Tramontana R

By Ian Kuah

February 2009

It takes a special car to raise eyebrows these days. Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Porsches are rivalled by new models from Audi, Mercedes and BMW.

To make an entrance, a supercar may not be enough. So how about a tandem two-seater inspired by a Formula One racer, but with a canopy that could have come from a fighter jet? Meet the Tramontana R.

It’s an instant crowd puller. During our time in the car, other motorists looked at us with a mix of amazement and surprise.
The Tramontana is the work of Josep Rubau, an automotive design graduate of the Royal College of Art, whose passion for supercars led him to create Spain’s first entry in this class.

A design study debuted at 2005’s Geneva Motor Show, with a production-ready car following a year later. One of the many improvements on this latest version sees the weight reduced by 92kg to 1,268kg.

The R features a carbon fibre chassis with tubular steel front and rear spaceframes to support the suspension. As on an F1 racer, the engine forms part of the structure, while the ground-hugging suspension includes a hydraulic lift to clear ramps.

Power is from a Mercedes V12, modified to give 720bhp and 1,100Nm of torque. Even with adjustable traction control, the R covers 0-62mph in 3.6 seconds, 0-124mph in 10.15 seconds and hits 203mph. The ride and handling impress, as does the finish inside.

Only 12 cars a year will be made, so exclusivity is a given. And while the £385,000 price sounds like a lot, compared to more common supercars like the £800,000 Bugatti Veyron or £500,000 Pagani Zonda F, the Tramontana R is a bargain.

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