The Devel Sixteen has long promised to be one of the most powerful hypercars in the world, touting an unbelievable 5000-horsepower V-16 engine. Launched by Devel Motors at the 2013 Dubai International Auto Show, the car was expected to reach a mind-blowing top speed of 348 mph. Despite these bold claims, the hypercar world quickly labeled the project as “vaporware,” as the company failed to announce a sale date or price.
In 2016, a breakthrough occurred when Steve Morris Engines unveiled a quad-turbocharged V-16, which matched Devel’s initial power claims. However, while the engine impressed, the rest of the car’s development stalled. Transmission and tire limitations meant no production-ready vehicle could harness the full 5000 horsepower.
Despite a reappearance in 2017 with promises of production, skepticism remained. The Devel Sixteen resurfaced again in 2021, but with a twist. A video by YouTuber Supercar Blondie revealed that the hypercar might have borrowed heavily from a Chevrolet Corvette C8, featuring a V-8 engine instead of the original V-16.
This evolution has left many wondering whether the Devel Sixteen is an over-promised concept or just a small company’s realistic adaptation to the complexities of producing such a car.
Steven Symes