Hefty $1.8 Million Zenvo TSR-S: The Danish Hypercar Flagship Tested!
When names like Ferrari and Aston Martin sound too cliché, there is Zenvo. Truly a collector’s car, only 5 models are commissioned a year.
Even in a world as exclusive as hypercar ownership, there is a uprising amount of variety for potential owners to choose from (as long the bank account also agrees). Without a doubt, there are brands within this segment that are instantly recognizable to just about any individual, enthusiast or not.
However, what about the more obscure choices available on the market? The kind of vehicles that make you say things like “that actually exists?”
Enter Zenvo, the premier Danish hypercar brand, which has now caught our interest with their latest custom-built flagship: the TSR-S.
The Carfection YouTube channel and host Henry Catchpole recently got a chance to experience this new model. Let’s see what makes it so special.
Every Zenvo tells a story
Founded in 2007, Zenvo may have a young lineage compared to some of its competition, but has managed to impress the automotive community in a such a short time.
Each car is truly customizable and tailored to the specifications of the owner. Only 5 Zenvo models are built a year among their entire vehicle line-up: the road-focused TS1 GT, the middle ground TSR-S, and the track-focused TSR.
As you can imagine with production numbers that low, each finished example is a bespoke expression of craftsmanship from a very focused team. The beautiful blue TSR-S seen in this video is no exception.
From start to finish the build process takes about 8 months to complete. In the TSR-S, those 8 months wait translate to about 1,117 HP and 800 ft/lbs of torque from an in-house designed 5.8L V8 engine.
Bespoke inside and out
This is far from your average V8, its high-revving flatplane design is complemented by twin centrifugal superchargers, giving rise to the “TS” name.
This high output unit is paired with another in-house unit, an hybrid sequential transmission, which can be regulated by 2 independent modes: road and race.
This allows the dog-box to be electronically assisted to remove harshness from shifting in the road mode and all out neck-snapping, fireball-generating instant shifts in the race mode.
“Given that the gearshifts sound like a nearby crack of thunder, its no wonder that the Zenvo badge is inspired by Thor’s Hammer.”
Zenvo’s goal with the TSR-S seemingly is to find the perfect blend of comfort and performance. The fine line between refinement and rawness.
Carbon, carbon, and more carbon
You might be surprised to hear that a car at this price point isn’t constructed from a carbon-fiber monocoque. The chassis is actually aluminum and the subframes are steel along with the internal cage structure.
Thus, in order to save on the 3,200 pound curb weight, essentially every other piece of the vehicle is constructed of carbon-fiber, one of the brand’s signatures. All of the body panels, inside and out, are built from carbon-fiber.
Optional crushed carbon wheels wheel take two specialized technicians two weeks to complete. Every cover, brace, and panel can be customized down to the weave pattern and color.
Another noticeable carbon piece? The sizable active rear wing.
Active aero- party trick or truly functional?
Since the TSR-S is intended to be the street legal version of the hardcore TSR model, they needed to bring some track-focused tech to the new flagship.
The most obvious is the mesmerizing rear wing. Henry gives us a breakdown of how it works.
“The active rear wing can shift on two axis and can act as an air brake or pivot left or right up to 20 degrees to increase inside downforce. Wind tunnel testing concluded that active shift reduced overall downforce by 3%, but shifted 30% more onto the desired part of the car.”
Will this truly matter on a enthusiastic cruise down a British B road? Probably not. But for those brave owners that do decide to take this collector’s item to the race track, you will be pleasantly surprised that aerodynamics really work.
Sometimes you just have to love the underdog
Is the most popular option always the best? Not necessarily. We think that is the best way to think about the Zenvo.
Henry states it clearly,
“It doesn’t have the outright refinement of a Lamborghini or Bentley. But that’s not why you buy this car… [the Zenvo] is a curious blend of innovative and the old school. A mix of the beautifully finished and slightly raw- still in development.”
Even in the niche of the hypercar segment there are standouts, this TSR-S is definitely one of them. While the price tag might be hard to stomach, it must be considered you can’t just buy a Zenvo. They are all commissioned.
Collectors are happy to pay the price for a truly unique creation that they have a say in creating from start to finish. Essentially, there is a 20 person team in small Denmark city working collectively for 8 months just for you.
The result is definitely something special. Since 2007, less than 25 Zenvo models have been built by this team. For comparison, Ferrari built 499 LaFerraris in a span of three years. Exclusivity has a price!
