Another cutting-edge Italian supercar

[mv]

The ground-breaking Mauro Forghieri-headed Project 1221 supercar, codenamed MF1, has the 1001bhp Bugatti Veyron firmly in its sights as it was revealed that it will have 'four digit power output'.

"Four digit power, four-wheel drive, a choice of manual or automatic gearbox, choice of only rear-wheel drive, the possibility to select power output and option choice to turn off traction control."These were some of the fresh new details to emerge today as the mysterious Project 1221 consortium 'dripped' out more information. Details that serve to make the whole project seem even more ground breaking.

Project 1221's press release today stated that "Planning and preparations are earnestly under way for the summer introduction of the marque or rather for the 'mise en scene' of the unveiling of the cryptic essence of Project 1221".

Chief engineer of Project 1221 is the legendary Mauro Forghieri, who will lead a dedicated development team that will also receive input from strategic engineering partner, Oral Engineering. Emanuele Nicosia, who now runs Design Service Network (DSN), a Swiss-based concern, heads up the design team, while Anna Visconti, who along with Nicosia founded Turin-based Beestudio in 1990, and is also a key player in DSN, will be responsible for the production development of the existing interior design concept. Lastly, Andreas Andrianos, is the Chief Executive of Project 1221, which will undertake the actual building, marketing and all the commercial aspects of this programme.

Today's media information, their third such release in the last month and a half, offered a small further insight into the technology of the project: "As to the MF1 itself we can confirm that it has four-digit horsepower and therefore not surprisingly, considering its intended role as an everyday car, permanent four-wheel-drive. Nevertheless, a rear-wheel-drive version - for the brave - is also being developed in parallel.

"Remaining in the transmission theme, the specification includes both manual and automatic gear change. As for the level of maximum available power, it could be instantly pre-selected by the driver according to varying conditions or whim.

In any case this feature is complemented by an 'on/off' traction control, which should be appreciated by most ", it concludes. Another helping of information from Project 1221, but this cutting-edge project still remains as mysterious as ever.

http://www.italiaspeed.com/2005/cars...1/02/2402.html

+ other articles : http://www.italiaspeed.com/2005/cars...1/01/2501.html
http://www.italiaspeed.com/2005/cars...1/01/0801.html

[komotar]

it sure sounds interesting......

And again, where else, the beast will be made near Modena.

I'd sure like to live around there. Paganis,Lambos,Ferraris and other fast stuff flying around all the time....

[ferrarif1fan89]

nice, but in terms of quality.......

[loliea]

More than 1000bhp? What for? Burn rubber? Beat a record? ...? This is stupid.
How about a Top Fuel with 8000 bhp on the road? Is that would be enought or you want the Saturn V engine?

Giving just the bhp is not enough to judge the overall perf of a car. A f1 is just 900 bhp (well officially...).

[loliea]

It's not that I don't like it in fact I like design the bi-color theme, but it is very heavy for a real super car (more than 1500 kg). So I really wonder if it's going to be the best in something else than top speed and 1/4 miles. But we will (maybe) know that soon !

For the 1500 bhp you are right but for 3 laps (qualification)... But it was a good achievement to extract 1500 bhp from a 1.5 liter engine.

[findleybeast]

this car sounds pretty interesting. I think it more amounts to automotive developers flexing their engineering muscles, but I would really laugh my ass off if this thing shames the bugatti...

[mv]

Originally Posted by ferrarif1fan89 nice, but in terms of quality.......

LOL... Have you heard of Pagani and its quality ?

And as to the output it's almost clear it will put out 1221hp . And since it is said to have an extremely low center of gravity I reckon it will be a boxer powerplant, probably a B12, most likely turbocharged.