The Rimac Nevera set an acceleration record of 0-100 km/h in 1.85 seconds. It set a kilometre time of 19.32 seconds. It became the fastest-accelerating production car ever tested by multiple independent organisations. It also had software issues, regulatory problems, and a production process that challenged even the most experienced manufacturers. The Nevera beat everything, including some of its own early engineering targets – and that tension between ambition and execution is what makes it fascinating.
What the Nevera Is
The Rimac Nevera is an all-electric hypercar produced by Rimac Automobili, the Croatian company founded by Mate Rimac. Rimac is now the controlling shareholder in Bugatti Rimac, the company that owns the Bugatti brand. The Nevera is Rimac’s own product – a demonstration of what the company can engineer when not constrained by brand heritage.
The Nevera uses four electric motors – one per wheel – producing a combined 1,287 kW (1,750 hp) and 2,360 Nm of torque. The 120 kWh battery pack provides a WLTP range of approximately 490 km. The torque vectoring system uses the four individual motors to control each wheel independently, creating a four-wheel torque vectoring capability that no mechanical AWD system can match for precision.
The Acceleration Records
The 1.85-second 0-100 km/h time is the headline figure. It was achieved at Volkswagen Group’s Ehra-Lessien test track under controlled conditions with a specialist driver. The real-world figure in street use depends on surface, temperature, and battery state of charge – but the capability is genuine.
More practically relevant is the 0-300 km/h time of 9.3 seconds, which is faster than a Bugatti Chiron Super Sport. Top speed is 412 km/h. The Nevera covers the quarter mile in 8.58 seconds.
The performance is real. Multiple independent testers – including various international publications – have confirmed times within the Rimac’s claimed parameters.
What It Beat
The Nevera beat its closest rival, the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport, in 0-400 km/h acceleration – a test conducted by a major European publication. This was a significant moment: the first time an electric car convincingly outperformed the Chiron at the limit of its performance envelope.
The result was not comfortable for the internal combustion lobby, and it generated significant controversy about whether the comparison was fair. The Nevera’s torque vectoring and instant electric torque delivery give it advantages that a mechanically driven AWD car cannot replicate.
Australian Access
Rimac has no direct sales presence in Australia. The Nevera was produced in a run of 150 units globally, priced at approximately 2.4 million Euros. Any example in Australia would be a grey import with compliance work required.
In Australian dollar terms, a Nevera would cost approximately $5 million to $7 million on the road after purchase price, shipping, compliance, duties, and LCT. The LCT for an electric vehicle benefits from the higher $120,000 zero-emissions threshold, but the practical cost reduction at this price point is marginal.
The Other Story
The Nevera’s development was not smooth. Early production cars had software issues that required significant updates. One prototype was destroyed in a crash during a television programme. Regulatory approval in some markets took longer than expected. For a 150-unit production car built by a relatively young company, these challenges were significant.
Rimac addressed them. The delivered cars have generally received positive owner feedback, and the company’s engineering reputation – built partly through supplying electric powertrain components to Porsche, Hyundai, and others – provides credibility that early teething issues could not permanently undermine.
Verdict
The Rimac Nevera beat everything, including itself. It achieved performance records that seemed impossible, managed a complex development process, and delivered cars that largely meet their extraordinary promises. For buyers who want to own the fastest-accelerating production car in history at the time of its production, the Nevera is the answer. The electric hypercar had arrived.
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