Speed & Sound: Canadian Super Car
By Nigel Matthews – Photos courtesy HTT Technologies
When you hear the term Canadian Super Car, it does not exactly roll off the tongue; it seems as unlikely as oil and water mixing. Having written about the Pléthore LC-750 in an article that featured the top-ten most powerful cars in the world, the very same article that was posted on Driving.ca received a received a record number of hits, so I guess I can lay claim to being somewhat familiar with this beast. In January, I had the pleasure of actually seeing the car in the flesh at its U.S. launch at the Barrett-Jackson Classic Car Auction, in Scottsdale, Arizona.
The thing that struck me the most was the rear end view; it is so wide and looks very aggressive. Having spoken with the company President Sebastian Forrest, he agreed that it is very wide, probably too wide for the average shipping container and that they plan to reduce its width a little.
Balance, innovation and harmony are HTT Technologies’ foundation. The original acronym was for High Tech Toy, but that has since changed and it is now High Transformation Transport.
Luc Chartrand is the original company founder and designer. Born in 1960, Chartrand studied electronics before becoming involved in aircraft assembly and later becoming a pilot. Several years in the aircraft industry led him to develop his skills in design, perfecting his knowledge of aerodynamics, and building numerous prototypes using composite materials.
Chartrand decided to begin a new career in the automobile industry in 1989; this was an area that has always fascinated him. It all began by building exact replicas of prestigious cars for private individuals and the movie industry. Having built a solid reputation in his field, it led him into the high-performance and exotic car field.
A decade later, with composite materials and automobile manufacturing experience, Chartrand decided to pursue his dream – to make a car that would represent perfection in its design and mechanical architecture. A year later he founded a company that demonstrated qualities that are found among the world’s automotive leaders.
The technical founder quite often needs the help of an involved businessman. Enter Dr. Carl Descoteaux, a graduate of the Faculty of Dentistry of the Université de Montréal. He is an established businessman with extensive experience in project development and management.
The Company President, Sebastian Forest, states that the company’s mission is to push designing limits of a prestigious sports car, redefine the paradigms of the supercar and to become the first Canadian manufacturer in this market, demonstrating that the exotic car market is not reserved exclusively for the European manufacturers.
Having taken a close look at the Pléthore LC-750, I would have to say the it is “Mission Accomplished.” The Picasso on four wheels certainly confirmed that this Canadian car is going to be taken very seriously by other manufacturers and potential customers. Canadian enthusiasts and journalists had the chance of a first glimpse of the Pléthore LC-750 at its unveiling at the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto in February.
Some of Its features include a central driving position, similar to the McLaren F1 supercar. The cockpit of the Pléthore is very spacious and can comfortably accommodate a driver and two tall passengers over six feet tall.
Its central driving position offer an experience similar to driving a single-seater competition car. This important advantage gives a lot more stability and drivability.
The possibility of integrating a passenger on each side of the driver makes the Pléthore a unique supercar for 2010.
The frame is made of carbon fibre with an integrated security cage, and the exterior body panels are also carbon fibre. Standard equipment includes electronic adjustable suspension, a manually-adjustable steering column that operates the electronic power assist steering, fully-adjustable power driver’s seat with memory, heated mirrors, electric windows with memory, and incredible sound system. The interior rearview mirror is an LCD screen with two cameras and the scissor (Lambo-style) doors have an automatic opening and closing mechanism by remote control.
The engine is a central longitudinal HHT V8 layout; its 6.2 litres produce 750-hp, with a 1,300-hp option if you have the nerve! It is coupled to a six-speed transmission.
All very impressive, so you are probably wondering how much this all costs. Not that I could afford the gas cap! But in the grand scheme of things, the retail price of $395,000 CDN (FOB Montreal) seems very reasonable. I can’t wait to have the chance to drive it and see how it compares with the Bugatti Veyron.
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