General Motors has long hinted at the possibility of producing supercars and hypercars, yet only a few concepts have emerged, notably the transition of the Corvette to a mid-engine format. However, with Cadillac’s recent endeavor to enter Formula 1, there seems to be a renewed enthusiasm for such high-performance vehicles in Detroit.
In an interview with Australia’s CarSales, GM’s global design chief, Michael Simcoe, expressed openness to creating a hypercar. "Could we build a hypercar? Yes. Would we like to build one? Yes. Are we building one? That would be giving too much away," he revealed.
Simcoe’s interest in a hypercar has reportedly intensified following Cadillac’s Formula 1 ambitions. This aligns with a trend observed in the automotive industry, where several hypercars from F1-affiliated brands leverage the sport’s technological advancements and marketing appeal. Iconic names like Ferrari and McLaren have historically utilized F1 technology, as seen recently with the Mercedes-AMG One. Additionally, Red Bull is also developing a hypercar designed by renowned F1 engineer Adrian Newey.
Simcoe didn’t outright dismiss the idea of a Cadillac hypercar, offering further insights. When asked whether such a vehicle would need to be electric, he stated, "No, it [hypercar] wouldn’t have to be [electric], but it could be."
Given the hybrid nature of modern F1 vehicles, it could be plausible for Cadillac to consider a hybrid hypercar, similar to the AMG One. The Corvette already boasts a well-designed mid-engine chassis and various V8 engine options, making it a suitable foundation for such a project. A hybrid variant of the Corvette Z06’s flat-plane crank V8 could potentially generate global interest alongside Cadillac’s F1 aspirations. However, it’s worth noting that Cadillac’s previous venture into building a performance car based on the Corvette—the XLR—was less successful.
With all the innovative concepts unveiled by GM over the years, this moment feels like the most promising opportunity for realizing a hypercar. GM is now better equipped than ever, thanks to advancements in powertrain and electric vehicle technology, and holds strong motivation to pursue this goal as it prepares for both the Le Mans race and an upcoming F1 entry.
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