Quantum GP700 eats Veyrons for breakfast

It boasts a power-to-weight ratio better than the Bugatti Veyron's, and the small company that builds the Quantum GP700 claims it exerts enough downforce at 280km/h to drive upside down.

As if its Road Runner-like dynamics weren't striking enough, the GP700 – designed here to be exported beyond our shores – has one other claim to rock you back on your heels... it will cost US $695,000.

That's right, not Aussie dollars, US dollars. Do the conversion to Australian and you'll finish up with a figure of over $900,000.

"That... is a very competitive price against other vehicles in its general class," argues Bob Nixon, a spokesman for the manufacturer, Quantum Performance Vehicles.

What is the GP700? It sits somewhere between the Ariel Atom and the KTM X-Bow for amenity, but is faster for the 0-100km/h time than the KTM, and – at 2.6 seconds – is just 0.1sec slower than the Atom 3.5R.

The GP700 weighs 700kg and produces 522kW and 654Nm from its 2.7-litre supercharged four-cylinder engine. With a power to weight ratio of 1hp for every kg, it's little wonder the tiny sportster can accelerate at a rate of 1g. According to the manufacturer, under maximum braking the GP700 can generate over 2g deceleration, and cornering at 160km/h – where aerodynamic downforce enters the equation – the GP700 can hold the road at 2.5g. So respectively, the GP700 can accelerate faster than a skydiver falls from a plane, it brakes faster than an aircraft landing on a naval carrier, and it corners faster than the space shuttle launches.

The manufacturer claims that the GP700 is relatively refined on the road also, thanks to careful suspension tuning, and complies with current Australian Design Rules and Victorian registration regulations.

That 2.7-litre engine is derived from a Honda K-Series block, stroked and fitted with bespoke internals manufactured locally. The performance is a result of the engine's inherent efficiency, boosted by two superchargers in series. Mounted transversely, the engine drives through a six-speed Holinger transmission to the rear wheels. Shift paddles provide a sequential-shifting function.

Not surprisingly – given its price – the GP700 will be limited to production of between five and 10 units a year. The company will open the doors to a production facility in August and a second car will be built for the Dubai International Motor Show, where the GP700 will make its debut. Within nine months the company expects the car will have been seen publicly in Bahrain, Dehli and Beijing. Left or right-hand drive production poses no problem for the company, which anticipates most cars built will be left hookers.

For Quantum, the GP700, which will be promoted and marketed around the world, is merely the first product in store. There's a GT version due around two years from now, and there'll be a Mk II version of the GP700 – building on the lessons learned from this car and its GT sibling, which will be fully enclosed. That Mk II upgrade is expected to arrive early 2018 or perhaps sooner still.

A third revenue stream for the company will be its exclusive digital app for the car's Motec engine management system. This will be compatible with any car using a Motec system, and will be sold to owners of cars wanting to tweak and tune the chip on the fly.

The company is the brainchild of father and son team Jeff and Andrew David, who are based in Gisborne, north-west of Melbourne.

Jeff, the Technical Development Manager, has a background in dirt bikes, rallying and open-wheel racing, but more formally the qualified electrical engineer has experience in the automotive industry developing a telemetry system for cars and a self-tuning engine-management ECU.

Andrew has worked with his father Jeff on the company side and in the development of the GP700 for the past four years. Like his father he's an engineer, but on the mechanical side of the fence. His particular expertise lies in thermodynamics and mechanical dynamic systems.

Pictured from left to right: Jeff David (company founder and vehicle builder), Bob Nixon, Sean McKinney (business development manager) and Andrew David (Operations Manager)