Rimac knows that there is always room for improvement.
That’s why the Croatian marque unveiled the Nevera R, a high-performance version of its electric hypercar, at this year’s Monterey Car Week. Somehow, the company found a way to wring even more power out of the EV’s quad-motor powertrain.
Let’s get this out of the way: the Nevera is a car that does not need a high-performance variant (last year’s Time Attack edition was a limited-edition release, not a distinct model). The EV, which has been in production since 2022, has a quad-motor powertrain that generates a hair-raising 1,914 hp and 1,726 ft lbs of torque. It is one of the most potent cars, electric or not, ever built. It’s also fast by nearly any measurement, accelerating from zero to 62 mph in 1.81 seconds and capable of reaching a top speed of 256 mph. But that wasn’t enough for the automaker’s founder and namesake, Mate Rimac.
Rimac Nevera R
Rimac
Enter the Nevera R, a new model that Rimac claims sees the EV evolve from a “hyper GT” to a “hyper sports car.” The two Nevera’s may look similar, but the new version has a revised aero package that includes a fixed rear wing. The changes improve aerodynamic performance by 10 percent and produce 30 percent more downforce. The quartet of motors that make up the powertrain have been redesigned and now get their juice from a “performance-oriented battery system.” Thanks to these two changes, output has been boosted by nearly 200 hp to 2,107 horses (no torque figure was announced, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if it is higher as well). It’s also equipped with the company’s next-generation All-Wheel Torque system, which allows for instant torque vectoring, and upgraded brakes, and wears a set of specially engineered staggered Michelin Cup 2 tires.
Thanks to all these changes, the Nevera R can rocket from zero to 60 mph in 1.74 seconds, zero to 124 mph in 4.38 seconds and zero to 186 mph in 8.66 seconds. The vehicle’s top speed still stands at 256 mph, but those are wildly impressive numbers. This also means that the Nevera, at least as far as Rimac is concerned, is the first production car that accelerates faster than it brakes (or decelerates).
Rimac
Interested in Rimac’s latest speed machine? The company currently plans to build 40 examples of the Nevera R. Unsurprisingly, they won’t come cheap. MotorTrend reports that the EV will start at around $2.5 million, which is around $300,000 more than the standard version.
