The enigmatic Devel Sixteen, a hypercar that has long existed in the shadows of automotive lore, has been spotted driving in China. This rare sighting has reignited interest in one of the most ambitious and polarizing supercar projects ever conceived.
Originally unveiled at the 2013 Dubai Motor Show, the Devel Sixteen made waves with its audacious claims: a 12.3-liter quad-turbocharged V16 engine capable of producing an astonishing 5000 horsepower and achieving a top speed of 348 mph. The car, developed by Dubai-based Defining Extreme Vehicles Car Industry LLC, promised to redefine the boundaries of hypercar performance. However, the dream seemed to fade as the V16 variant never materialized beyond prototypes and test benches.
Despite skepticism surrounding the project, reports suggest the company did produce a toned-down version for a Japanese collector, equipped with a more conventional V8 engine rather than the mythical V16. The recent sighting in China appears to confirm the existence of a functional Devel Sixteen, albeit without the earth-shattering specifications initially promised.
The V16 engine, reportedly developed by Steve Morris Engines in the U.S., was showcased during early testing phases, with photos of it mounted on a test bench circulating online. However, its transition into a road-ready production car remains uncertain.
The video from China offers tantalizing glimpses of the Devel Sixteen in motion, showing its striking, spaceship-like design cutting through urban streets. While its exact specifications remain unknown, this rare appearance suggests that the Devel Sixteen, in some form, is more than a myth.
Whether this marks the beginning of a new chapter for the Devel Sixteen or just a fleeting reminder of its ambitious origins remains to be seen. For now, car enthusiasts can marvel at the sight of a hypercar once thought to exist only in the realm of dreams.
Elizabeth Puckett