Dendrobium D-1: 1,800 hp hypercar with Williams know-how

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McLaren F1 designer optimized the Dendrobium

Nevertheless, the makers saw a need for design optimization and none other than Peter Stevens signed up to put the D-1 under a makeover. The best-known design by the British design professor was the legendary McLaren F1, but Stevens also left his mark on Jaguar, Lotus, Lamborghini and BMW. He has made subtle design changes to the Dendrobium that not only improve the aerodynamics of the hypercar, but also make the D-1 in its latest version with the name extension XP-2 look more harmonious and yet more dramatic. In its latest expansion stage, the D-1 made its debut at the 2019 Le Mans 24-hour race.

The project dates back to the mid-1990s. Back then, Vanda Electrics, a Singapore-based company specializing in product design, presented the Dendrobium D-1 as a concept study of an electric hypercar. In 2016 the project emigrated to Great Britain. Since then, London-based Dendrobium Automotive Limited has been in charge of the project. The company is supported by Williams Advanced Engineering, which belongs under the same roof as the Williams F1 racing team, but mainly earns its bread with development services relating to all aspects of electromobility and other racing series. How much F1 know-how went into the development of the Dendrobium D-1 XP-2 is uncertain.

Two electric motors per axle

Williams is the technology partner for them Aerodynamics, the composites, the batteries and the electric drive train are responsible. The chassis and body are formed from carbon fiber laminate, and a large number of super-light composites and alloys are used. This should bring the total weight to 1,750 kg. At the front there are 20-inch wheels, and 21-inch rims are installed at the rear;they are each coated with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2R tires. Behind it, a carbon-ceramic brake system provides the necessary stopping power. The data given for the electric drive are 1,800 hp and 2,000 Nm torque. Two electric motors are used per axle, with a direct gear at the front and several gear ratios at the rear. The drive energy is stored in a lithium-ion battery. The maximum speed of the Dendrobium should be over 320 km /h, the 100 km /h mark should fall after 2.7.

The design highlight of the Dendrobium should be its automatically opening roof together with the automatically opening doors his. Dendrobium Automotive compares this metamorphosis with the opening of an orchid flower - hence the name of the orchid genus, which is primarily native to Singapore.

Nevertheless, Dendrobium sees itself as a thoroughly British company. Both development, production and the supply chain are to remain completely based on the island. Even after Brexit, which has already driven many ambitious auto start-up projects and even established car manufacturers from Great Britain, Dendrobium wants to remain based there. The D-1 is expected to hit the market in 2022 at a price of 1.2 million pounds - the equivalent of 1.3 million euros. There could also be a limited introductory edition for even more money. 50 copies are to be produced per year.