Having broken 23 world records for speed and performance in a single day in 2023, the Rimac Nevera electric hypercar is often described by out-of-this-world numbers and specifications. 1,914 horsepower. 0 to 100 km/h in 1.74 seconds. 400 km/h in 29.93 seconds, 1.5 seconds faster than the Koenigsegg Regera. And of course, its price of 2.5 million euros. However, Rimac is much more than a company looking to dazzle you with impressive numbers around electric hypercars.
Ferrari F40 engineers worked on the Nevera
The Nevera may be a new car, but to create the perfect driving dynamics, the development team enlisted the help of test drivers and engineers who worked on the Ferrari F40 and other icons of the 1980s “Our team has absorbed the expertise and 'old school touch' of these veterans,” explains a Rimac representative.
Each Nevera contains 26 kilometers of cables
There are 90 cable bundles in each Nevera, for a total of approximately 26 kilometers of cable, 10,000 crimps and more than 1,600 connectors. Each harness is produced in-house, as relying on external partners would only increase costs and lead times, a rare approach for an automaker.
The Nevera contains enough carbon fiber to cover a mansion
If you stretched all of the Nevera's carbon fibers end to end, they would cover an area of approximately 880 square meters, or a large mansion. “The Nevera's monocoque chassis accounts for most of this surface area,” explains a Rimac representative, “being the largest piece of carbon fiber in the industry. It weighs less than 200 kg and is made of more than 2,200 layers of carbon fiber. »
The Nevera's benchmark car roster is supercar heaven
Developed over five years, focusing intensely on driving sensations from the first test cars, a multitude of supercars were used as benchmarks. Among them :
Mate Rimac mishandled a prototype off-road
When a prototype was scheduled for a crash test, Mate Rimac thought it was the perfect opportunity to have some off-road fun before “throwing it against a wall,” according to Rimac. One weekend, he personally manhandled him on the dirt and gravel construction areas where the Rimac campus was being built. “But on Monday, the engineers informed him that this particular car no longer needed to be crashed. Oops…” said a Rimac representative.
Rimac crashed 11 test mules during Nevera homologation
The first mechanized test mule (internally nicknamed “MMU”) was signed by all company employees before being sent for the first crash test, which was a success. “In total, we crashed 11 cars during homologation,” explains a Rimac representative. “We had other prototypes for various tests, some designed for heavy use, traveling over 50,000 kilometers, and those are still in service. »
Many Easter eggs in the Rimac
On each Nevera there are two details carefully integrated into the glass. “One of them says ‘ICE BREAKER’, which is open to interpretation,” laughs the Rimac representative. “The other, we will let customers discover for themselves. » Under the hood, there is a hidden sticker with the signatures of all employees involved in the Nevera. On the Nevera Time Attack, a limited edition of 12 cars in homage to the world record-breaking variant, look under the spoiler to see a cool tagline: “Dedicated to those who come after us.” »
La Nevera was almost called Marlera
“We were looking for a naming system rather than a single name, something we could build on,” says a Rimac representative. “In the end, Nevera was the perfect choice. It's a Croatian word for a fierce Mediterranean lightning storm that strikes unexpectedly, paying homage to our heritage. » However, one of the alternatives considered was a collection of Croatian lighthouse names – more than 70 dot the Adriatic coast. “Our favorite of these was Marlera,” the rep said.
The Rimac team celebrated the 23 world records in an unusual way
On the night of the top speed record, the small team on site in Papenburg, Germany, gathered at the hotel to watch the Chris Harris episode featuring the Nevera, which aired on Top Gear this that evening. “Hearing one of our automotive heroes praise the Nevera and knowing that we had just set a new speed record for an electric car made it a memorable evening,” the representative said.
The Nevera's battery is its most expensive component
Rimac hasn't released specific figures, but the Nevera's 120 kWh extreme battery costs about the price of a new luxury family sedan.
More than 150 people work for six months to assemble a Nevera
Each Nevera and the majority of its components are manufactured and assembled at Rimac headquarters in Croatia. This includes production of carbon fiber parts, trims, paint shop, battery modules and packs, wiring harnesses, electronics, drivetrain components, vehicle assembly and all warehouse management and final quality controls. By the time each vehicle is completed, more than 150 people will have worked on it, which takes at least six months – longer if customizations are requested – and about a year after ordering.
The Rimac Nevera pushes the boundaries of what an electric hypercar can achieve. With its record-breaking performance, stunning design and cutting-edge technologies, it perfectly embodies the avant-garde vision of Mate Rimac and his team. As the company continues to grow and innovate, there is no doubt that the Nevera will go down in history as a major milestone in the history of electric automobiles.
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