Grainger and Worral has cast the first bespoke 4.0-litre lightweight V12 engine block for GTO Engineering’s new Squalo sports car in preparation for on-road testing to begin next year. Meanwhile, Alexander Aucken joins the company full-time as chief technical officer to lead production.
Squalo is designed, devised and developed as a sub-1,000kg sports car celebrating the best of 1960s motoring combined with modern, motorsport-derived engineering. It will be powered by an all-new 4.0-litre quad-cam V12 engine, which will be designed, developed and assembled in-house and targets an ambitious weight of less than 165kg.
Partnering with Grainger and Worrall for casting, the first engine blocks have been manufactured, and will be transported to GTO Engineering’s UK headquarters to be assembled using its bespoke in-house machined engine internals. Once assembly has been completed, the first engine will be installed in one of the company’s Revival platforms for on-road ‘mule testing’ and extensive dynamometer time in the second quarter of 2022.
Joining at a pivotal part of Squalo production as Chief Technical Officer (CTO), Alexander Aucken’s responsibilities include planning and coordinating engineering operations to ensure key development targets are met and production specification is homologated for international markets. Alexander, with the internal team and external consultants, have one strict purpose - to make the Squalo both as light and as enjoyable to drive as possible.
Mark Lyon, managing director and founder of GTO Engineering, said: “2022 is a pivotal year for Squalo, to build on the foundations and strict goals we have set for our bespoke ground-up build. The engine, which is one of the most integral parts of Squalo, is entering an exciting phase with our new partner, ready for assembly and testing from our facility next year. In order to bring the project together we have brought in industry talent in the form of Alexander Aucken, who we are thrilled to have on board as CTO.”
James Grainger, Grainger and Worrall executive director, said: “GTO Engineering’s Squalo engine build is a project that we are very excited to be a part of. It is not every day that we get the opportunity to build from scratch the lightest V12 engine ever seen in a road car. With our combined experience in castings, engineering, technical and material solutions, we are confident that Squalo’s V12 engine will not only hit the weight target of sub-165kg, but will also be one of the most engaging and probably last-of-the line naturally-aspirated V12 engines ever fitted to a production road car.”
The appointment of Alexander Aucken and the Squalo project will place GTO Engineering, a leading historic Ferrari specialist, at the forefront of high-tech, modern automotive engineering with a 1960s styling and modern driving feel. The already defined partially composite structure of the Squalo, developed in collaboration with Randle Engineering, is at the leading edge of current automotive practices.
A half-scale prototype of Squalo has already been unveild and exhibited at the
2021 Goodwood Revival, creating a lot of excitement and bringing positive feedback. The model will soon become a full-scale production vehicle and scheduling is still on track with first production cars expected by the end of 2023.