Elemental RP1 Wants To Challenge The Veyron’s Benchmark Acceleration Feats

Since the Veyron’s launch, its blistering 0-60 mph time has been the benchmark for high-performance cars and has only been matched or beaten by a select few, like the Ariel Atom 500 and Porsche 918 Spyder. If Elemental has its way, the RP1 will join that list.

The makers of the RP1 track car are, according to Autocar, confident that their car will be able more than a match for the 2.5-second 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) sprint time of the Bugatti.

During testing of the car prior to last month’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, the team managed to record a 2.7 second sprint to 60 mph and it’s quick to point out that that time was set in less than ideal conditions. In fact, the firm says that there wasn’t a professional driver behind the wheel, the road surface was dirty and the tires used were worn.

Any sub-3.0 second sprint is especially impressive for a rear-wheel drive car and arguably even more so for the RP1 which pumps out a rather conservative 320 hp from its Ford-sourced 2.0-liter turbo. The key factors in its acceleration capabilities is the barely-there 750 kg curb weight, its advanced launch control system and mid-engine layout.

Despite being first announced in mid-2014, customer deliveries of the RP1 have yet to commence, making performance times all the more important for attracting buyers.