$5m Rimac C_Two EV hypercar crashed (twice)

Croatian car maker Rimac has started destroying multi-million dollar all-electric hypercars – all in the name of science.

The boutique car maker based on the outskirts of the Croatian capital Zagreb has launched two of its upcoming C_Two hypercars into deformable barriers to verify computer simulations as part of a rigorous development program ahead of the car’s launch.

UPDATE: C_Two revealed and renamed Rimac Nevera for production

The C_Two recently completed a 40 percent frontal offset, first at 40km/h then at 56km/h.

Rimac said the C_Two passed comfortably, stating on its YouTube page that “there was no damage to the monocoque, meaning there was next-to-no deforming of the cabin, intrusion of the pedals or excessive forces exerted onto the driver and passenger”.

Mechanical engineer for trims, Petar Marjanovic, reinforced that the tests were a success.

“The risk of injuries for the dummies was very low and well bellowed the required values,” he said of the tests designed to test the structure as well as calibration of airbags and seatbelts and ensure no unexpected injuries to crash test dummies.

“All of the energy was dissipated before it reached the passenger compartment.”

The C_Two has a carbon-fibre monocoque and electric motors producing a claimed 1408kW of power.

It’s claimed to hit 100km/h in a blistering 1.97 seconds, building on the stratospheric performance of the brand’s first car, the Concept_One.

Top speed is 412km/h and it’ll travel up to 550km between charges.

The C_Two is priced at €2 million, or about $3.3 million. Throw in Australian taxes and that will blow out to about $5 million.

Only 150 will be produced.

Destroying two in the name of development will no doubt have some enthusiasts wincing.

“The value that we see basically disappear … is enormous,” said Marjanovic. “However, the results we see is much more important.”

Rimac has only built eight production cars in its near-decade-long existence – all Concept_Ones – instead focusing its efforts on supplying components to existing manufacturers. One of those Concept_Ones was spectacularly crashed by former Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond.

Rimac also has investment from Porsche, Kia and Hyundai and is helping each develop electric systems as part of upcoming electrified models. It also produces components for Aston Martin and Koenigsegg, among others.

Rumours have linked Rimac to a purchase of Bugatti.

Rimac’s production cars are more proof-of-concept machines that show the capability of the growing Croatian-based workforce.

Rimac says by the time the C_Two is ready for dealerships 11 will have been destroyed as part of the crash testing program.

It’s at that point Rimac says it will be able to sell the C_Two in “every single market around the globe”.

And, yes, that includes Australia.