By Michael Kinney
After two years on the shelf, the New York International Auto Show found itself back in the limelight in 2022. For 11 days in April, automakers from around the world were in New York City showcasing the next big thing coming out of their factories in the coming months and years.
However, it was an unknown upstart from Austria that stood out from the rest. With its sleek curves, futuristic body and next-level technology, the DEUS-Vayanne didn’t come to New York to just take part. It came to take over.
In an exclusive interview, Adrian-Filip Butuca, founder and head of design for DEUS, said even while his company is just a start-up, he wanted to aim for the top of the mountain when he decided to build an all-electric luxury hypercar.
“The hypercar is the pinnacle of automotive design, technology and performance,” Butuca said. “If you try something new, I think you should aim at the top.”
DEUS Automobiles didn’t open its doors until 2020 and the Vayanne is the company’s inaugural model.
Designers of the Vayanne didn’t want to just be another car automobile in the ever-expanding EV market. Butaca and his colleagues wanted to do something completely different that would force them to stand out from the pack.
To create such a vehicle, Deus joined forces with some of the top companies in their respective fields. That includes auto designer Giorgetto Giugiaro’s firm Italdesign and Formula 1’s Williams Advanced Engineering.
Each Vayanne will be built in Itlaldesign’s facilities in Turin, Italy with Williams Advanced Engineering on board to lead the application of its electrification technologies.
The collaboration of three brands gave each company the space to focus on what they do best, but also create the synergy needed to bring it all into one automobile that they hope will be the standard bearer for luxury hypercars.
“It’s not only the hypercar market that is set to increase,” said Dyrr Ardash, head of strategic partnerships, Williams Advanced Engineering. “But in general luxury and premium products are going to be in demand as well. I think having something unique in the marketplace is really positive.”
Almost everything about the Vayanne could be considered leveling up. That is especially when it comes to the force it commands.
According to officials, it has a top speed of 248 mph, which makes it comparable to the electric Rimac Nevera C Two, which tops out at 258.
With 2,243 horsepower the Vayanne’s electric motor can get the 4,078-pound hypercar from 0 to 62 mph in 1.99 seconds. It dwarfs gas-powered models such as the Ferrari SF90 Stradale, the McLaren Speedtail, the Porsche 918 Spyder and the Lamborghini Aventador in terms of horsepower.
The Vayanne is also expected to be able to go 310 miles on a single charge from its Lithium-Ion battery cell. The ability to reach 80 percent of a fully charged 85 kWh battery in just 20 minutes, sets it apart from even some of the best mass-produced EVs.
While the electric power of the Vayanne is overwhelming, the look and design have a more seductive quality to them. From the shape of infinity loop grilles that give off the imagery of angel wings or the natural leather interior or even its dashboard’s Halo Infinity Mirror, it’s a car that’s meant to feel luxurious.
“At Deus, design is not merely about the looks, it is an integrated concept that reflects the marque’s main credo: to effortlessly combine exquisite design and functionality with cutting-edge technology in the EV hypercar segment,” Butuca. “To showcase this harmony, we chose to stylize the Vayanne around the idea of symmetry and geometric alignment of its lines and design features.”
Owners won’t have to worry about seeing a duplicate of their car. No two Vayannes will look exactly the same. Clients will have the opportunity to customize the color, trim and optional equipment to keep their rides different from all others.
The first editions of the Vayanne are due to roll out to customers in 2025. A total of only 99 of the Vayanne model will be produced. Officials haven’t announced the cost, but the price tag is expected to top $2 million for the limited series.
Even though the DEUS Vayanne is still a few years away from hitting the road, Butaco felt it was important to get their car out into the consumer’s consciousness now. After its debut in New York, DEUS toured Europe with stops in Italy, France and Germany.
“It was very important for us to bring it out this year to show our commitment to the project and introduce the brand and its story to the people, the market and the car community,” Butuca said. “In this time frame through 2025 we will use it for customization activities, and prototyping. It’s not dead time. We are working very hard to ensure that time frame is well put to work.”
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