Unveiling the 1995 Jimenez Novia: The Pioneering W16 Supercar

ONE-OFF - Nestled within the rich tapestry of automotive history, the Jimenez Novia W16 stands as a hidden gem, often overshadowed by more famous counterparts yet brimming with a story of innovation and audacity. Crafted as a concept car, this unique vehicle was a singular creation in 1995 by the skilled hands of Ramon Jimenez, a visionary hailing from Vaucluse, France. 

The 1995 Jimenez Novia was the world's first W16-powered supercar, predating the Veyron by a decade. (Picture from: BeforeItsNews)

What sets this car apart is not just its exclusivity but also its pioneering spirit, being the first-ever W16 supercar, pre-dating the renowned Veyron by a decade. Before the era-defining Veyron stormed onto the scene with its quad turbocharged W16 engine, Ramon Jimenez was already pushing boundaries. He ingeniously melded four Yamaha FZR1000 4-cylinder motorcycle engines into a unified powerhouse, a feat that gave birth to the Jimenez Novia W16. 

Ramon Jimenez crafted the 1995 Jimenez Novia W16 with lightweight carbon fiber components. (Picture from: Supercars.net)

Distinctive in its construction, the Novia W16 boasts four separate cylinder banks linked to two crankshafts, housing a total of 80 valves with 5 valves per cylinder, a configuration unseen in mainstream supercars. This powerhouse churns out a staggering 560 bhp at an impressive 10,000 rpm, coupled with 318.6 lb ft of torque at 7,500 rpm, delivering exhilarating performance that defied conventions of its time.

The Jimenez Novia W16 engine is a combination of four air-cooled Yamaha FZR1000 engines, totaling 80 valves with 5 valves per cylinder. (Picture from: GridOto)

With a blistering 0-60 acceleration of around 3.0 seconds, this car was a testament to Jimenez's engineering prowess and ambition. As the result, this bespoke supercar, bearing his unique design ethos, roared to a verified top speed of 380 km/h (236 mph) at an Avignon airfield, leaving an indelible mark on automotive lore.

The 1995 Jimenez Novia W16adorned with iconic scissors doors, a 6-speed manual transmission, and center lock wheels, every aspect of this supercar exudes bespoke craftsmanship and automotive passion. (Picture from: TopCarRating)

Beyond its raw power, the Novia W16 embodies Jimenez's meticulous attention to detail. Crafted with lightweight carbon fiber components, painstakingly fabricated by Jimenez himself, the car's aerodynamic bodywork prioritized downforce, albeit at the cost of rear visibility. Its innovative hydraulic lifting suspension system allowed for dynamic adjustments to ride height, ensuring optimal performance across varied road and track conditions.

The aerodynamic bodywork of the Jimenez Novia W16 prioritized downforce, though it came at the expense of rear visibility. (Picture from: TopCarRating)

The Novia W16's allure extends beyond its performance metrics. Adorned with iconic scissors doors, a 6-speed manual transmission, and center lock wheels, every aspect of this supercar exudes bespoke craftsmanship and automotive passion. 

Despite its singular existence and mysterious whereabouts today, the Novia W16 remains a beacon of automotive ingenuity, a testament to a bygone era where visionaries like Ramon Jimenez dared to dream beyond convention, leaving an enduring legacy in their wake. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | BEFOREITSNEWS | SUPERCARS.NET | CARTHROTTLE | CARTEFACTS ]

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