Nilu27’s new 6.5-litre naturally aspirated V12 actually makes more power than it first thought

Back in 2024, ex-Lamborghini, Bugatti and Koenigsegg designer Sasha Selipanov showed us his vision for a swoopy analogue hypercar with a carbon tub, an open-gate manual gearbox and a 6.5-litre naturally aspirated V12.

And now that vision is a step closer to being realised, because said V12 has been fired up for the first time. Oh, and it actually makes more power than anticipated.

Nilu27 collaborated with Hartley Engines in New Zealand to develop the new unit, and it was originally anticipating an output of 1,055bhp. However, we’re now told that “initial dyno testing has already exceeded those projections, while reaching a spine-tingling 11,000rpm redline”. Lucky, because 1,055bhp really didn’t sound like enough power…

The engine gets a hot vee configuration but without any turbos, so there’s an 80-degree bank angle and those sculpture-like exhaust headers mounted between the cylinder heads. We’re also told that the hypercar – which seems to be from the Ferrari LaFerrari school of naming hypercars as it’s just called the Nilu hypercar – allows engine heat to escape through a fully exposed engine bay.

“This is the moment theory became reality,” said Selipanov.

“By firing-up this stunning V12 we didn't only prove our engineering capabilities, we delivered the soul of the Nilu. As most of the automotive world embraces digital and electric sterility, we’ve doubled down on the raw, visceral drama of high RPM, naturally aspirated internal combustion. The Nilu27/Hartley V12 will make our hypercar truly timeless. And we hope the video from our first dyno test will generate the same excitement among viewers as it did when we were present.”

You can test that yourself by watching (and listening) below. Meanwhile, the engine will be making its way from New Zealand to the Nilu27 production facility in Germany, where it’ll be slotted into the company’s first driving prototype.