Zenvo Aurora Arrives With 280-MPH Top Speed And World's Most Powerful V12

• 6.6-liter quad-turbo V12 plus up to three electric motors (up to 1,850 horsepower/1,254 lb-ft of torque)
• 0-62 mph in 2.3 seconds, top speed up to 280 mph
• Available in lightweight Agil and grand touring Tur specification
• Limited to 100 units, production being in 2026

Meet the all-new Zenvo Aurora hypercar. Hailing from Danish automaker Zenvo, it boasts the world's most powerful V12 ever fitted to a road car, a 6.6-liter quad-turbo (yes, four!) V12 generating 1,250 hp on its own, augmented by a hybrid system for combined outputs of up to 1,850 hp. That extra help comes from either two or three electric motors, each generating 200 hp. As standard, the V12 is supplemented by only one, mounted in the seven-speed transmission, but optional on the Agil model and standard on the Tur, you get an additional two motors, one on either front wheel. That means you can have the Zenvo Aurora in either 1,450-hp RWD form or full-fat 1,850-hp AWD guise. The former boasts 1,033 lb-ft of torque, while the latter has 1,254 lb-ft of twist and active front torque vectoring. And the motor revs to 9,800 rpm.

Its performance claims include a 0-62 mph time of 2.3 seconds and a top speed of 280 mph.

To tie it all together, it weighs as little as 2,866 pounds dry in its lightest form, while the AWD variant tips the scales at a dry weight of 3,197 lbs.

Designed in-house by Christian Brandt, the Aurora is based on an all-new Zenvo ZM1 modular carbon fiber monocoque. The two powertrain options above correlate with two variations of the Aurora's design. The more traditionally beautiful one (green car pictured) is the Tur (touring) specification, which gets an abundance of power by default and is also aimed towards cross-continental touring with greater comfort and luxury. It looks less aggressive, with smoother body surfaces, a simpler bumper and front spoiler, and no massive rear wing.

Conversely, the Agil (agile) specification goes all out with a gargantuan wing aiding its generation of 1,940 lbs of downforce at 155 mph, with the rest derived from clever bodywork that reminds us of the Aston Martin Valkyrie.

Despite being lighter (albeit at the expense of power), the aerodynamic downforce it generates decreases its straight-line performance figures. 0-62, 124, and 186 mph take 2.5-, 4.6-, and 10 seconds, respectively, and its top speed is only 227 mph. Comparatively, the Aurora Tur hits 62 mph in 2.3 seconds and 186 mph in nine dead. It'll top out at 280 mph, cresting 248 mph from a standstill in 17 seconds. That's more than three seconds quicker than the Koenigsegg Regera.

Part of this comes down to the differing transmissions, too. While both share the same seven-speed hybridized gearbox, the gearing and shift programming of the two vary. The Agil, for example, behaves more like a sequential 'box and features more mechanical-feeling shifts, while the Tur's gearbox tuning is far smoother. In either case, electronic gearshift dampening lets you adjust the ferocity of shifts from within the cabin.

Only 100 Zenvo Auroras will be built, 50 in each spec, with production starting in 2026.

Chock-full of Formula 1 technology, not only does the Aurora have open bodywork that lets air flow through the car (not just around it), but it features pushrod front suspension. The rear setup comprises double wishbones with active springs, displayed through gaps in the rear bodywork.

The bodywork is all carbon fiber, but much of the vehicle isn't comprised of bolted-on panels. Instead, approximately 70% of the Aurora's 'body' is the exposed monocoque chassis, one of the stiffest in the world. It boasts 63,000 Nm per degree of torsional rigidity, yet it weighs less than 265 lbs.

Just as the powertrains and exterior designs differ between the two, so do the interiors. The Agil can attribute some of its weight loss to the stripped-out cabin, which is also devoid of 'unnecessary luxury' - exactly what's been tossed out has not been confirmed. However, it does include some paneling and padding as the carbon fiber monocoque has been left exposed in multiple places, and leather has been replaced by a "lightweight technical material" on the seats and portions of the doors and dash.

The Tur boasts 'tactile materials' like leather and aluminum, and there's additional sound deadening to lend it a proper GT character.

Instead of placing an infotainment screen on the dash, everything is located ahead of the driver, with three displays including a prominent central tachometer, while the left-hand display is the infotainment and includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality.

The engine and electric motor systems were developed for Zenvo by powertrain specialist Mahle. The 200-hp e-motor in the transmission helps torque-fill to compensate for turbo lag from the quad-turbo V12 while also acting as the reverse mechanism. Furthermore, it can propel the Aurora for up to 22 miles on electric power alone.

"Throttle feel and responsiveness were a major focus for the whole team, and a significant amount of work has taken place on the dynamics, and the integration between the electric motors and the engine, to make this as seamless as possible," explains Jens Sverdrup, Chief Commercial Officer at Zenvo. "This is also the reason why the powertrain features four smaller turbos, rather than the more conventional two [so they can spool up quicker]." He goes on to make the bold claim that the Aurora will "offer a more direct and better throttle response than a naturally aspirated engine."

The 6.6-liter, 90-degree hot-vee engine, named Mjolner after the hammer of Thor, utilizes Mahle Jet Ignition, reducing the need for overfuelling, meaning the Zenvo Aurora is Euro 7 emissions compliant. It can also run on synthetic fuel, which may be the only way for combustion to survive past 2035 in Europe.