interview

The Story Of Sasha Selipanov, Founder Of Nilu27 And A New V12 Manual Hypercar

Sasha Selipanov is the founder of NILU27 (https://nilu27.com/), a new hypercar company focused on delivering an engaging manual V12 experience. Sasha shares his incredible journey, from designing icons like the Bugatti Chiron, Lamborghini Huracán, and Genesis Essentia, to his latest venture with NILU27, where he aims to reshape the hypercar landscape.

We explore Sasha’s design philosophy as he talks about balancing the artistry of classical beauty with modern engineering, his hands-on approach to design, and his vision for analog, emotionally-driven sports cars. Hear stories from his remarkable journey through car design, including major stops at Bugatti, Lamborghini, Genesis, and Koenigsegg. Sasha shares insights into the creation of the Gemera and CC850 at Koenigsegg, and how those experiences inspired him to pursue his lifelong dream of crafting a hypercar that prioritizes emotion over sheer numbers. Discover the passion behind NILU’s vision for redefining the modern hypercar and the car Sasha has always wanted to create.

https://www.instagram.com/nilu27_official/

https://nilu27.com/

Enjoy,

Sam

Show Notes:

00:00 The Allure of Classic Sports Cars

02:47 Sasha Selipanov: A Journey in Car Design

06:06 The Competitive Nature of Exterior Design

08:57 The Chiron Project: A Designer's Perspective

12:14 Reflections on Design Choices

15:08 Heritage vs. Innovation in Car Design

17:57 The Koenigsegg Experience: A Dream Realised

20:53 Designing the Gemera: Challenges and Triumphs

24:13 Creating a New Hypercar: The Vision Behind Nilu27

27:04 The Shift from Numbers to Emotion in Car Design

39:47 The Shift in Automotive Values

42:06 Beauty and Experience in Car Design

45:55 The Joy of Manual Driving

49:49 Craftsmanship vs. Industrial Production

54:34 Market Dynamics and Customer Interest

01:00:21 The Future of Manual Cars

01:02:21 Innovative Designs and the Cybertruck

01:10:27 Personal Favorites and Dream Cars

From Vlogs to Racing: Misha Charoudin's Journey to Founding Vulcan Alpha

Misha Charoudin is a Nürburgring-based Youtuber and now racing driver. He started out filming videos at the track and has progressed to the point where he now films videos of himself driving multiple cars daily at the 'Ring. Misha shares in-car driving, vlogs and lots of behind the scenes footage of car setups, local culture etc.

In addition, Misha is the CEO and co-founder of Vulcan Alpha, a company that designs and produces high-performance car parts focused on aerodynamics, such as wings and splitters. Known for his approachable style and deep knowledge of motorsport, Misha's videos attract millions of fans worldwide, establishing him as one of the most prominent Nürburgring content creators.

https://www.vulcan-alpha.com/

https://www.youtube.com/@mgcharoudin

https://www.instagram.com/mgcharoudin/

Enjoy,

Sam

Show Notes:

00:00 Introduction to Misha Charoudin and His Journey

04:57 The Rise of Boosted Boris

09:54 Content Creation at the Nürburgring

15:11 The Challenges of Driving and Filming Cars

19:52 The Evolution of Apex and New Ventures

35:18 Reflections on Apex and Future Endeavors

41:12 Memorable Driving Experiences and Lessons Learned

46:25 The Birth of a New Company: Vulcan Alpha

55:20 Experiences in Australia: Racing and Community Support

01:01:56 The Changing Landscape of Automotive Media and Influence

01:09:24 Future Aspirations and Diversifying Ventures

01:10:51 Expanding Horizons and Regrets

01:11:47 The Dream Track Car

01:12:44 The Essence of Driving

01:14:09 The Challenge of Content Creation

01:16:05 Building Unique Projects

01:17:30 Favourite Car Builders and Projects

01:19:24 Understanding Time Attack Racing

01:21:15 The Evolution of Car Builds

01:24:11 5 Questions

Their Carbon Wheels Were So Good They Got Banned From F1 w. Chris Shelley | Dymag

Christopher Shelley of Dymag Group Ltd is with me this week to chat all about their crazy light wheels. Dymag has a long history of producing wheels for racing. Unfortunately so good they got banned 😂 (the other manufacturers pulled some strings). It was really interesting to have a dive into this technology and Chris’s journey. Here is a short clip.

Check out the full podcast on all podcast platforms.

Enjoy,

Sam