Many cars are marketed as ‘race cars for the road’, but few can so strongly make the claim as the latest supercar from start-up manufacturer Brabham. The firm has unveiled the production variant of its V8-powered BT62 family — the BT62R. And yes, unlike the other models the brand has produced, it’s street legal.
Getting powertrain detail out of the way, the BT62R is equipped with a naturally aspirated, mid-mounted 5.4-litre V8 engine producing 522kW (700hp) and 667Nm. This makes it the most powerful N/A V8 on the market today. The powertrain is paired to a six-speed sequential gearbox.
In terms of taking the BT62 supercar and making it more suitable for road usage, Brabham has made a few tweaks. The BT62R gains a new exhaust system that’s said to reduce cabin noise. Modcons like air conditioning and a heated windscreen have been added, as has a more plush array of interior materials. The driver’s seat has been replaced, too.
On the outside, it gains a more road-appropriate set of Goodyear tyres and it comes with a revised set of front and rear bumpers. Those wanting to make more of a statement can opt for their BT62R to be dressed up in a retro Brabham-style racing livery. The firm is also offering a ‘Celebration Series’ model, which adds 18 carat gold badging, ‘Track Pack’ aero tweaks, and carbon interior panels.
“Launching the BT62R is a great achievement for the team at Brabham Automotive. All the requisite design and engineering to turn the track BT62 into the road going BT62R has been done in-house by our team of engineers, which is a great testimony to their endeavor and expertise,” said Brabham CEO, Dan Marks.
“This is a significant milestone for Brabham Automotive as we continue towards the launch of our next car, which will be a fully homologated road car. We will be making further announcements about this exciting next chapter in the coming months. For now, customers can get a taste of what it is like to drive a Brabham on the road with the BT62R.”