiat, Fiat's Abarth subbrand and Alfa Romeo, and more recently in motorsport.
The Giugiaro family designed some of the world's most iconic cars for brands such as Ferrari, Bugatti, Aston Martin and Maserati. Last year, Giorgetto said he was striking out alone when he severed connections with Volkswagen Group after selling the remaining part of his Italdesign styling and engineering company to VW Group’s Audi division. Fabrizio and Giorgetto have set up a new company called GFG Progetti.
The GT96 has a turbine-recharging hybrid powertrain that uses a micro-turbine to generate electricity to charge a battery pack. The battery powers the motors that drive the wheels. The powertrain's high efficiency means that fewer batteries are needed, saving weight and space.
Techrules has been testing a development prototype of the GT96 at the Silverstone race circuit in England. Initial projections show the production car could accelerate from 0 to 100kph (62 mph) in 2.5 seconds.
