If you happen to live anywhere outside the United States, then you can be excused for knowing little or nothing about this extraordinary automotive project called the DiMora Natalia SLS 2.
When Alfred DiMora first launched the project some years ago, it was billed as the world’s first US$2 million production automobile.
But we suspect that pitch is now well and truly out of date, given there are a several supercars including the Bugatti Grand Sport and Aston Martin’s ONE-77, both of which, cost more than US$2 million.
However, the Natalia SLS 2 will be an unusual mix of brains and brawn with its variable cylinder, all-alloy DiMora Volcano V16 engine delivering close to 900kW (1200bhp) through to four steerable 24-inch wheels shod with innovative flat-free tyres.
The Natalia’s chassis and body will be ultra lightweight design using aerospace composites and structures and the multitude of unique systems on board will be run by over 60 computers.
Features such as state of the art operational, navigational, computer, communication and entertainment will power the likes of individual climate conditions, which means that when parked, the car will be kept cool or warm, depending on the weather conditions.
The cup holders are interesting too, they’ll either heat or cool your drinks and for those handicapped passengers, the front passenger seat will slide to the right, rotate 90 degrees, and lower the passenger to the footpath.
While all this is very interesting, there’s not a lot more we can tell you about the car other the engine specifications and a little about the founder of DiMora Motorcar, Alfred DiMora.
He’s certainly not new to the luxury automotive world, having created two of America’s finest automobiles, the Clenet and the Sceptre.
You probably haven’t heard of his company Star Bridge Systems either, which developed the hypercomputers used by high-tech leaders such as NASA, Langley Research Centre and The National Cancer Institute, to name but a few.
The first Natalia SLS prototype is currently under construction with completion due in 2010.
The worldwide debut will most likely be held in Beverly Hills, California, which will be followed by appearances at auto shows in New York, Geneva, Dubai.
We’ll keep you posted on the car’s progress.
The DiMora Volcano V16 Engine
Engine type: 14.0 Liter V16
Displacement: 14018 cc (855.3 cubic inches)
V-angle: 100 degrees
Compression ratio: 11.0:1
Valve configuration: Overhead valves, 4 per cylinder
Valve lifters: Hydraulic roller
Firing order: 1-12-8-11-7-14-5-16-4-15-3-10-6-9-2-13
Bore x stroke: 104.78 x 101.6 mm
Fuel system: Sequential fuel injection
Fuel type: Premium unleaded
Horsepower: 1200 hp (SAE Certified)
Torque: 900 lb-ft (SAE Certified)
Fuel shut off: 6500 rpm
Block: 356-T6 sand cast aluminum
Cylinder bores: Linerless Nicom coated parent aluminum
Cylinder head: 356-T6 sand cast aluminum
Intake manifold: Carbon runner and plenum, dual throttle body
Exhaust manifold: 321 Stainless steel headers
Main bearing caps: Billet steel
Crankshaft: Billet 4340 steel
Camshaft: Billet 8620 VAR steel
Connecting rods: Forged 4340 steel
Pistons: Forged 4032 aluminum
Valves: Forged titanium