[mondi]

New supercar comes with a 7.0 liter V8 from Chevrolet with 600hp and 600 Nm of torque

The story: There is a guy in New Zealand who one day decided to build a supercar and take on the likes of Ferrari and Lamborghini. Just like that.

The man is 68 year-old Jock Freemantle and the result has now been unveiled at the New Zealand Z1GP- the 300km/h, 700,000 US dollar-priced Hulme CanAm supercar.

The car is named after former Formula One champion Denny Hulme, a New Zealander, and is powered by a 7.0 liter V8 engine from Chevrolet with 600 hp and 600 Nm of torque. It is orange. It is fast. We're not quite sure what else it is.

Freemantle has invested a lot in this project and so have many of his associates. He has sold his house to finance it and others have contributed their life savings. He says he's praying for success and admits that the most difficult part will be selling the car rather than building it. You don't build a brand name for a supercar that easily.

You can follow the source links below to read the stories for more. Or you can wait and see if this thing has any chance at success in this global market when even the long-established luxury brands are taking a beating in their glossy showrooms.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4828959a30.html

[PA]

That's nice.

[dkabab]

what an awesome car..... BUT how much???? dont think they will sell too many at that price.
is it really a 700k US car? surely not.

i hope they can keep the price down and get some sales.... would be great to see them sold

[mondi]

Jock Freemantle, the 68-year-old Kiwi behind the Hulme CanAm, sent us an e-mail about last week's official unveiling of the supercar.  Freemantle was joined by scores of people, including Auckland Mayor John Banks, racecar driver Kenny Smith, vehicle engineers, and other excited supporters.

We first told you about the 600 horsepower Hulme CanAm back in February.  Named after Kiwi F1 Champ Denny Hulme, the car uses Chevrolet's 7.0-liter V8 which produces a maximum of 600 Nm of torque.  Freemantle's two-seater supercar has a top speed believed to be between 300 (186.4mph) and 320 km/h (198.8mph), and looks like it can haul ass around a racing circuit.

Five party attendees won the chance to be whipped around during a speed lap, but rainy weather meant the laps had to be postponed.  To date, the vehicle has been tested on five different New Zealand circuits, and has also been driven around New Zealand.  The day after the party, Freemantle took Mayor John Banks for a ride over the Auckland Harbour Bridge.

At US$700,000, the price could be the biggest deterrent in purchasing the car.  But we wish these upstarts the best of luck, as they try to bring their supercar to market in Europe and the Middle East.

http://www.worldcarfans.com/9090608.013/hulme-canam-supercar-hits-the-road-after-launch-party


<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2_LaSEkGWY" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2_LaSEkGWY</a>

[flamestone]

Denny Hulme died of natural causes, unlike many F1 drivers of his era, so I guess that's a good omen.   

[AshSimmonds]

http://www.carsguide.com.au/site/news-and-reviews/car-news/hulme_canam_nz_supercar?utm_source=ndmhouse&utm_medium=cpc&utm_content=newsfooter

Two Australian buyers have already signed up for a chance to own an F1-inspired road-going supercar.

They are among just 20 lucky buyers globally who will be able to slide behind the wheel of the $515,000 Hulme CanAm.

The cars are being built by Auckland-based developer-manufacturer, Hulme Supercars, with delivers expected to start late next year. Hulme managing director, Jack "Jock" Freemantle, says the two Australians are among many global enthusiasts who want the car.

"As far as interests goes, it is from everywhere," he says. "As far as potential buyers, they will probably be from the Middle East, Europe and China." However, Freemantle says it's early days. "We have only just gone on the market," he says. Freemantle is confident the CanAm will be a sellout and expects it to have few rivals. "It will be built to the Pagani Zonda quality," he says.

So far Hulme has built one test car - Bear 1 - and has started building its second test and homologation car. The hand-built CanAm will be the only production road car to bear the name of F1 World Champion, Denny Hulme. Created for both road and track use, the car shares much with a Formula 1 racing car. It has an ultra-lightweight carbon composite tub and bodywork, and race-orientated chassis, suspension and braking.

Performance is guaranteed courtesy of a General Motors 7.0-litre V8. The 448kW/600Nm eight-cylinder will be mated to a close-ratio, six-speed CIMA manual gearbox or six-speed automatic. The light-weight two-seater tips the scales at 980kg, slightly more than a Suzuki Alto. This combination promises a sub-3.5-second sprint to 100kmh, and top speed of more than 300km/h.

Despite its race car credentials, Freemantle says the car has been designed and developed to as comfortable on the road as the track. Prospective buyers will be able to fly to New Zealand business class to finalise the fitting and check it out on the road before the car is shipped to its destination. All cars will be numbered and owners will get a full dossier of the car's manufacture, including photos.

The CanAm concept, in coupe form, was first shown at the 2006 Goodwood Festival of Speed. Because of the interest in the car Hulme conducted extensive research to assess demand. Freemantle opted for an open-top version to celebrate Hulme's victories of the Can Am Championship in 1968 and 1970. For Denny's widow Greeta the CanAm is a fitting tribute to her late husband. "Jock's desire to honour Denny's life with this unique car has been matched by his irrepressible enthusiasm and passion to create it," she says.