A little known Indian automotive start-up is creating waves in an international platform. Vazirani Automotive recently showcased the country’s first ever hypercar concept, christened as Shul_Inspire Gran Turismo. Weight reduction is a major concern for many EV cars and Vazirani Automotive has focused on that critical area. Carbon fibre housing is used for the turbine unit. A light weight battery pack is used since the turbine acts as a generator, says Vazirani.
The design of the car is eclectic, with inspiration from multiple supercar brands. The single trapezoidal exhaust unit in the centre facing upwards blends well with the overall mean looking design. The rear window is extremely narrow and the butterfly wing doors are a nice touch. Carbon fibre seems to have been used in the wheels, too. The pointy front end, the massive alloy wheels and the tiny side mirrors add more to the visual drama of the car. The upper rear portion of the car is designed such a way that it also doubles up as a spoiler. The two lower rear wings and C shaped rear LEDs along with the blacked out bumpers and the all-black roof complete the visual spectacle.
The company’s founder, Chunky Vazirani has worked as a designer in various automotive companies like Land Rover, Volvo, Yamaha and Rolls-Royce. The company has collaborated with Sahara Force India, Kazunori Yamauchi and his team at Gran Turismo and with several other companies around the globe to create this car. The company has not revealed any technical details of the Shul yet.
Vijay Mallya, team principle of the Sahara Force India Formula One Team, said, “I am delighted to see the launch of the first ever Indian Supercar. Sahara Force India is the first and only Indian entry in the Formula One World Championship and the team has achieved fourth place in 2016 and 2017. It is only logical for us to collaborate with Vazirani Automotive to advise mainly with aerodynamic design and participate in this important milestone in Indian automotive engineering.”
Here is the full text of the press release from Vazirani Automotive:
Vazirani Automotive believes in complimenting the technology of tomorrow with a new take on classic automotive design to create a dynamic expression of art. Our first concept, the Shul_Inspire Gran Turismo, embodies this vision to deliver a spiritual automotive experience of restrained power, eternal beauty and quiet eminence.
At this point of time, the industry seems to be at an inflection point undergoing not just evolutionary changes but monumental changes; It’s almost as if we are at the start of the Automotive Industry 2.0. Electric motors are amazing, with instantaneous torque leading to super fast acceleration times, they have the potential to revolutionize the supercar industry but their heavy battery packs are weighing them down.
Utilising a revolutionary Jet Turbine Electric powertrain encased in a suit of carbon-fibre, we are addressing this problem. Since the turbine acts as an onboard generator, charging the batteries on the go, we get the opportunity to use a lightweight battery pack. This not only reduces the weight considerably but also addresses range anxiety and adds a sound element to elevate user experience. The mission is to make an electric car so sexy and engaging that we can transition even the most stubborn petrol heads to a cleaner future.
The company’s emphasis in design stems from our founder, Chunky Vazirani’s passion for design. “I’ve been an art lover but for me cars are the greatest form of art because they have movement, they almost come alive.” He graduated from the Art Center College of Design in California and worked as a designer around the world at Land Rover, Volvo and Yamaha, Jaguar and Rolls-Royce. “We believe outright beauty has become very rare nowadays as visual complexity and ‘designed by engineering’ supersedes the art element that made millions of people, including me, fall in love with cars.” The look shouldn’t be a consequence of engineering. For us, the design process spearheads the car’s development to make sure we achieve the right balance between the art and science. It was exhilarating to design the Shul because the new electric technology gave us the opportunity to rethink the architecture. The proportions are a reflection of the technology packaged underneath. Smaller components and extra room allowed us to creatively channel the air through and around the car to reduce drag and improve downforce. With this design, we wanted to bring back classic automotive elegance but still execute it in a modern, relevant manner and we are really pleased with the final outcome.
We also drew upon our Indian heritage and beliefs to bring to life a new possibility for a modern supercar. We wanted to portray a different side of India that is lesser known but as much true. The calmer side that focuses on getting closer to your soul. We believe that automobiles can transport man, not only physically but also spiritually. It can give the feeling of the car being one with you, one with your soul. That’s exactly why we set out to create something different from the traditionally aggressive supercars of the world. We are not about aggression, we are more about the connection to the car through the experience of its entirety. The car should reconnect one with the oneself, through an immersive and calm driving experience. In a dog eat dog world where everything is all about competition we want to encourage connected-ness. Shul, our first creation, transcends ego.
Even though the company has its roots in India, our first concept is the outcome of several invaluable global synergies. On our journey to making this vision a reality, we mobilized our teams in Mumbai and L.A. together with our partners in the UK, Italy, Japan and the U.S. to create an international product.
Developed under the guidance of Kazunori Yamauchi and his team at Gran Turismo, the Shul marks the beginning of a new category in the game called ‘Inspire Gran Turismo’. The company will also work closely with India’s first and only Formula One team to further develop the Shul. “I am delighted to see the launch of the first ever Indian Supercar. Sahara Force India is the first and only Indian entry in the Formula One World Championship and the team has achieved fourth place in 2016 and 2017. It is only logical for us to collaborate with Vazirani Automotive to advise mainly with aerodynamic design and participate in this important milestone in Indian automotive engineering.”- Dr. Vijay Mallya, team principle of the Sahara Force India Formula One Team.
The Shul is currently being showcased at the Michelin Supercar Paddock at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the U.K. until 15th July.