The Hulme CanAm, New Zealand’s Supercar

ENGLAND MAY HAVE the speedy Caparo T1, but now Kiwi manufacturer Hulme has introduced the Hulme CanAm to the roads and tracks of New Zealand, and it's no slouch.

With a top speed that Hulme boss Jock Freemantle swears is the proverbial bee's... (er)... stinger... away from 200mph (321km/h), the CanAm is whetting the appetites of supercar collectors across Europe and the Middle East.

At around $865,000 and with only 20 to be built each year, the CanAm is a collector's item for sure.

"We are not taking orders till we have built cars but there are a lot of people wanting one. One of them already has 41 supercars.

"We took it to Saudi Arabia and the royal family offered us a US$1 million for it," Freemantle told New Zealand paper The Dominion Post.

The Hulme CanAm is powered by a 7.0 litre Corvette V8, sending 447kW to the back wheels via a seven-speed sequential transmission. As for weight, how does 980kg sound? If you said "certifiable", we're with you.

Engine & Transmission

Position: mid longitudinal

Configuration: LS7-V8

Valvetrain: OHV 2 valves/cyl

Displacement: 7,000cc

Power: 600hp

Torque: 600nm @ wheels

Bore: 89mm

Stroke: 4 inch

Comp/Ratio: TBA

Redline: 7000rpm

HP/Litre: 85.7

Gear Box: CIMA transaxle

Gear Type: 6-speed sequential

Airbags: N/A

Body & Chassis

Drive Wheels: RWD with limited slip diff

Curb Weight: 980kg

Length: 4,712 mm

Width: 1,958 mm

Height: 1,095 mm

Wheelbase: 2,830 mm

Front Track: 1,665 mm

Rear Track: 1,605 mm

Steering: Progressive power assisted steering

Chassis: Tubular & composite construction

Body: Carbon fibre & composite construction

Front Brakes: AP Racing 6 piston calipers

Front Disc Size: AP Racing 362 mm x 32 mm ventilated

Rear Brakes: AP Racing 6 piston calipers

Rear Disc Size: AP Racing 362 mm x 32 mm ventilated

Front Wheels: 8.5 x 19 inch - centre lock

Rear Wheels: 20 inch - centre lock

Front Tyres: 245 x 40 x 19 Pirelli P.Zerro Rosso

Rear Tyres: 315 x 35 x 20 Pirelli P.Zerro Rosso

Front Suspension: Double wishbone & pushrod, inboard coil over damper & anti-roll bar

Rear Suspension: Double wishbone & pushrod, inboard coil over damper & anti-roll bar