Kiwi supercar heads for Goodwood

Hulme Supercars boss Jock Freemantle with the Hulme CanAm Spyder. Photo / Greg Bowker

The locally-built Hulme CanAm Spyder will have its global launch at this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK.

Only 55 supercars have specifically invited by the iconic Festival's organisers.

The Hulme CanAm Spyder is named after New Zealand's only Formula One world champion Denny Hulme, who died of heart attack while racing at Bathurst in 1992.

It is believed that it will be the first Australasian designed and built supercar to take part in the famous hillclimb.

The 980kg car uses a state-of-the-art carbon/titanium/Kevlar composite chassis, and is powered by a forcefed Chev V8 putting out 520kW (700hp). It packs a serious aero package designed for serious pace, and uses a high-end pushrod suspension system.

Designed and built in New Zealand as a road legal vehicle, its makers say it will feature the latest crash absorption systems to meet certification rules in all 27 EU states.

To maintain its exclusivity, there will only be 20 cars built.

- NZ HERALD STAFF