New Pics: Veritas RS III

German supercar goes scarily fast in time for Halloween

By Chris-R / Wednesday, 21 October 2009 / Loading comments

Smashing pumpkin... geddit?

Better jump in quick if you want to a copy of the Veritas RS III in your collection - the makers have just announced it has officially entered production, and that nearly half the 30 cars it will make are already accounted for.

With a 507hp BMW V10 and 7-speed transmission under its lengthy bonnet - the same set-up that has a day job in the BMW M5 - the Veritas doesn't only have exclusivity and a face like a Halloween pumpkin on its side. (Any PH photoshoppers out there fancy showing us one in orange..?)

According to Vermot AG, the combination of all that power and a 1,089 kerb weight means this striking machine will accelerate to 62mph in under 3.2secs and has a top speed of well over 200mph.

Trick or treat? Groan...

Described as a 1+1 (because you have to remove a cover to make room for a passenger), the RS III chassis has been honed at the Nurburgring, and has even had a recent outing at Brands Hatch where the car was introduced to potential customers on the track.

With a circa £300k price tag and a racing heritage of sorts (BMW 328-based Veritas racing cars first appeared in Germany in the post-war period although the new company has no connection with the old), Vermot reckons the production run will be sold-out before the year is over.

In spite of its lightweight build, at 4.68m x 2.02m the Veritas has a pretty big footprint under a carbon fibre 'racing skin' said to merge futuristic and classical elements. It sits atop a tube frame, with braking duties handled by a Brabham racing car set-up, and runs 22ins alloy wheels.

An original post-war Veritas racer

"In the end, what counts for the design of a good sports car are the proportions and we have placed great emphasis on these," says project designer Michael Söhngen. "The typical shark's mouth and aggressive looking Xenon twin headlights, tapered inward-contoured side sills, and the flat tail with the two central stainless steel tailpipes pointing upward contrast with the asymmetric roll bar integrated into the bodywork on the driver's side. A rear-view mirror extending into the centre of the vehicle, riveted or chrome-plated bodywork elements, and the distinctive jagged taillights emphasise the exceptional design concept."