RHINO RACING RR01 SUPERCAR READY FOR PRODUCTION, NOW WITH FORD V8 POWER

18 months ago, a group of engineers from Lithuania revealed a prototype of a new supercar. The R8 V10-powered Rhino Racing RR01 was meant to be a supercar that was affordable. Extremely affordable, because part of the buying experience was putting the car together yourself.

Now the production-ready car is here, and nearly every part of it has been changed. The price has doubled, the cylinder count has dropped, but the car looks even better than ever. It should be a lot more usable, too, thanks to a new interior and the smart choice to drop the race car transmission for something a little more streetable. Plus now they'll even build it for you.

Production Car Gets 80% New Parts

Rhino Racing says that the move from original prototype to production-ready meant that 80% of the car's parts had to be replaced. Yes, that's just about everything. New engineering and new supply chain solutions were required. The team realized that people wanted to buy it, but, as co-founder Vėjas Pajarskas said, "we didn't want to release an unfinished product."

One of the biggest bits of news is installed behind the driver. Rhino planned to launch the RR01 with the lovely V10 from the Audi R8. The problem with that mill is that you can only buy them used, which isn't ideal when you're trying to sell new cars.

So instead, Rhino drops in a Ford Performance 5.0 Coyote V8. The new engine will make between 480 and 600 horsepower depending on what the customer wants, and this is an engine that almost begs for even more.

The gearbox that creates this unholy combination is also new. It had a race-spec sequential transmission, but it was "unbearable in the city" said Pajarskas. Now there is a familiar seven-speed dual-clutch transmission from Porsche.

RR01 Now Looks Like A Finished Car

Rhino's prototype car looked great, but it was clearly unfinished. It didn't even have an interior. This car does, with a hand-made F1-style steering wheel and suede trimming around the cabin. It has bucket seats with six-point harnesses, and while the seats don't move, the pedals and steering do. That should help let the driver get comfortable.

The car even has a stereo now, with Apple CarPlay and everything. The mirrors are much larger, and they're also power-adjustable. A rearview camera picks up their slack and actually lets you see behind the car. Despite, or maybe because of all that, the car weighs just 2,645 pounds.

As shown, the RR01 will cost €150,000. That's about $174,000 given current exhange rates, but it's considerably more than the €25,000 price we highlighted in 2023. However, a direct comparison is misleading. The old price didn't include an engine. Or assembly. That new price includes both, along with all the options. Rhino says that using some pre-owned parts and different options can bring the price down to €70,000 ($81,000). You can also go higher, with more powerful or exotic engines and other customizations.

The RR01 is on sale already, and Rhino Racing says it has sold cars to customers in the US, Japan, Australia, and Germany. Because it can be sold as a kit car, it's easier to register in normally rule-heavy countries like the US. Production takes about a month per car, and it can build up to 60 per year.

2025-08-02T10:39:21Z