Tuesday 9th November 2010

New Gillet Vertigo.5 Spirit

Lightweight Belgian supercar gets 420hp Maserati V8

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The name may put you in mind of a quilted sleeveless jacket, but instead of natty suede shoulder pads the Gillet Vertigo is distinguished by a Maser V8 under the bonnet.

The car is the work of former Belgian racer Tony Gillet, and it's an update of his previous effort which featured a 350hp Alfa Romeo V6.

The new engine application is rated at 420hp, we're told, and although no performance figures have been released the latest Gillet should fly. It apparently weighs 950kgs, and as the previous V6 powered car tipped the scales at 990kgs and reached 60mph in 3.3secs, we can reasonably predict exciting acceleration for the latest version.

The creditable weight figure is down to the car's carbon composite construction, which includes a main chassis tub weighing just 58kgs according to the official website.

Other key features include a six-speed sequential gearbox, 19-inch wheels, and 300 mm AP ventilated discs.

Prices are still to be announced, but the indication is you'll need something around the £200k mark.

[MiniMadMike]

Will be adding that to my Xmas list!

Edited by MiniMadMike on Tuesday 9th November 11:54

[Deranged Granny]

I thought Gran Turismo made this car up!

Edited by Deranged Granny on Tuesday 9th November 11:55

[R500POP]

Nice, and different too.

[Zod]

Thought this thread was a mispelt one about a new razor!

[Zircon]

Man that is ugly. Dashboard looks Blue Peter, shape is dog ugly.....looks like it was designed by a 5 year old.

And to add insult to injury they want a fortune for it!

TVR got it right, these people didn't.

[Roberty]

[McSam]

Clearly Maserati sent them some wing vents to go with their engine

[davido140]

What are the masser V8's like these days? Seems an odd (and expensive) choice where there are loads of different options from all around the world, (thinking VAG or BMW units rather than american).. keeping it Italian-ish I guess in keeping with the name?

Edited by davido140 on Tuesday 9th November 12:07

[722Adam]

Love it!

[CO2000]

2nd pic down reminds me of a Mallock Hillclimb car

[srwrightdotcom]

I think it looks great and its nice to see something other than a saxophone to come out of Belgium

[Tahiti]

I think it's stunning, but I'm not 100% sure I won't look at it later and think the complete opposite. What a strange car.

[Frimley111R]

srwrightdotcom said:

I think it looks great...

www.specsavers.co.uk

Its hideous, looks like a badly designed kit car. Why do they bother??

[R500POP]

Zircon said:

Man that is ugly. Dashboard looks Blue Peter, shape is dog ugly.....looks like it was designed by a 5 year old.

And to add insult to injury they want a fortune for it!

TVR got it right, these people didn't.

At least they have something in common with TCR - the fit & finish looks awful.

[mat205125]

Nice idea. Horrible looking. Sure it will sound awesome though.

Unless you were mega loaded, and just had one of those horrible car collections where vehicles are horded, never driven, and forgotten about, then I'd struggle to find a single reason to choose this over a wonderful Wiessmann

[MarJay]

Am I wrong to quite like that? Sure, its no Ferrari California, but it looks purposeful, weighs nothing and carries a 450bhp mazzer V8.

Veyron: 1888kg 1000bhp. 529.6 bhp per tonne
Gillet: 950kg 450bhp 473bhp per tonne.

I think it'll be QUICK.

{edit} I like... but that dash... {edit}

Edited by MarJay on Tuesday 9th November 12:23

[havoc]

davido140 said:

What are the masser V8's like these days? Seems an odd (and expensive) choice where there are loads of different options from all around the world, (thinking VAG or BMW units rather than american).. keeping it Italian-ish I guess in keeping with the name?

Character, I guess.

The US and BMW V8s tend towards the torquey and growly, whereas the Ferrari Maserati V8 is rather a screamer, which probably suits this sort of sports car better...


I quite like it - no it's not the prettiest thing, but it's individual and it'll be ballistic in a way that few other things at that price-point (M600 excepted) are.

[hardmouse1]

McSam said:

Clearly Maserati sent them some wing vents to go with their engine

I agree, also im seeing an Alfa's backend with a roof of a masda

[Jont999]

Caterham type, with a V8 AND a roof?

[JohnGoodridge]

Makes a Weissman look pretty, and cheap. Blimey!