• Wed. Dec 4th, 2024

North East Connected

Hopping Across The North East From Hub To Hub

ACCLAIMED CAR DESIGNER PETER STEVENS JOINS DENDROBIUM AUTOMOTIVE

ByDave Stopher

Mar 26, 2019

ACCLAIMED CAR DESIGNER PETER STEVENS JOINS DENDROBIUM AUTOMOTIVE AND MAKES HIS MARK WITH SUBTLE TWEAKS TO THE DENROBIUM D-1 ELECTRIC HYPERCAR

Professor Peter Stevens, the talented and acclaimed British vehicle designer, has joined the experienced and knowledgeable UK-based Dendrobium Automotive Limited team, making an immediate mark with subtle styling tweaks to the exciting Dendrobium D-1 electric hypercar, to create the new XP-2 variant.

Stevens – globally renowned for his many landmark car designs, including the McLaren F1, Jaguar XJR-15 and Elan (M100) whilst Chief Designer at Lotus Cars, as well as styling work for Lamborghini, BMW, Toyota, MG, Subaru, Williams and others – has used his considerable talent to subtly re-work the already-dramatic Dendrobium D-1 hypercar with the new XP-2 concept.

Peter has painstakingly studied the Dendrobium D-1’s advanced aerodynamics and made small but beneficial changes to the new XP-2 version of the all-electric, all-British hypercar.

The distinctive D-1 looks like no other supercar or hypercar in the world, reflecting Dendrobium’s focus on having technology embodied in sculpture that is a testament to the British marque’s endless pursuit of quality in terms of thought, design and build; all areas where the UK excels. With a target weight of just 1,750kgs, the fully carbon fibre D-1 XP-2, with its superlight and super strong advance composites and alloys, will represent the true feel of a supercar, not big and heavy, allied to impressive linear performance, and re-write the rules for the hypercar ownership experience.

The fully-British Dendrobium Automotive is looking to manufacture the stunning electric D-1 in the UK, despite the current challenges and uncertainties continuing around Brexit. As well as Dendrobium Automotive’s aim to manufacture its technically advanced electric D-1 in the UK, it is enthusiastic to keep the technology development intellectual property and supply chain in Britain to help sustain and create new jobs and opportunities. 

The lightweight construction of the D-1 is based on a unique Protocell carbon tub which has been skillfully engineered with future adaptability for further generations of Dendrobium e-performance cars. In addition to its advanced vehicle technology, the D-1 has enormous drama and presence thanks to its unique Bio-Aerial Locomotion door and roof opening system, which is inspired by the Dendrobium orchid plant which unfurls naturally in a similar manner, from which the new British hypercar company takes its name. 

Commenting on Professor Peter Stevens joining the Dendrobium team, Nigel Gordon-Stewart, Chairman and CEO of Dendrobium Automotive, says, “I am hugely excited and honoured to have Peter join our talented Dendrobium team, as he is such a gifted and acclaimed vehicle designer, with an enviable track record of truly great and visually stunning supercars to his name.”

Professor Peter Stevens, adds, “I have worked with numerous future-focused high-performance supercar projects over the years, but few are as exciting and original in concept as the all-electric Dendrobium D-1; a car with so much potential. My small changes to the D-1 to create the new XP-2 were inspired by improving airflow of the car, as well as visually enhancing the drama of this exceptional electric hypercar.”