Here's everything you need to know about the 2,137bhp Giamaro Automobili Katla
Like you, TG couldn't believe the claims of an unknown hypercar startup, so we went to the reveal event in search of answers
Hopefully you've read the news about the 2,137bhhp Giamaro Automobili Katla by now. Heck, if that headline power figure didn't make you click on the initial story, we don't know what would have done.
Of course, you'd be right to treat its claims with a healthy dose of skepticism given how regularly new companies pop up declaring that they're the next big thing in the world of hypercars. There are usually some renders of a car, outlandish performance figures and limited detail on who will actually build the thing or when deliveries to customers could feasibly begin. Yes, we're looking at you Dendrobium D-1, Devel Sixteen, Vencer Sarthe, TranStar Dagger GT etc.
As a result, when an invitation landed in our inboxes to attend the launch of the latest 'thrilling new chapter in the annals of automotive excellence', we very nearly dismissed it without a second thought. Then we slapped ourselves on the wrists for not being giddy at 2,000bhp and jumped on the next plane to Italy.
So yes, TopGear.com was there as Giamaro Automobili unveiled the Katla to the world. 'In Modena, at the heart of the Motor Valley,' said the invitation, which turned out to mean 'on a small industrial estate in Cavezzo, still in the province of Modena but roughly 40 minutes from the city's centre'. Still, the glitzy launch event was held in a genuine factory where the smell of fresh paint still lingered, and TG rubbed shoulders with local dignitaries (it wouldn't be an Italian event without the local police chief showing up), prospective customers and interested dealers.
Given how little we knew about Giamaro from the initial press release, it was an enlightening evening. So, we're going to treat this like one of those Frequently Asked Questions sections that the internet seems to love. Here goes…
Well, the claims are indeed wild, but the company's launch event did seem pretty legit. It turns out that Giamaro was actually born back in 2021 and is the work of father and son team Giacomo and Pierfrancesco Commendatore.
Giacomo describes himself as an entrepreneur and seemingly made his money from a mattress company and through telesales in the 80s and 90s, but he was also one of the first investors in a little-known company called Pagani. Aha!
'This was a fantastic project,' he says. 'Horacio was an amazing man, but in the end, we had different ideas. He prefers aesthetics while I adore functionality.'
Interesting. Commendatore Sr also tells TG that the reason we haven't heard of Giacomo until now, despite the company being four years old, is because 'we don't like to talk, we like to build cars'. And yes, he does have the perfect surname to be running a car company in Modena. Well, near Modena.
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