When you need four digits and a comma to specify the amount of horsepower your car puts down, you know you're talking about something very, very special indeed. Such is the case for the Concept One, the first car from virtual unknown manufacturer Rimac Automobili, styled by designer Adriano Mudri. The firm (which is Croatian, not Italian, by the way) has created this machine and given it four electric motors. They combine for an astounding 1,088 horsepower but, perhaps even more importantly, enable torque vectoring across all four wheels -- varying the power at each corner to pull the car around turns.

That performance equates to a 0 - 62MPH time of 2.8 seconds, while the maximum range is rated as 600km (about 375 miles) thanks to a 92kWh lithium ion phosphate (LiFePO4) battery. It is, alas, just a concept for now, but with a little bit of funding the folks at Rimac hope to bring it to market. And we hope they do too.

The Concept_One is an exceptional supercar with a new propulsion concept. With a curb weight of 1650 kg, and 1088 HP, the Concept_One can reach 100 km/h from a standstill in 2.8 seconds and continue to accelerate to the limit of 305 km/h. 92kWh of energy in the Battery Modules delivers enough juice“for up to 600 km of range.

Rimac Automobili developed a unique powertrain which is divided into four sub-systems, each consisting of one motor, inverter and reduction gearbox. Each of those systems drives one wheel, working completely independent one from the other. It's called All Wheel Torque Vectoring and it allows a new approach to vehicle dynamics. Mate Rimac, the CEO of Rimac Automobili says: “I believe that the electric motor is a much better machine compared to the ICE, in almost all aspects, especially for a sports car.“

The carbon-fibre body is designed by Adriano Mudri: „Exploring the labyrinth of creativity, it was obvious at an early stage that the design had to be simple and clear with a lot of sporty elegance to easily catch up with its competitors in this power & exclusivity class.“

The interior is designed by a team of former Pininfarina employees, led by Mr. Goran Popović. After the Rimac Automobili engineering team finished the development and prototyping of the interior parts, the leather-specialist Vilner stepped-in. The result is a high-tech-supercar interior which can be both appealing and pleasant to interact with, at the same time. Special attention has been paid to the infotainment system and gadgets like head-up-displays and soft-close doors which had to match the propulsion technology in its advancement.

Rimac Automobili is a young company which develops and produces high performance electric vehicles, drive trains and battery system. This all began when the founder of Rimac Automobili, Mate Rimac, converted his old BMW to a race EV. He explored the technology by improving every part and began to team-up with experts from different fields in order to develop the next generation supercar. The old BMW is now officially homologated as a “Rimac Automobili e-M3“and is used as a test mule for battery technologies, battery management, propulsion systems and latest in-house developments. Describing their beginnings Mate Rimac points out: “Our first car evolved in a short period of time into a project that didn’t give a final result - instead it was a start, the start of the world’s first electric hyper car – the Concept _One”. A group of 20 multi-talented engineers and designers settled in Croatia near Zagreb and are making something new and revolutionary. The production of the first model, the Concept_One, is limited to 88 units, starting with deliveries in 2013.

Cooperation between Vredestein and Rimac Automobili offers a unique experience at the Top Marques Monaco. Vredestein showcases the Ultract Vorti, the ultimate high performance tyre, on the world’s first electric hypercar -the Rimac Concept_One.

The Vredestein Ultrac Vorti is the Ultimate High Performance tyre. The tyre was designed by top Italian designer Giugiaro and has been developed with the most advanced and sportiest high performance cars in mind. The Concept_One’s revolutionary drive system, where each wheel is driven separately, needs a revolutionary tyre that can guarantee superior road handling and performance with an elegant and stylish appearance. The Ultrac Vorti is on display on the Concept_One during Top Marques Monaco in sizes 245/35 R 20(front) and 295/30 R 20 (rear).

Painstaking attention to every detail made the Concept_One not only appealing and classy, but an engineering masterpiece. With 1088 HP and a torque of 1.600 Nm available from 0 RPM, the Concept_One can reach 100 km/h from standstill in 2.8 seconds and continue to accelerate to the limited 305 km/h. 92kWh of energy in the Battery Modules delivers enough „juice“ for up to 600 km of range.

By presenting the Ultrac Vorti on the electric Concept_One, Vredestein is tapping into developments in the field of sustainable mobility. Although many still believe that this is nothing more than a trend, more and more manufacturers in the automotive sector are becoming convinced of the importance of sustainable mobility. His Royal Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco will underline this importance during his visit by paying particular attention to exhibitors presenting electric cars.

Top Marques Monaco is the only live supercar event in the world where visitors can not only admire the stunning cars on show but also have the opportunity try them out for themselves. This exclusive event is being held in the Grimaldi Forum in Monte Carlo, right next to the Monaco Formula 1 circuit.

Rimac Automobili will officially start taking reservations and deposits for the production version of the Concept_One on the opening day of the Top Marques Monaco. The first customers will have the privilege of owning this unique limited-edition hypercar, with only 88 models being produced.