LS7-based W16 Engine To Make 1,400 Emissions Legal Horsepower
‘HyperRod’ powered by two LS7 engines grafted together to create 14-liter W16 is set to debut at Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in 2022
Sometimes you have to go back and re-read something to grasp what you are looking at thoroughly. That’s not the case here, though. We’ve re-read the specs on this monstrosity repeatedly, and it still doesn’t seem to make any sense. What kind of animal looks at an LS7 and immediately thinks: “Nah, that’s not enough. We’d better use two!”
Thanks to Motor Biscuit, we now have an answer. Paul Halstead hails from the land down under and takes the iconic Aussie V8 loving attitude to a whole new level. He is the brainchild behind this monstrosity. Its name? The Giocattolo Marcella. Halstead elects to call it a hyperrod, though. A term with which we can not argue. We can’t think of anything that suits this insane vehicle better, in fact.
Building on Iconic Ideas
The Marcella takes inspiration from the iconic McLaren F1, as is immediately evident with the driver-center three-seater cabin layout. Of course, the seating layout is not where the motivation stops. The whole idea behind this car is derivative of the McLaren F1 in its essence as a whole. The F1 was, at the time of its release, a brute force of technological advancements combined with unheard-of performance and power figures. The Marcella certainly follows suit with its mind-melting power plant and design features.
Planted ever so conveniently behind the assembly of seats is a pair of Chevrolet LS7 engines working together to power one transaxle assembly. The result is a monumental heap of American aluminum featuring fourteen liters of displacement and sixteen angry cylinders. Halstead claims the engine assembly is good for 1,400 horsepower and will be fully emissions compliant. That, in its own right, is a miracle of modern tech.
While it may seem like nothing more than a crazy idea, this car is indeed a reality. The suspension work provided by Can-Am’s own Barry Lock ensures this car will do far more than look good. The complex double-wishbone suspension layout utilizes the engine and transaxle as stress members to build a balanced and controllable chassis, which sounds a bit funny when you think back to the whole 1,400 horsepower bit. Regardless, Halstead insists on making a substantial mark with the Marcella.
“Visually, it must be sexy and make adults swear appreciatively. Unlike hot rods, it must be mechanically sophisticated,” said Halstead in the CardAdvice coverage of the Marcella.
Big Ambitions in a Very Unforgiving Time
With the push for electric cars, hybrids, and renewable energy continually pushing back against the V8 engine, we have to admit that this is not something we could have seen coming. That being said, we certainly aren’t mad about it. Especially if Halstead’s claims of emissions compliance are to come true, it seems like a scenario where everyone wins.
The Giocattolo Marcella stands out not only in the world of electric cars but also in the realm of supercars and hypercars. The ambition and drive behind this project are enough to excite the likes of Corvette fans to Koenigsegg fans. If mass-excitement and appreciation for insane engineering and ambitious cars coming to life isn’t one of the best things this car represents, we don’t know what is.
One thing is for sure; we can’t wait for 2022 when we’ll get a chance to see the Giocattolo Marcella become a reality.
Photos: Motorbiscuit
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