laffite automobili equips hyper SUV 'atrax' with carbon monocoque and all-terrain pirelli tires

Hyper SUV Atrax from laffite automobili

Laffite Automobili stepped into the limelight of Miami Grand Prix on May 3rd, 2023 to introduce the hyper SUV ‘Atrax,’ an off-road vehicle designed for competition but made for the road. Atrax is one of Laffite Automobili’s recent additions to its hypercar belt, showcasing a bestial design through its muscular body, sumptuous wheel arch flares, streamlined winged doors, oversized all-terrain Pirelli Scorpion ATR tires, electric car approach, and a rear diffuser.

The design team – which comprises Fabrizio Giugiaro of GFG Style, the F1 driver’s nephew and co-founder Bruno Laffite, and Laffite Automobili’s co-founder Pascal Cohen – dubs its hyper SUV ‘Atrax’ as the first of its kind to be equipped with a central carbon monocoque.

images courtesy of Laffite Automobili and GFG Style

‘I wanted the Atrax to combine the aggressiveness and technology of a racing car, and at the same time to be tame and manageable. I wanted it to look like a beast, lowered down, ready to jump, and most importantly, I wanted it to have huge tires. I wanted to have a car that was just as capable of taking you elegantly to a night out in town as it was of taking you on a sporty drive in the desert,’ says Bruno Laffite.

His words have materialized through the two versions of ‘Atrax’, the first as a rugged vehicle for an all-terrain adventure and the elegantly designed second named ‘Stradale’ (street) for city cruising. Laffite Automobili states that hyper SUV ‘Atrax’ is on its way to the market, slated for a March 2024 delivery. Exclusivity seems to reign the production as only 26 units are set to be made available.

Atrax is designed for competition but made for the road

carbon fiber bodywork mixed with hemp fiber

Fabrizio Giugiaro of GFG Style says that Laffite Automobili intends hyper SUV ‘Atrax’ to be a sporty ride with generous volumes, spacious interiors, and a visual that locks in attention from the get-go. The design team decks it out with oversized all-terrain wheels – almost a meter in diameter – imposing fenders, exposed carbon wheel arches, and winged doors that gently flap open. ‘The unique feature of the door is the “detached” A-pillar that doubles as an aerodynamic element positioned where the airflow is most critical, creating a unique design. The B-pillar is also “detached” from the body and acts as an aerodynamic wing. complemented by two air outlets,’ states Giugiaro.

For the interior, yellow leather seats with carbon molded leather inserts greet the riders. ‘Atrax’ is also defined with fixed seats whose height can be adjusted and four-point fixed seat belts are fixed to allow riders to reach all the dashboard controls without needing to move their bodies. Above the dashboard, an under-windshield eyelid integrates the three displays that offer views to the rear and sides of the car where the wing mirrors have been replaced by cameras.

‘Their placement is designed to have the rear view immediately after the front view, without moving one’s head,’ says Giugiaro. ‘The door panel design is simple and minimalist, incorporating a convenient storage compartment. There are no movement control knobs, as these would be out of reach when the door opens. A specially designed removable trolley, integrated into the central tunnel, separates the passenger from the driver and provides convenient storage and twin cupholders.’

a bestial design drawn from its muscular body, sumptuous wheel arch flares, streamlined winged doors

Giugiaro notes that another feature worth looking into is the three selectable hydraulic suspension settings accessible through the steering wheel which raises or lowers the hyper SUV with decreasing spring stiffness. Lightness in weight is also a focus for the design team, hence the use of carbon fiber for its bodywork mixed with some hemp fiber parts. The rear wing and diffuser optimize the aerodynamic flow of ‘Atrax’ too, and the Scorpion ATR tires from Pirelli can brave through bumpy surfaces and guarantee safety under braking and abrupt turns.

For the specs buffs, Laffite Automobili’s hyper SUV ‘Atrax’ can speed through from zero to 100 km/h in around 3.8 seconds and achieve a maximum speed of 240 km/h. It anchors a horsepower of 1,151, a power of 858 kilowatts, and a mileage of 440 kilometers. Charging-wise, the vehicle’s 350 kW battery can reach 80 percent of charge in around 22 minutes.