Zenvo Aurora
Cast your mind way back to the year of 2007. Start-up Danish supercar manufacturer, Zenvo, developed their plans for their first project. In December of 2008, the ST1 concept arrived, before going into production one year later in 2009. Only 15 ST1s were ever made, with one infamously catching alight on an episode of TopGear. The brand then became very quiet, with discreet and unnoticed testing. In 2016, at the annual Geneva Motor Show, Zenvo revealed two new variants, namely the 1,100hp TS1 GT and the track-only TSR. These cars were extremely limited, and only reached a few customers. However, at the 2018 iteration of the Geneva Motor Show, Zenvo launched the TSR-S: something unlike the world had ever seen before. Yep, that car with the bonkers active wing, tilting from side to side in a feat of aerodynamic excellence.
However, after all these years, Zenvo is ready for the second chapter. Meet Aurora. The lightest and most powerful Zenvo ever made (which is no easy feat), is built from the ground up, with all new design language and marking a new era for the Danish manufacturer. To have an uncompromised market for both a sides, Zenvo went all out and has revealed two variants of the Aurora; the extreme, track focused Agil, and the sculpted, grand touring Tur. Both variations are powered by the same 6.6 litre quad-turbocharged V12, capable of producing 1,250 horsepower and revving up to 9,800rpm. Sounds like Zenvo would simply settle with this amount of power, right? Wrong. The engine is further enhanced by a triple-electric motor system, bumping the already staggering horspower up to 1,850, an increase of 600hp, making it the most powerful V12 powetrain ever within a road car. Impressive stuff. A seven-speed gearbox is present. The Agil, fitted with its high impact downforce, will be capable of stretching to a blistering 365km/h, however with the supposed ‘grand tourer’ Tur, the marvellous V12 will be able to fly past that mark, with a top speed of 450km/h. Both cars will feature a staggering 1.1 horsepower per kilogram, with incredible lightweight features thanks to the all new modular monocoque design. Each variation also feature an aerodynamically focused chassis, with airflow being able to be channelled under, over and through the structure. While the Tur lacks certain attributes of aerodynamics and adopts a more minimalistic design, the sculpted exterior and dynamics lead to a more comfortable driving experience, even at that 400+km/h mark. The Agil on the other hand, is clearly visually focused on producing maximum downforce, with track use more suitable for this variant. Throughout Zenvo’s statements, they thoroughly mention the philosophy “form follows function”, with the Aurora showcasing both elements in varying ways. Chief Designer Christian Brandt quotes “At Zenvo, we have some very clear design cues, which are carried forward with Aurora, and the new design language pushes the limits of what we could do with the packaging and aerodynamics. We have also been very focused on ensuring that we kept things Danish – less is more, and very simplistic”. He goes on to explain that the Agil was the first to be designed, with the challenge of tackling the complex systems of aerodynamics in a simplistic and ‘Danish’ way. The team were then able to undertake the design of the Tur, with a more elegant and subtle approach. These characteristics follow through into the cabin, especially in these launch specs. The Agil is very Darth Vader like, with the carbon tub and red seats moulded into the monocoque. The Tur, contrastingly, has utilises a classy tan leather interior, cladding sections of the wheel and seats - very nicely complementing the exterior shade.
The name Aurora is very fitting to this limited run of exclusive hypercars. There's an immense emotion and passion behind both variations, with catering for customers opting for the extreme or casual way of driving. The Aurora is a much needed addition to the Zenvo fleet, and is sure to be welcomed into the ever-expanding list of great automobiles. Only 50 of each variation will be made, with production beginning in 2025 and the first customer deliveries expected in 2026. Fingers are certainly crossed to see these on Australian streets.
