Modern hypercar performance meets classic sports car appeal.
Being an automotive enthusiast has a poignant duality. It’s incredibly exciting to see manufacturers and engineers push the envelope of performance and technology from the bleeding edge of innovation. Simultaneously, automotive enthusiasts work to celebrate traditional, purist approaches to automotive excellence, preventing them from fading into complete obsoletion. Kalmar Automotive, a modern-day coachbuilder, seeks to bridge the gap, bringing what it is calling “the world’s first retro hypercar” to this year’s The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, one of Monterey Car Week’s most prestigious and anticipated events.
That new car is the Kalmar 9X9, the latest creation of Kalmar’s “automotive haute couture,” which sits alongside the Kalmar 7-97 “C1” at The Quail. Jan Kalmar, the manufacturer’s founder, will host the debut of the new hypercar from the Nordic coachbuilder, along with Bruce Canepa of the Canepa Group, Kalmar’s exclusive U.S. dealer. With Canepa, Kalmar provides its clients with one-of-a-kind commissions combining automotive excellence from the past and present.
A 3.8-liter turbocharged engine with 930 horsepower powers the new Kalmar 9X9, which is paired with a dual-clutch transmission and all-wheel drive. Simulations of the car showcase a potential Nürburgring Nordschleife time of just 7 minutes. While the new 9X9 features formidable hypercar-level performance, it combines that with a vintage look and charm while refusing to compromise on aspects like aerodynamics and downforce. The lightweight body is made of carbon fiber, and with over 100 parts, it weighs less than 250 pounds.
There will be three versions of the new Kalmar 9X9: 9X9, 9X9 Sport, and 9X9 Leichtbau. The 9X9 uses a dual-clutch transmission and all-wheel drive to provide incredible power and a grand-touring driving experience. The 9X9 Sport has a 3.0-liter turbocharged engine with 650 horsepower, paired to a seven-speed manual transmission for a more focused, purist drive. Meaning “lightweight,” the Leichtbau has a six-speed manual transmission and a 4.0-liter naturally aspirated engine, with rear-wheel drive providing the most purist-focused experience of the bunch.
Through Canepa Group, clients who want the best of both worlds regarding performance car excellence, combining the greatness of the old and the new, can order the new Kalmar 9X9 now. Each car is a conversion made specifically to client specifications, and no two cars will be the same. The first examples of the “world’s first retro hypercar” are set to take place in July 2025.
Image Source: Kalmar Automotive
