IMSA: DeltaWing releases GT rendering

DeltaWing has released a new rendering of its planned modular road car, the DeltaWing GT.

The car is intended to be built as a platform that can be adapted to either a two-seater GT or four-seater family car that can accept multiple powertrains including small, light internal combustion engines, hybrids, and fully-electric units.

The release of the images comes in response to the appearance of Nissan BladeGlider prototype and display cars in Rio de Janeiro. The BladeGlider shares similar architecture to the DeltaWing, and the questions about the amount of proprietary DeltaWing DNA that found its way into Nissan's design were the focal point of a protracted legal battle between the Japanese manufacturer and the Don Panoz-led DeltaWing company.

"We're pleased though not surprised Nissan publicly recognized the innovation and viability of the DeltaWing design," Panoz said. "As I've said all along, we have the exclusive ownership of the DeltaWing architecture and its intellectual property, not Nissan nor anyone else.

"We've been developing the DeltaWing for racing and ultimately street use since very early on, and we certainly appreciate Nissan's brief involvement in 2012. I remember when many thought the car would fly off the track. Our race team proved this wrong, and now we see Nissan has confidence in the DeltaWing design.

"Here's what Nissan doesn't have: the DeltaWing IP, the world's most power-dense electric motor from DHX Automotive, or an operational DeltaWing race car that's been competing in motorsports for the past five years."

Nissan was an early DeltaWing sponsor and engine supplier, and appeared at Le Mans in 2013 with its own DeltaWing-esque ZEOD RC, an all-electric car entered under the then-new Garage 56 umbrella. Both the ZEOD and the DeltaWing were designed by Ben Bowlby.