New 2078-bhp Rimac Nevera R is EV hypercar’s ‘aggressive alter ego’

The world’s fastest accelerating road car just got even quicker. But supersonic speed is only part of the picture, keep reading to find out why the Nevera R embodies Rimac’s ‘radical, rebellious, relentless’ philosophy.

No, that’s not a typo… You’re looking at a machine with more than double the horsepower of an Aston Martin Valhalla, Ferrari SF90, McLaren Speedtail — or, if you prefer, quadruple the output of a Porsche 911 GT3 RS.  

Incredibly though, the Croatian brand wasn’t even trying to top the horsepower charts with its revised Nevera. Rimac’s true target was a character shift from comfortable, spacious hyper GT — the original already seemed pretty vicious to us — to a hyper focused sports car capable of outmanoeuvring the world’s most exotic metal.  

So how have they done it? From brawnier brakes to trick torque vectoring, get the full lowdown, below.

Powertrain and performance: The Nevera R’s meteoric motors 

If you know the first thing about Rimac, you’ll have already guessed that it’s volts rather than valves responsible for generating this supernatural shove. However, while we do know the R model benefits from a new lighter, more efficient, 108-kWh battery pack, and ‘cutting-edge technology’, Mate Rimac and his team have kept the finer details under wraps.  

Clearly, the covert tweaks have been a success: the 0-62 mph sprint remains at a kidney-squashing 1.81 seconds, but at the top end over a second has been shaved off the dash to 186 mph – which the R achieves in a preposterous 8.66 seconds from rest. Top speed? That’ll be 256 mph, though Rimac recommends its supervision should you wish to reach the upper echelons of the speedometer.

Cornering redefined: Rimac’s chassis upgrades 

Ludicrously powerful electric hypercars are practically ten a penny at the moment, but the original Nevera is still one of the first high-performance EVs to be touted as more than a one-trick-pony. Receiving praise for the depth of its character and a fantastically communicative chassis, the standard car offers reassurance to sceptical petrolheads far and wide. Can the R refine those traits further?  

First up, new Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres are said to reduce understeer by 10%, while lateral grip is up 5% — dropping 3.8 seconds off the Nevera’s lap time around the Nardo circuit. Combine this grippier rubber with negative camber settings, a next generation All-Wheel Torque Vectoring (R-AWTV) system, and refined steering response, and you’ve got a car that strikes fear into any ICE-powered exotica.  

To top it off, at higher speeds a new fixed rear wing and a brace of aero enhancements force the R into the road with 15% more pressure than before. Similarly, the car’s various traction and stability systems have been retuned to ensure the Nevera never steps out of line without provocation — the drift mode has been adjusted for when that’s the goal. 

Finally, when it comes time to rein it all in, new EVO2 carbon ceramic brakes use a revolutionary silicone matrix layer to offer some of the most unremitting stopping power in the automotive industry with, of course, unparalleled durability.

Cosmetic enhancements: ‘A visual evolution of the Rimac story’ 

Developed with equal parts beauty and efficiency, the R’s body showcases a symbiotic relationship between Rimac’s designers and engineers. A reshaped and more angular front clam immediately differentiates the R from its siblings and forebears, ‘integrating sensual surfacing and precise graphics’. In side profile you’ll also notice a new blend of carbon fibre and the latest addition to Rimac’s colour palette: Nebula green. Meanwhile, redesigned — 21-inch rear, 20-inch front — wheels with longer spokes add a final flourish of aggression to the package.  

Pricing and availability: How to add a Nevera R to your collection 

First things first, it’s worth noting that if this all sounds a bit excessive, Rimac will still sell you a regular Nevera — reportedly, the brand has managed to shift just 50 of its original 150-car allocation. However, the R promises to be even more exclusive with just 40 examples slated for production.  

As for the cost, although official pricing is still to be confirmed some sources suggest a starting figure of around £2.3 million. So it’s this, or a mansion with six acres in the Cotswolds. We know which we’d pick… 

Is the new Nevera R more appealing than Lotus’ lightweight electric Evija? Let us know which EV hypercar has your vote.

Hero image credit:  Rimac