Currently reading: McLaren F1 designer pens reworked Dendrobium D-1 XP-2

All-electric British supercar receives aerodynamic tweaks in pursuit of 200mph

British start-up Dendrobium has announced that former Lotus chief designer Peter Stevens has made design tweaks to the firm’s D-1 electric supercar

Stevens, known for designing a number of British sports cars including the McLaren F1 and Jaguar XJR-15, has made “small but beneficial changes” to the D-1, resulting in the new XP-2 concept. 

With a target weight of 1750kg, Dendrobium says the fully carbonfibre XP-2 will “rewrite the rules for the hypercar ownership experience”.

Dendro

Stevens said: “My small changes to the D-1 to create the new XP-2 were inspired by improving airflow of the car, as well as visually enhancing the drama of this exceptional electric hypercar.”

The XP-2 retains the striking styling of the D-1 on which it is based, with wide air channels between the two-seater cabin and wings to improve aerodynamic efficiency, and a prominent rear diffuser aimed at maximising downforce. 

Revealed in 2018, the D-1 is aiming for a top speed of 200mph and a 0-60mph time of 2.7sec. The model is expected to use a four-wheel-drive system and three electric motors to produce 1475lb ft, nearly 300lb ft more than the all-electric Rimac Concept One

Despite the uncertainty posed by Brexit for manufacturers, Dendrobium remains committed to manufacturing the D-1 in the UK. 

Ahead of the concept’s Salon Privé reveal last year, company boss Nigel Gordon-Stewart said: “We are developing unique cabling and connector systems, as well as our own complete vehicle integration and ADAS hardware and software. From a technical perspective, the D-1 will be a British engineering tour de force.”

Read more

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Felix Page

Felix Page
Title: Deputy editor

Felix is Autocar's deputy editor, responsible for leading the brand's agenda-shaping coverage across all facets of the global automotive industry - both in print and online.

He has interviewed the most powerful and widely respected people in motoring, covered the reveals and launches of today's most important cars, and broken some of the biggest automotive stories of the last few years. 

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JMax18 1 March 2019

Its funny how britain has

Its funny how britain has become the home of small independant high-end car manufactures. 

They all make pretty awesome cars, but it surprises me how they make a profit. The answer is obviously selling them for crazy prices.

Imagine if there was a small japanese car manufuacturer that made crazy cars for crazy prices. It wouldn't work.

sevensixty 28 February 2019

Thursday's supercar

Yup, time for another supercar concept that has a nominal chance of becoming a 3D reality. Although TVR seems to be slipping away, at least its founders talked a decent game of running the brand's resurrection as a business. Talking about developing "unique cabling and connector systems" isn't really convincing me that this isn't more than a bunch of enthusiastic engineers having a go. Like Wednesday's Ginetta that seemed to make so many people ill, one has to hope that there are not too many people that lose money on supercar-of-the-day.

sevensixty 28 February 2019

Thursday's supercar

Yup, time for another supercar concept that has a nominal chance of becoming a 3D reality. Although TVR seems to be slipping away, at least its founders talked a decent game of running the brand's resurrection as a business. Talking about developing "unique cabling and connector systems" isn't really convincing me that this isn't more than a bunch of enthusiastic engineers having a go. Like Wednesday's Ginetta that seemed to make so many people ill, one has to hope that there are not too many people that lose money on supercar-of-the-day.