'Day, Light Of, Never gonna see, The. Rearrange to form a well known phrase or saying.' Out of all the responses to the original PH
Lykan Hypersport
story, that stood out especially. Let's just say the response to W Motors' announcement wasn't met with much optimism. The story was a little cynical too...
Dare we say it looks pretty cool?
Anyway, Lykan has built Hypersports, it has been showcased at the Yas Marina circuit to customers and now it's the hero car in Fast and Furious 7. Yep, Dominic Toretto drives something other than a Charger. Credit where credit is due, that's a fair achievement for a manufacturer only established in 2012.
Everyone will have an opinion on both the film and the car - we're yet to try either - but what a an incredible publicity boost for the UAE's first sports car manufacturer. Fast and Furious is now a huge franchise with tremendous exposure for the featured cars. Kids that identify with a hero car in a film want to know more about it; your correspondent did with that 350Z in Tokyo Drift that now looks a bit naff.... How many people unaware of Lykan previously will know it now because of Fast and Furious? They may know it as the car that jumps through three of the Etihad Towers before plunging 45 floors to the ground but it's there in the public consciousness.
Another modest Fast and Furious stunt...
Of course having the Lykan in this film isn't like the Supras, GT-Rs and 350Zs that have featured previously; it's unmodified for a start. And also many millions of euros. Lykan will make seven Hypersports (after apparently building several for the film) but with the car on show at the Shanghai show at the end of April it would appear they can still be purchased. For those after ultimate exclusivity (and you suspect many hypercar buyers might be), the Hypersport could be perfectly suited.
The Lykan buying experience sounds appropriately extravagant, with a 24-hour concierge service and a watch from Franck Muller Geneva uniquely for owners. Don't forget those diamond-encrusted headlights too!
Agh, cynicism again. Following F&F, W Motors is planning to expand its distribution network through 2016 with 'boutiques' to sell cars in Miami, Shanghai, Singapore and Dubai. The production facilities are set to relocated to the UAE from Italy also. Expect a lot more from the Hypersport and W Motors in due course. Probably should go and watch the film now...