It seems that barely a month goes by without another specialist car company announcing a new supercar. Marrying modern engineering with the classic lines of historic supercars, rally cars or prestige cars whose values mean that no one can afford to drive them anymore.
I have no doubt this is in part due to modern technology allowing short runs and one off parts, combined with a super wealthy clientele who can’t afford to go into space. This has created a market which a number of British specialists have happily stepped in to supply.
Nichols Cars has revealed the production-ready N1A, the 900 kg Can-Am-inspired British supercar that pays homage to one of the most iconic racing cars of all time: the original McLaren M1A. Led by motorsport engineer, Steve Nichols, Nichols Cars has created the road-going N1A, a lightweight, rear-wheel-drive sports car with minimal driver aids and a naturally-aspirated V8 engine.
Taking the name from its co-founder, Steve Nichols, and inspiration from racing cars of the naturally aspirated golden era, the N1A has entered the last phase in its production journey and is now in its production-ready, launch specification. Steve Nichols worked with McLaren in the late 1980s and early 1990s and is credited with introducing the applications of carbon fibre to Formula One, a material that is now commonplace in most racing cars today. Becoming lead designer at McLaren in 1987, the first car Nichols designed for the famed marque, the MP4/3, carried Alain Prost to three victories and led the team to finish second in that year’s Constructors’ Championship behind Williams.
At the height of the rivalry between legendary drivers Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost, the second car that Nichols oversaw is often regarded as Formula One’s most iconic car, the mighty McLaren MP4/4. Carrying Senna to his first of three Driver’s Championship wins and winning an impressive 15 out of 16 races in the 1988 season, the MP4/4 became one of the most dominant Formula One cars of all time.
Later joining teams such as Ferrari, Jaguar, Jordan, and Sauber, before eventually coming back to McLaren during the Mika Häkkinen era at the end of the 1990s, Nichols’ magic touch has followed him throughout his career. A firm believer that the racing cars of the 1960s are among some of the best cars ever created, and that the early ‘60s cars had a different kind of appeal as it was the last time a racing car bore any kind of resemblance to something that was seen on the road, Nichols is now transferring his engineering skills and appreciation for automotive heritage to the N1A.
Drawing on the inspirations of the original McLaren M1A, the N1A’s sleek bodywork panels are made from Formula One-grade graphene-infused carbon fibre. The iconic headlights and design cues of the M1A have been carefully implemented into the N1A’s structure, to ensure its swooping body is not only striking to look at but, thanks to carefully considered detailing, aerodynamically efficient, too.
The N1A’s DNA
Drawing inspiration from the McLaren M1A, often referred to as the first ‘real’ McLaren, the M1A positioned itself as a lightweight, open-top, mid-engined racing car. Weighing in at just 551 kg, the M1A had an impressive power-to-weight ratio, making it a formidable opponent on the track. Later versions of the car, the M1B and M1C, competed in the prestigious North American Can-Am racing series, further strengthening the roots for the Nichols Cars N1A’s Can-Am-inspired looks.
Exterior design and body
The bodywork of the N1A celebrates the heritage of the M1A but is a thoroughly modern interpretation. It is produced from Formula One-grade graphene-infused carbon fibre which helps to give the car rigidity as well as contributing to the light weight. With a power-to-weight ratio of nearly 700 bhp per tonne (depending on the engine specification), drivers of the N1A can feel immersed in the true Can-Am racing experience thanks to its featherweight driving feel.
Powertrain
The ‘beating heart’ of the top-of-the-range N1A is a 7.0-litre all-alloy V8, which has been developed by Nichols Cars. Starting out as an LS3 block from General Motors, it’s been bored out to accommodate new steel liners, whilst custom pistons and conrods have also been added. The impressive engine will be topped with drive-by-wire throttle bodies and will sit on top of a dry sump system, developed in conjunction with leading UK-based engine specialists. The result of these extensive engine upgrades is a total power output of 650 bhp, meaning the N1A in this specification has nearly 700 bhp per tonne.
Coupled with a choice of transmissions supplied by Dana Graziano (formerly known as Graziano Transmissioni) the N1A is a proficient racing car for the road, capable of brutal acceleration and comes with a six-speed manual gearbox as standard.
The launch run of vehicles will be top-of-the-range versions with 7.0-litre (427 cubic inches) engines, limited to 15 cars, each commemorating a victory of the MP4/4. The total production of N1A models won’t exceed more than 100 vehicles, adding to its exclusivity.
For drivers looking for more information on Nichols Cars and the N1A, visit www.nichols-cars.com.
Do you want to design your own car? What would be your design inspiration? Let us know in the comments.
