Joerg Teuchert
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The Novia is capable of reaching speeds of up to 370 km / h (roughly 230 mph), a remarkable feat for a ride that includes superbike engine parts.
While the Jimenez Novia W16 might not be the most recognized car in the world, it certainly deserves a little love. Built by French motorcycle rider Ramon Jimenez in 1995, the car is a fine aerodynamic example of racing style that pays homage to the Porsche 917 according to its creator.
A concept reminiscent of bigger names like Lamborghini and Bugatti in its low body, the Novia was an exemplary car. Although some have called the Novia a “mutant” of a vehicle, there can be no objection to its overall classification as a vehicle. supercar.
The Novia is capable of reaching speeds of up to 370 km / h (roughly 230 mph), which is particularly impressive for a vehicle whose engine was actually based on four engines borrowed from superbikes. Jimenez pieced together his engine from the heart of the Yamaha FZR1000 Exup 1,003 cc four-cylinder engines to create a monstrous 16-cylinder engine that helped explain the “mutant†label.
Let’s take a closer look at the Jimenez Novia W16.
Creation of Jimenez Novia
When Ramon Jimenez decided to start the business that would culminate in the Jimenez Novia W16, he originally planned for actual production of the vehicle. The concept took the work of Jimenez himself alongside a small team he had assembled in his garage in France.
While this was one of the many tributes to the Porsche 917 after its victory at Le Mans, Ramon Jimenez’s real goal in creating the Novia was to prove that high performance was achievable without the price tag that came with the Porsche or the resulting downgrades. it is more affordable for the masses.
The car took ten years to create as much of it was created in one form or another entirely by Jimenez. He made his own carbon fiber composite panels (using a system that had only really been introduced five years earlier) and continued to add various performance upgrades to the car in hopes of bringing it into the world. Mans before producing it for public availability at around $ 300,000.
$ 855,000 later the car was finished, but could not be approved by the French government for manufacture. The car had an aluminum honeycomb chassis and the French government demanded an alternative chassis for crash testing, which ultimately resulted in the entire project being abandoned as production was a rule requirement. current GT1 class for Le Mans.
Novia’s personalized body was accented by scissor doors and a stunning interior design. It featured electric traction controls as well as an adjustable hydraulic suspension system. The Connolly leather seats were cream colored and fitted with racing harnesses. The car also included a cassette player, an ashtray and air conditioning.
Overall, the car was the epitome of luxury on the inside while keeping race design in mind while continuing to work towards public production. The headlights were larger than the standard for the time, but still match the overall aesthetic by following the curvature of the hood. The shape of the car is also reminiscent of the aerodynamics of other supercars.
Under the hood of Jimenez Novia
Although the car never got to compete in its competition, there is almost no doubt that it would have given them a race for their money. In the end, the Novia posted 10,000 rpm. He could complete a 1,000-meter race in just 19 seconds. The Novia hit a blazing top speed and could go from 0 to 60 in just 3.1 seconds. There is no argument that for his time (and even today) he was ready for competition.
Under the hood of the Jimenez Novia was one of the most unique engines the world has ever seen and has not seen since. Ramon Jimenez created a Frankenstein-style monstrosity by combining four Yamaha motorcycle engines (among the fastest motorcycles of their time) 1 liter 4 cylinder. The result was an astonishing 560 horsepower.
The 4.1L W16 engine was mounted in the middle with four rows of four cylinders for a total of 80 valves. Even though it might not have been a “real†W engine due to the unconventional shape that wasn’t the traditional layout, the label got stuck. Although other W16s like those found in the popular Bugatti Veyron had only one crankshaft, the Jimenez Novia used two crankshafts. However, Jimenez’s car W16 beat the use of the Veyron by over ten years.
Jimenez assembled the heavy engine by combining the Yamaha engines in pairs to create two separate V8s. He then united the pairs in a common sump. So the system ended up with two crankshafts – there was one for each of the two V8s.
With the engine still air-cooled, fans were added to the front of two grilles at the rear of the car to suck in hot air. Additionally, a diffuser has been added between the dual exhaust to help improve overall airflow to the engine compartment.
The Novia was then fitted with a gear system that combined the power of the two crankshafts at a single output to power a six-speed manual transmission. He finalized the ride by fitting it with wide tires and light wheels to allow the power to stick and throw the car without getting too loose on the road.
While the exact location of the one that could have changed the racing world as we know it is unknown, many speculate that it is still in the personal collection of its creator, Ramon Jimenez.
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