Rimac Nevera: World’s fastest, road-legal EV now in UAE

Image credit: Supplied

Rimac Automobili’s Nevera, the world’s first luxury, electric hypercar was launched in the UAE by Al Habtoor Motors on Wednesday.

Unveiled at a special preview event at the Al Habtoor Polo Resort, the Nevera was presented by Sultan Al Habtoor, president of Al Habtoor Motors, and Mate Rimac, founder and CEO of Rimac Group.

World records

The Rimac Nevera, when launched as a concept in 2021, upended the automotive car industry imagination with its potential, and since then has gone on to become the “ultimate record-breaking hypercar.”

With an impressive 1,914 horsepower and a 0-100 kilometres per hour acceleration (km/h) in just 1.8 seconds, this powerful machine holds the top EV speed record along with the record for the fastest speed driving in reverse (275.74 km/h).

Among other records, it has performed a 0-200km/h sprint in 4.42 seconds, a 300km/h in 9.22 seconds, and reached 400km/h in 21.31 seconds. The hypercar even outperformed itself clocking 1.81 seconds for 0-100km/h — four seconds faster than its official acceleration specification.

“I am proud to say that the car we’ve created can get to 400km/h and back to 0 in less time than it took the McLaren F1 to accelerate up to 350km/h,” Mate Rimac, founder and CEO of the company, said in a statement in 2023. “And not only that, but it can do it again and again, breaking every other performance record in the process. If you had a Nevera and access to a track, you could do it too.”

Rimac Nevera: Performance at a glance

The hypercar, first showcased in the UAE during Expo 2020, has four surface-mounted permanent magnet motors driving each wheel individually, which is combined with a pair of single-speed gearboxes connected to the front and rear wheels. This combination provides precise control and optimum power delivery to each wheel.

This is layered with a Rimac All-Wheel Torque Vectoring 2 system, overseen by an NVIDIA Pegasus-based supercomputer, ensures dynamic handling and performance. The package, was hence rightly called by those lucky enough to get their hands on it, “the most incredible thing felt on the road.”

Design and features:

The production of Nevera is based in Croatia, the founder’s home country.

Its exteriors draw inspiration from Croatian heritage with the intakes on its sides styled to resemble a cravat — a Croatian invention dating to the 16th century.

Interior refinement: The car features a lavishly appointed cabin with premium materials, offer luxurious comfort and a driver-centric layout.

Range:

The Rimac Nevera boasts long-range capabilities despite its power consumption.

It offers over 300 miles or 480 kilometres of driving range on a single charge, making it suitable for extended journeys. Rimac explained, “When we set out to engineer the Nevera, our performance targets were incredibly ambitious, and we’ve now managed to overshoot all of them. What I’m most proud of though, is that this isn’t a car purely designed for straight line performance.”

“The Nevera can go from breaking records to driving over 300 miles on a charge, re-charging from 0-80 per cent in less than 20 minutes and keeping the most demanding drivers in the world engaged. The Nevera is a fully rounded next generation hypercar that has been praised time and again by the world’s media for reinventing the world of performance. Not just faster than traditional competitors, but, surprising for a fully electric car, engaging and capable too.” he added.

Rapid charging:

Recharges from 0-80 per cent in less than 20 minutes, ensuring minimal downtime and maximum convenience for drivers.

With its record-breaking acceleration, long-range capabilities, and meticulous craftsmanship, the Nevera sets a new standard for electric hypercars. Joseph Tayar, director of Al Habtoor Motors Prestige Division said, “It is with great enthusiasm that we introduce the Nevera to the UAE, as we proudly join forces with Rimac as their official partner.”

As a region known for its passion for exclusive supercars, we are thrilled to bring this exceptional model to our customers. Electric cars represent the evolution of automotive technology, and the Nevera symbolises this with its unparalleled performance and lavish refinement.”

The Rimac Nevera redefines the hypercar segment, blending record-breaking performance with luxury and sustainability. Rimac will reportedly produce only 150 Nevera cars with a price tag of $2.1m each.

Here’s a video of Formula 1 driver Nico Rosberg with the Rimac Nevera on the streets of Monaco: