Giamaro has the world's finest hypercars in its sights

Giamaro has the world's finest hypercars in its sights

Giamaro is probably a name that doesn't ring any bells. But with a heavier presence of universal platforms, silent performance cars and heavy tech, new niche brands are keeping automotive passion alive and well. Giamaro is one of numerous emerging brands whose goal is to keep the glory days of super and hypercars alive. The brand is quite impressed with its latest product and has the likes of Pagani and Koenigsegg in its sights with its all-new Katla.

But to understand why a brand with only a couple of years under its belt and only two vehicles in its collection can even touch the likes of well-known speed builders, we need to unpack Giamaro. It's an Italian manufacturer, motivated by ideas and passion. The brand has a particular ambition to create something timeless and personal, which is more than just a car. They claim that they produce vehicles as more of a living creation with soul and intent, viscerality, and versatility, tailored to those who live such lifestyles.

Immediately this description ticks the box on what many new cars are missing, which can all be grouped by the word passion. Words are easy to accept, but does its latest masterpiece reflect these values? Well, it's called the Katla, and on looks alone, it’s a seriously pretty Italian. 

It's aggressive and busy, but it's clear that its design was not a weekend's work. The front end captures a modern identity with a touch of retro in the headlights, almost capturing hints of a Huracan in its silhouette. Numerous downforce-inducing air vents blend with the bonnet, directing air towards its two sleekly designed roof scoops. And I'm a sucker for an aerodynamic roof adornment.

The rear end and side profile reveal its time spent in a wind tunnel, as it could be described as artistically simple, but huge air intakes behind the doors and basic yet aesthetically gorgeous taillights are a nod to jet fighter afterburners. It's almost an Italian take on the Hennessey F5 Venom, and for me, it's one of the best-looking cars to be revealed in recent years.

Okay, so it looks the part, but to compete with the likes of established supercar manufacturers, we have only scratched the surface. You will find Katla’s biggest selling point in the rear of the car. Its engine. But it's not just any performance engine, and its description is a mouthful. It’s a 7.0-litre 120-degree hot-V quad-turbo V12 with a 9,000r/min redline, designed to "embrace perfect balance and pure dynamic performance", according to Giamaro.

We do have the figures too, and this interestingly complex engine configuration in its highest capacity produces 1,586kW and 2,008Nm of torque. So it has some serious numbers, enough to compete with the hypercar titans. This engine configuration is paired with a seven-speed automatic gearbox and includes a limited-slip differential.

If we were to unpack that lengthy description for an engine further, the 120 degrees refers to the architecture of the block and provides a lower centre of gravity and a vehicle weight distribution of 42:58. Furthermore, the achievement of reaching a 9,000r/min redline with four turbos is a testament to the engineering that went into its performance.

To harp on as far as the construction is concerned, its one-piece carbon fibre monocoque is also physics-defying, weighing only 170kg and offering 40 kNm/deg of torsional rigidity and 16kN/mm of stiffness. It's purposefully designed and likely provides the riding-on-rails sensation we seek in a serious performance machine.

With each description, the Katla sounds closer and closer to a purpose-built race car, and the addition of double wishbone suspension further pushes this narrative. Also, its fully adaptive rear wing and fine-tuned downforce are just the cherries on top. But in a car with such attention to engineering and aesthetic detail, the interior will need to provide a new and fresh experience for owners. One which is more than just an overuse of carbon fibre and specifically sourced and treated leather.

What we can tell from the images alone is a heavy use of black suede, which might not be to everybody’s taste. It has tasteful applications of carbon fibre, providing the performance and lightweight element to the user experience, which is further enhanced with big buttons to interact with while trying to tame the 1,500+kW.

Overall, it seems that Giamaro cares about its products, and the Katla is a gorgeous example of exclusive motoring. It's unique and, more importantly, passion-fuelled, which is a characteristic that most brands find difficult to fulfil. Unfortunately, it will likely be featured in a movie or a couple of racing games, and in the real world only a few will get to experience such a car. At least the V12 won't be retiring for a while.

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