The antithesis of current performance car thinking, the 2009 Veritas RS III eschews electronic driving aids for lightweight and high power. Its creators, Vermot AG wanted to give it "true race feeling." Hence the name, which means 'truth' in Latin. A production run of 50 models is now commencing, with a coupe and a GT model following next year. More info and a video of the Veritas on the Nurburgring follow the jump.
Power comes from via a choice of BMW engines. The more powerful of the two is a modified 5.0-liter V10 from the M5 and M6. Here it makes 600HP and is equipped with a sequential transmission. So equipped, the RS III can do 0-62mph in 3.2 seconds and reach a top speed of 215mph. The more sensible engine is a 480HP 5.0-liter V8, only capable of reaching 62mph in a positively sluggish 3.6 seconds before crawling to an achingly slow 204mph.
Both models use a tubular steel chassis fitted with carbon/Kevlar bodywork, Ohlins suspension on all four corners, race-spec six-piston calipers in the front (four in the back) and a choice of differentials and gear ratios.
Vermot will campaign the Veritas RS III in 24-hour endurance races, including the Nurburgring and Le Mans, starting next year before rolling out a Lamborghini-engined racer in 2011. The company claim to have found inspiration in the BMW 328 Veritas post-war racecar, which is most evident to us in the toothed grille and hood-mounted air intake. [Vermot via World Car Fans]