Janarelly shows Ælla-60 ahead of Retromobile
'Beyond restomod' sports car boasts 480hp V8, six-speed manual, 1,130kg dry weight...
It’s been a little while since we’ve heard from Janarelly, a name you might recall from the Design-1 sports car of a few years back. That brand, Janarelly Automotive, was sold, but now Anthony Janarelly - having been involved with the Caterham Project V, remember - is back with the launch of ‘Art Machines by Anthony Janarelly’. Its first car is the Ælla-60, a 60-unit special edition that aims to offer ‘a thrilling driving experience that recalls the greatest GTs from the past.’
So the look is recognisable from the old Design-1, evoking the glory years of sports cars with petite dimensions, a curvaceous silhouette and nothing so ungainly as aero addenda. But underneath the Ælla-60 promises to be a very different beast; where its spiritual forbear was powered by a Nissan V6, in the middle of this car sits a 480hp V8, mated to a six-speed manual, said to be capable of getting the 1,130kg (dry) Janarelly to 62mph in 3.5 seconds.
Moreover, this isn’t just another sports car powered by a Mustang V8 with a Tremec ‘box. See the Ælla-60 is what Janarelly calls a ‘beyond restomod’; probably used because it looks significantly different to the donor car, where most regular restos look like beefed-up versions of the original. Or, officially, because it means that homologation and all the dull stuff is already done, while offering up what would now be a pretty classic experience.
But the key point is that the Ælla-60 has its base in an existing car, which they’re saying is in ‘a sports car from the 1990s.’ Vague, yes, but given the capacity is 3.6-litres, the engine is in the middle, the chassis is aluminium, there’s a manual option and Janarelly is working with a company in Italy, we assume it’s a Ferrari 360 Modena. Launched in 1999, 3.6-litre V8, standard manual (or not a disaster to swap from the F1, because it was an automated manual), small by modern standards… it lines up quite nicely, though nothing is official just yet. Getting another 80hp from an old engine already making more than 110hp per litre seems like a very big challenge, for starters.
Nevertheless, assuming we're right about the Ferrari base, it’s a cool idea, making a great modern classic from Maranello more exciting to drive and absolutely stunning to look at. With a road focus, too, rather than attempting to set lap records. Specifics are a little vague for now, as is often the case with these things, though we’re promised ‘the best technical choices’ for ‘the most thrilling and visceral retro futuristic automobiles.’ If it’s good enough for Evoluto Automobili and the Ferrari F355, it’s good enough for Anthony Janarelly and the 360.
The collaboration with Podium Advanced Technologies in the Ælla-60 is interesting, too. Not a household name, but seemingly perfectly placed for a limited run - the aim is to make 60 of these - restomod, given their involvement with similar projects like the Porsche 928 Nardone, Eccentrica Diablo and Lancia Delta Futurista. Based in Aosta, Italy, it sounds like they’re the right folk to have onboard to make the Ælla-60 idea a reality. And presumably source donor 360s.
Before then a Retromobile debut is lined up for the Ælla-60 next week, where potential customers can see ‘a digital version that is remarkably advanced.’ Which might make securing a deposit on 865,000 euros (£723,500) tricky, though Janarelly is offering up ‘founding member’ status to early buyers, who will then be involved with development, engineering and launching the Ælla-60. Janarelly says that once the fifth reservation has been secured, the Ælla-60 will go ahead and the first one can be built next year. One way to stand out in a busy restomod world, that’s for certain. Or, if the news has just made you really want a Ferrari 360 Modena like us, right this way…
Yes, it's expensive, but then again, it's close to being bespoke in its approach.
The only downside for me would be the engine. I've never got on with the 360 (and 430) flat plane crank V8. It sounds like a cement mixer at low revs, and lacks the V8 burble of a cross plane crank. For that reason, the Caterham EV equivalent looks very enticing (apart from its black wheels).
Still, a lovely way to start my Friday.
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