Automotive startup Nilu27 just fired up its bespoke 6.5-liter naturally aspirated V12 engine on the dyno. The audio is completely absurd. The company confirmed the powerplant eclipsed its initial 1,070-horsepower design target while revving to an ear-splitting 11,000 RPM.
This is an analog rebellion in a digital era. Founded by legendary designer Sasha Selipanov, Nilu27 strictly rejects electrification and forced induction. They want raw combustion. And they are pairing this high-revving monster strictly with a traditional seven-speed manual transmission.
The “Hot V” Engineering Architecture
Most modern supercars hide their engines under plastic covers. Nilu27 puts the mechanical violence on display. The engine utilizes a “Hot V” layout where the exhaust manifolds sit directly between the cylinder heads. This configuration allows intense heat to escape straight upward through an exposed rear engine bay.
The initial flawless run took place on June 17, handled by New Zealand-based partner Hartley Engines. According to the official press release data, the unit is actively undergoing final bench refinement before shipping to Lahr, Germany. There, it gets installed into the first driving prototype.
But here is where the story gets really interesting. Because of these successful early results, Nilu27 and Hartley Engines are reportedly in active talks to supply these high-performance internal combustion units to other boutique automakers. Demand for non-electrified powerplants is quietly surging.
Why a Clean-Sheet V12 is Extremely Rare
Indie startups usually buy off-the-shelf crate engines. Developing a bespoke, large-displacement V12 requires custom casting and advanced metallurgical engineering. That level of research is traditionally reserved for legacy European marques with bottomless budgets.
As detailed in a historical rarity analysis, achieving this from scratch puts Nilu27 in an exclusive club. They aren’t relying on quad-turbo setups like the 1,250-hp Zenvo Aurora Tur. Instead, they are directly challenging the absolute peak of analog engineering.
We are talking about direct rivalry with the Aston Martin Valkyrie and the Gordon Murray Automotive T.50. You can see exactly how this engine stacks up against those naturally aspirated legends by checking the exceeded horsepower targets published this week.
The Verdict
If you have $3.5 million to spend on a hypercar, the Nilu27 demands your attention. The brand plans to build just 15 track-only variants before shifting focus to 54 street-legal units assembled by the Aria Group in Irvine, California. The automotive world assumed the naturally aspirated V12 was dead. Nilu27 just proved it still has plenty of life left.