We got to know the Greek Spyros Panopoulos Automotive last year when it first announced its Project Chaos, the ultimate hypercar that would give rise to a whole new class of vehicles: the “ultracars” as their creators refer.
Now we have a first (still digital) look at the “ultracar” Chaos, as well as its specs and “crazy” numbers that even make the Devel Sixteen (the 5000 hp guy) stand up and pay attention.
Take a look at the Chaos “Earth Version”, the “input” version announces 2077 hp of power and 1389 Nm of torque (limiter expected to be between 10 000 rpm and 11 000 rpm), 7.9s to reach… 300 km /h, over 500 km/h top speed and less than 8.1s in the classic quarter mile (faster than the Rimac Nevera).
The Chaos "Zero Gravity", the supreme version of this ultracar, announces 3106 hp and 1983 Nm (limiter expected to be between 11 800 rpm and 12 200 rpm), an incredible 1.55s to reach 100 km/h, 7.1s until at 300 km/h and the quarter mile is (theoretically) decimated in 7.5s!
Modesty is a word the SP Automotive Chaos doesn't know.
The fantastic numbers announced are obtained thanks to a V10 (at 90º) with 4.0 l capacity, supercharged by two turbochargers, which sends all its power to the four wheels of Chaos through a dual-clutch gearbox with “seven or eight speeds ”, as you can read on the SP Automotive website.
Exotic materials and 3D printing to make fantasy come true
In addition to these, at the very least, astonishing statements that will necessarily have to find an echo in the physical world, the other major point of interest in Chaos is its construction and the materials with which it is made.
SP Automotive Chaos relies mostly on additive manufacturing, more commonly known as 3D printing, to ensure that it extracts maximum performance from each component without causing excessive mass.
Just look at the announced values of 1388 kg (we don't know if they are dry or if they already include fluids) for the Chaos “Earth Version” and the much more impressive 1272 kg for the Chaos “Zero Gravity”, impressive values for a «monster» of power, with four-wheel drive — a Bugatti Chiron with 1500 hp "jumps" to two tons, for example.
To achieve this feat, 3D printing allowed to optimize the design of the most varied parts, creating intricate “sculptures” (see the engine crankshaft below, for example) that require much less material without losing the necessary strength characteristics.
Engine crankshaft or abstract sculpture?
3D printing, in a process named by SP Automotive Anadiaplasi, was used on almost everything, from the block and various parts to the engine (some options will only be available in the “Zero Gravity” version), such as for 78% of the bodywork, passing by the 21″ and 22″ wheels, brake calipers, or by the four exhausts.
The materials used, printed or not, are not far behind in terms of spectacularity. Carbon fiber almost looks vulgar when we see Chaos resorting to titanium and magnesium alloys, carbon-kevlar, inconel (for the exhausts) or the use of zylon (synthetic polymer) for the monocoque.
The suspension of overlapping double wishbones, for example, can be in titanium or magnesium alloy and the brake discs in carbon-ceramic (442-452 mm at the front, depending on the version and 416-426 mm at the rear), bit by calipers in titanium or magnesium.
It doesn't look like it, but it's big
The SP Automotive Chaos features an "ultra" aggressive design, but aerodynamically optimized, making use, for example, of Venturi tunnels. In this first digital visualization, there is the perception of being even compact in its dimensions, but it is precisely the opposite.
The “ultracar” is bigger than practically the super and hypersports, announcing 5,053 m in length, 2,068 m in width and a meager 1,121 m in height. The wheelbase is a long 2,854 m.
The complete car that we see in the images is only a digital reproduction, but we cannot fail to mention the practically non-existent height to the ground and the large front span that make it impossible to overcome even the smallest bump. We'll have to wait for the first real copy to find out how close this digital version is.
The interior is as exotic as the exterior, for just two occupants. The steering wheel, printed in 3D as it is clear, looks more like an airplane stick and integrates a touchscreen. There are some physical controls in the middle and the passenger is also entitled to a screen.
Like the exterior, the materials used for the interior couldn't be more exotic. From carbon fiber to zylon, passing through titanium and magnesium, and Alcantara coatings could not be lacking.
The technological content announced by SP Automotive for Chaos is also surprising: VR glasses, augmented reality, 5G connectivity, fingerprint recognition and facial recognition cameras (which allow you to read facial expressions that allow you to adapt Chaos driving to the mood and driver skills) will be part of your arsenal.
Deliveries start in 2022
As you would expect, production of the Chaos will be quite limited, with SP Automotive announcing a maximum of 20 units… per continent. Considering the exoticism of the materials and construction, and the limited production, it is not surprising that its price starts in the seven-digit range.
The Chaos "Earth Version" starts at 5.5 million euros, but the most exotic (used materials and construction) Chaos "Zero Gravity" sees its price rise to an astronomical 12.4 million euros!
Fantasy or reality?
The announced specs and performance for the Chaos are “out of this world”, but Spyros Panopoulos Automotive, while new, has a real 23-year history of innovation when considering the work of its eponymous founder, Spyros Panopoulos.
His experience in materials and construction techniques won him over in the competition and tuning world (he was the owner of eXtreme Tuners) and he even collaborated with several car manufacturers in the development and production of various parts with high performance specifications for engines of internal combustion.
It is certain that only when we see Chaos being properly and independently tested — Spyros Panopoulos himself has already said that he would provide an example to be tested by Top Gear — will we be able to remove this “ultracar” and the numbers it advertises from the «fantasy world» where they seem to be.