W Motors

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W Motors SAL
Industry Automotive
Founded Lebanon (July 11, 2012 (2012-07-11))
Founder Ralph R. Debbas
Sari El Kahalil[1]
Headquarters Dubai, UAE
Area served
East Asia, Europe, Middle East, North America
Products Luxury automobiles
Owner Ralph R. Debbas
Website www.wmotors.ae

W Motors is a Dubai-based car company, established originally in Beirut, Lebanon in 2012 by Ralph R. Debbas. W Motors was the first Lebanese manufacturer of sports cars,[2] and is the first Middle-East-based manufacturer of luxury sports cars, or supercars.[3][4]

History

Development of the W Motors brand took seven years.[2][5] European auto manufacturers Carrozzeria Viotti, Magna Steyr, RUF Automobile and StudioTorino were involved in W Motors's development.[2][4] Initial investment topped US$13 million,[2] some of which came from FFA Private Bank of Lebanon, who became a stakeholder in the company.[5] W Motors founder Ralph Debbas has a master's degree in automotive design.[5][6]

W Motors was founded in Lebanon in May 2012.[7][8]

File:Lykan HyperSport.jpg
A Lykan HyperSport photographed at Port Hércule in Monaco

W Motors launched its first prototype model, the Lykan HyperSport at the Qatar International Motor Show in January 2013.[9] Shortly thereafter, the company moved its headquarters to Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).[5]

Also in 2013, Universal Studios ordered ten Lykan HyperSport stunt cars to appear in the film Furious 7;[5] it is the most expensive car ever featured in the Fast and the Furious films,[10] though the vehicles seen on screen do not have the carbon fiber chassis, diamond accents or other super-luxury touches that production models of the Lykan HyperSport do. The Lykan HyperSport's first pre-production model debuted at the Dubai International Motor Show on 5 October 2013.[9]

Other venues where the Lykan HyperSport was displayed include the Dubai International Boat Show[11] in the United Arab Emirates; the Historical, Vintage, and Classical Cars Museum[12] in Kuwait; an Cohen&Cunil[13] in Marbella, Spain.

The road-ready model of Lykan HyperSport premiered at Top Marques Monaco in April 2014.[8] The Lykan HyperSport officially went on sale in December 2014.[14] Officially limited to 7 units,[4][5] the HyperSport is priced at $3.4 million and is manufactured in Torino, Italy.[2][10]

Founder Debbas announced in April 2015 that W Motors would be opening an automotive design academy, W Design School, in 2017. Also in April 2015, Furious 7 debuted, featuring the Lykan HyperSport.[4]

Project CARS, a motorsport racing simulator video game developed by Slightly Mad Studios and distributed by Bandai Namco Games, released the Lykan HyperSport as its first downloadable content (DLC) vehicle in May 2015.[15] As of 2016, the Lykan HyperSport has also been included in eleven other video games, including Driveclub and Forza Motorsport 6 in January 2016 as DLC.[4][16]

In June 2015, the Abu Dhabi police force purchased a Lykan HyperSport.[3][17]

Present

W Motors has a three-person automotive design team as of 2012, all graduates of the transportation design degree program at Coventry University.[7] It operates several facilities in Europe, with its main production facility in Torino, Italy,[5] and has collaborated with international partners and suppliers from the automotive industry, including Magna Steyr, StudioTorino, Ruf Automobile, Novasis Ingegneria, ID4Motion,[18] and the University of Tokyo in the technical field, and Franck Muller Watches and Quintessentially Lifestyle Concierge Services in the luxury field.[9]

The company's second model, the Fenyr Supersport, was scheduled to debut in November 2015.[5] An SUV model, which will be built in the UAE and have a price range of US$200–300K, is set to debut in April 2016, at the Beijing International Automotive Exhibition.[5] A sedan, whose model name has not yet been announced, is scheduled to debut in 2015 or 2016; it will have a US$200,000 retail price.[4]

W Motors plans to relocate its factories and manufacturing facilities to the port city of Jebel Ali in the UAE sometime in 2016.[5][14] The plant is expected to make over 200 cars per year by 2017, when production of the sedan and SUV lines will have begun.[6] It will be the first automotive manufacturing facility in the region with on-site R&D, including a test track.[14]

Models

Lykan HyperSport

The Lykan HyperSport is powered by a flat 6-cylinder 3.7-litre (3746 cc) twin-turbo mid-rear engine, developing 552 kW (770 bhp) and 960 N⋅m (708 lb⋅ft) of torque,[19] claiming 0 to 100 km/h in 2.8 seconds with a maximum speed of 395 km/h (245 mph).[20] It features a holographic display with interactive motion and tactile interaction. LED headlights are made up of a titanium blade encrusted with diamonds and the taillights with sapphires, a 24h concierge service is also available.

Fenyr SuperSport

In 2013, W Motors announced it would manufacture a second line of supercars, that was later unveiled as the $1.85 million Fenyr SuperSport. A supercar with a production limited to 25 units per year,[3][21][22] a special focus on high-performance and more discreet luxury details when compared with the ones Lykan HyperSport is known for.[21] The Fenyr SuperSport will feature a 0–60 mph time of 2.7 seconds, from 900 horsepower, a top speed over 245 mph,[21][23] and have a curb weight of approximately 1,200 kg.[24] The Fenyr Supersport was unveiled at the 2015 Dubai International Motor Show.[5]

The Lykan Hypersport is being developed in concert with an eco-friendly racecar program fostered by Quimera, an electric-car manufacturer.[23][24] A racing version of the SuperSport, the Fenyr SuperSport HSF, will use what W Motors is calling a "hybrid synthetic fuel" and be carbon-neutral.[23][25]

Luxury Sedan

An as-yet unnamed sedan model is scheduled to debut in 2016. An estimated 100 sedans per year will be produced, each costing approximately US$50,000.00 The sedan's premiere is planned for the September 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show.[4]

Luxury Sport Utility Vehicle

Two as-yet unnamed SUV models, which will be built in the UAE and have a price range of US$200–300K, are set to debut in April 2016, at the Beijing International Automotive Exhibition.[5] One model will have a sports-car-like focus on speed, while the other is designed to be "an off-road luxury car."[5] Unlike the more exclusive HyperSport and SuperSport models, W Motors plans to produce more than 100 units of their SUV models per year, with a significantly shorter order-to-delivery time than for their custom-built sports cars.[5]

Lykan Roadster

Only three of the forthcoming Lykan Roadsters will be built. Its debut is planned for 2017. They will not sell them for less than 3.2 million dollars.

References

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External links

Official website