Skip advert
Advertisement

Dendrobium D-1 electric hypercar will be developed and built in the UK

All-electric Dendrobium D-1 hypercar by Vanda Electrics developed with help from Williams Advanced Engineering

At the 2017 Geneva Motor Show, Vanda Electrics revealed its all-electric hypercar concept, the Dendrobium D-1. Since then the firm has created an all-new company called Dendrobium Automotive Limited, which has been established in the UK with confirmation that the Dendrobium D-1 will be engineered, developed and built here on British soil - with the help of the engineering and Formula 1 experts at Williams Advanced Engineering. 

Advertisement - Article continues below

Dendrobium Automotive Limited has brought together “a uniquely qualified management team”, headed up by chairman and CEO, Nigel Gordon-Stewart. Gordon-Stewart brings with him a host of experience in the premium and hypercar markets, with an impressive CV, including McLaren F1, Lamborghini and Lotus

• Best hypercars

The Dendrobium is so called because of a resemblance to the flower of the same name, especially with the rear-hinged doors and roof opening system. Vanda Electrics CEO Larissa Tan told us that the car has been designed with nature in mind, so all the details have a link to the natural world. For example, the headlights resemble waterfalls, while the single rear light has a honeycomb design.

The exterior looks also incorporate elements of the suspension, with exposed struts and springs visible in the wings. Williams Advanced Engineering, the branch of the British F1 team responsible for the Jaguar C-X75 and the Nissan Bladeglider, is working with Vanda to engineer the Dendrobium D-1 - and make it drive as well as it looks. 

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

There are limited details on the car’s powertrain so far, but Dendrobium Automotive has confirmed that it plans to build an in-house pure electric unit, using its own power storage cells. Williams’ engineering head of programmes Ian Cluett told us that the target weight of the car will be no more than 1,750kg, allowing a 0-60mph time of 2.7 seconds and a top speed of over 200mph. The car is built from carbon fibre, with advanced composites and alloys, which are made to be strong yet lightweight. 

Advertisement - Article continues below

There’s still no word on the D-1’s range or charge time, but the company is targeting an impressive 1,800bhp and 2,000Nm of torque. While the concept car is rear-wheel drive, Cluett says that the planned production car will be four-wheel drive - and that there is space in the design to accommodate that. 

The interior of the concept car we saw at Geneva wasn’t fully functional yet, but the design was close to production-ready. Leather from Scotland’s Bridge of Weir Leather Company clads the seats, but the rest is bare carbon fibre, with minimal instruments and cameras on each side of the wheel to replace door mirrors. There’s a hexagonal theme inside, to continue the honeycomb theme from the exterior inside. 

The Dendrobium D-1 will be making it’s UK debut at Blenhein Palace on the 30th August as part of Salon Privé and it will be interesting to see if any changes have been made since its appearance at Geneva. 

While this is only a concept for now, Vanda is planning a short production run of “tens, not hundreds” of cars. It’ll carry “a seven figure price tag” north of £1million if it does make production, with each car hand built by Williams in the UK. “[The Dendrobium] may just be a concept for now, but we have every intention of putting it into production,” Tan said - and if that is the case, expect to see the car on the road by 2020. 

What do you think of the Dendrobium D-1? Let us know in the comments...

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

New Renault 5 is one of the cheapest EVs in the UK
Renault 5 Geneva - front

New Renault 5 is one of the cheapest EVs in the UK

The Renault 5 starts from just under £23k and will be available to order from January next year
News
19 Nov 2024
The death of the Geneva Motor Show can't be considered as progress
Opinion - Geneva Motor Show

The death of the Geneva Motor Show can't be considered as progress

Mike Rutherford laments the demise of the iconic Geneva Motor Show
Opinion
16 Jun 2024
The Geneva Motor Show is dead, but Qatar spin-off still on for 2025
Geneva Motor Show

The Geneva Motor Show is dead, but Qatar spin-off still on for 2025

A “lack of interest shown by manufacturers” and competition with other motor shows were among the reasons given for the demise of the Geneva Motor Sho…
News
31 May 2024
"BYD, Dacia, MG and Renault are among the most impressive and in-touch car brands in the world"
Opinion - MG3

"BYD, Dacia, MG and Renault are among the most impressive and in-touch car brands in the world"

Mike Rutherford is confused as to why so many car manufacturers avoided the 2024 Geneva Motor Show
Opinion
3 Mar 2024

Most Popular

A £10k electric car with a 100-mile range would surely be a sales success
Opinion - cheap EV

A £10k electric car with a 100-mile range would surely be a sales success

Mike Rutherford thinks there would be demand for an electric car with a modest 100-mile range if it only cost £10k
Opinion
17 Nov 2024
New cars that plummet in value can make brilliant used buys
Opinion - Vauxhall Corsa-e

New cars that plummet in value can make brilliant used buys

Editor Paul Barker takes a closer look at our 2024 Used Car Awards
Opinion
20 Nov 2024
New Jaguar logos unveiled as big concept reveal moves closer
New Jaguar logo 1

New Jaguar logos unveiled as big concept reveal moves closer

Jaguar has revealed its new logos and styling details ahead of its transition into a luxury EV brand
News
19 Nov 2024